Special Professional Studies and Skills
MAIN SUBJECT (BA/MA)
One-to-on classes twice per week with one or two main subject professors. Time and place of classes are fixed at the beginning of the academic year during personal consultation with the main subject professors.
Requesting new main subject professors is only possible once in every semester, effective from the subsequent semester. Changing main subject professors is only possible if there are profound reasons for the request. The request letter, signed by both the old and the new main subject professors, is to be submitted at the Study Department one month before the end of the semester, at the latest.
Duration of the course: 6 semesters (BA), 4 semesters (MA)
REPERTOIRE STUDIES (BA/MA)
This course aims to enrich students' knowledge of pieces and styles, and familiarize them with their instrument's repertoire, improves their flexibility, sight-reading skills and their ability to take part in making music in a group (study of orchestral parts, sight-reading, piano accompaniment).
Instrumental artists' repertoire studies apply to these two subfields: the instrument's solo literature and the orchestral literature's relevant voice texture.
Assignment:
This course assumes students' individual preparation at home, therefore does not include contact hours. Students are required to be able to play the movements of compositions discussed with their professors.
Duration of the course: major-dependent; see curriculum
MASTER COURSE (MA)
Attending at least one master course organized at the Liszt Academy is compulsory for students who have this course in their curriculum.
CONTEMPORARY PIANO MUSIC (MA)
(for students of piano)
The aim of the course is to familiarize students with 20-21th century solo piano literature.
Duration of the course: 2 semesters
COMPOSITION (BA)
(choir and orchestra conducting, organ)
During this course, students acquire knowledge of counterpoint and formal analysis through composing activities, just as it was the practice for centuries before the overspecialisation of music education in the 20th century. Students acquire style and technique by completing model compositions and style composing exercises, and copying patterns.
Topics:
vocal and instrumental counterpoint, choral harmonisation, Baroque and Viennese Classical forms
Taught by: professors of the Composition Department
Duration of the course: 4 semesters
CHAMBER SINGING
(vocal studies)
For future opera singers as well as vocal performing artists, teachers of singing and choir members it is essential to be able to cooperate with other musicians. It is highly important for them to know the other parts as well as their own parts, the harmonies of the accompaniment and the musical correlations. They have to be able to know the importance of their own part in the given musical environment and to lead the other parts or serve them. They need to be able to support the leading part and to put emphasis on harmonically critical sounds. In other words, the course aims to advance their ability of harmonization.
Students gradually acquire knowledge of basic Baroque, Classical, Romantic song duets, as well as tersest, quartets, and later oratorio and opera ensembles.
ACTING
(vocal studies)
The course aims to build character and advance stage acting abilities, proper physical and psychological condition, imagination, ability to communicate with partners, through self-awareness training. Great importance is laid on using music and singing, as well as getting vocal training and acting in harmony.
Taught by: Csaba Krisztik
DICTION
(vocal studies)
Aim of the course: familiarization with the basics of artistic diction Topics: articulation, diction technique – proper intonation – poetry and recital
MOVEMENT TECHNIQUE
(vocal studies)
The aim of this course is:
- getting to know the body – overcoming stiffness – keeping fit
- movement training (with music) – contact techniques – movement improvisations to music – pantomime scenes – partner dance, etc.
LIED REPERTOIRE
(vocal studies)
The aim of this course is:
- familiarizing students with songs composed by significant composers in certain periods of music history
- analyzing them based on harmony, form and dramaturgy
- presenting the relationship between melody and lyrics.
Course content:
Baroque, Classical, 20th century and contemporary composers' songs, song cycles
Characteristics of trophic and through-composed songs
Musical representation of characters in vocal part and accompaniment
GERMAN LANGUAGE
(vocal studies)
The aim of the course is to perfect students' reading comprehension and pronunciation in German, and to familiarize students with German song literature.
Content: the authentic pronunciation and shaping of German songs, the elimination of interpretational problems, taking part in public concerts.
ORCHESTRA CONDUCTING
The course aims to teach students orchestral conducting technique by playing from score and working with the orchestra.
Course content:
Semester 1-2:
Foundations of the conducting technique and motor coordination
Developing attentional control
Developing skills of analysis and memorization
Semester 3-4:
Improving technical skills through cyclic
The beginning of working with solo instrumentalists and singers
The basics of accompaniment
Semester 5-6:
Expanding the repertoire considering students' personal interests
Literature:
1. Semester 1: Viennese Classical and early Romantic overtures
2. Semester 2: minor Viennese Classical Symphonies
3. Semester 3: major cyclic pieces (symphonic poems, Romantic symphonies)
4. Semester 4: concertos, concert arias, minor operatic excerpts
5. Semester 5: creating a repertoire considering students' personal interests
6. Semester 6: 20th century and contemporary music
Assessment and evaluation: monitoring individual preparation at home; seminar grade in odd semesters and exam (conducting an orchestra) in even semesters.
CHAMBER ENSEMBLE CONDUCTING
(orchestra conducting)
Students can put theory into practice through working with a chamber ensemble.
Course content:
Semester 1-2: Viennese Classical pieces
Semester 3-4: early Romantic composers
Semester 5-6: pieces composed for ensembles by 20th century and contemporary composers
Literature:
Pieces composed for groups bigger than septets by Viennese Classical and early Romantic composers, pieces composed for ensembles by 20th century and contemporary composers.
ORCHESTRATION
Acquiring knowledge of technical and sound qualities and combinations of certain instruments through in-depth analysis of historical and contemporary pieces; solving orchestration tasks involving historical chamber music and orchestra instrument combinations.