We always get a lot of questions about how our classes work, so here are all of the details!

Please write with any other questions, comments, or requests.

 

 

 

Song repertoire and course materials

The singing classes include a wide range of beautiful village songs from across the Hungarian language area, crafted over generations of unbroken oral tradition, and they are taught directly from source recordings of those village culture bearers. They are not composed folk-style songs or modern arrangements of village songs. They include uptempo dance songs to grieving songs, love songs to lullabies, old style and new style, simple and highly ornamented, with beautiful song words and unique regional scales and rhythms.

 

Participants receive village source recordings, ethnographic maps, song word sheets (lyrics), English translations, and background information on the songs and regions. Classes also often include information about vocal technique, traditional instruments, seasonal practices, and the traditional lifestyle and cultural context that these songs come from.

 

Song words are provided in hard copy for in-person classes, and sent ahead as PDFs for online classes. Village source recordings are emailed directly to all participants for home practice and for future reference.

 

 

Class participants

All group singing classes on the Current Classes page are open to adults and mature teens of all cultural, linguistic, and musical backgrounds unless indicated otherwise in a specific class description. Our goal is to create an inclusive, welcoming environment that is accessible to all while simultaneously engaging and challenging for those with significant previous experience. Typically our class participants are a diverse mix from no musical background through professional musicians, zero knowledge of Hungarian through native Hungarian speakers, and every different type of relationship with Hungarian culture.

 

We also hold classes for children and younger teens at various schools in Hungary as well as for diaspora Hungarian youth. Contact us with interest in private lessons or a group class for younger participants.

 

 

Singing level and singing together

Songs are taught orally, and you do not need to know how to read music. The material taught in the classes covers the full range from very simple to very challenging songs, covering the full breadth of the repertoire. We use various pedagogical techniques to teach these songs to participants of varying levels.

 

In-person classes welcome participants of all singing levels who are comfortable matching a pitch. If that is a struggle, then come for a private lesson and we can work on it. In the in-person classes, everyone sings together as we learn the songs, and after learning them well, sometimes we sing in smaller groups and participants can volunteer to sing by themselves, whether for feedback or to share what they have learned.

 

In the online classes, participants are muted as we initially learn a new song, which means that beginners and others who may feel self-conscious can sing freely, because they cannot be heard. It can also be beneficial that everyone experiences the singing as a duo with the source recordings and with the instructor, without hearing everyone else who is also learning. Like the in-person classes, there are also opportunities for participants to volunteer to sing songs back for the group and receive feedback and ask questions, which benefits everyone.

 

 

Joining the classes as a new participant

Newcomers are welcome to join any time. We have created a couple of offerings to help you get oriented:

 

We recommend that all new singing class members attend a Hungarian pronunciation class unless you are an advanced or native speaker. In the singing classes we review the pronunciation of the song words themselves but not the basics of the Hungarian letter sounds, which are taught in that separate pronunciation class. If you already have some familiarity, it is also a good space for refining and clarifying certain sounds you may be struggling with.

 

We also offer an Introduction to Hungarian Folk Music, which is an overview of the cultural regions, folk music instruments, singing in village life, history of collections, the revival movement, and useful resources. Each singing class covers information about the given region and the specific songs we are working on, and this overview covers the bigger picture so you can understand the songs in context.

 

Because other class members have been attending for many months or years, addressing these separately also allows us to not repeat this same information repeatedly in the ongoing classes.

 

 

Class size

The group singing classes have a minimum of 5 registered participants to hold the class, and are capped at 25 people. In practice we try to keep the weekly classes at around 10 participants in each group so that it is a friendly environment for group singing with enough individual attention.

 

 

What to bring to class

For both in-person and online classes, come to class prepared with the current and previously learned song words, pencils, and water. It also a good idea to warm up your voice before class, especially for a morning class.

 

Registration deadline

Please always register as soon as possible, so that we can see class numbers and prepare accordingly, and because space can be limited. For online classes, Zoom links and songs are sent ahead of class, and for in-person classes songs are printed out ahead of class.

 

 

Commitment / Drop-ins

It is strongly preferred for participants to commit to the full class series, but drop-ins are also welcome. You may attend as a drop-in for your first class to see if it’s the good fit for you.

 

 

Recording class

Our classes are not recorded for later viewing unless noted in a specific class description. We ask that you not video or audio record the classes, bearing in mind that all class materials (audio files and song words) are given to all participants. We expect all participants to honor and respect the host and their fellow participants by adhering to this policy. We reserve the right to occasionally record or photograph the classes — always announcing it and asking for consent when doing so — for documentation and possible promotional purposes.

 

 

Making up missed classes and attending at other class times

Generally the curriculum follows the same songs and course materials in the concurrent in-person and online groups during the same 6-week class series. If you attend the in-person class and have to miss class one week due to a conflict or illness, you can attend the online class that week instead, at no extra charge. Likewise, if you register for the Tuesday online group and have to miss, you may attend Sunday that week instead. Online students can also attend in person if they are in Budapest.

 

 

Private lessons

Over many years of offering these group singing classes, we see the best results when participants have at least occasional private lessons. Participants are encouraged to sign up for one private lesson per 6-week class series in order to receive one-on-one feedback and guidance in their development, whether focused on pronunciation, vocal technique, stylistic elements in a given song, or other topics. You can see this option reflected in the class prices, and private lessons can also be scheduled separately at any time. Not required, just recommended!

 

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Class Prices

                                                                                                               Residents of Hungary               International Participants

Annual membership (all classes for 12 months, details below)     150,000 Ft.                                         Sliding scale $750 - 1500 USD

6-week singing class series plus one 1-hour private lesson             30,000 Ft.                                          Sliding scale $130 - 230 USD

6-week singing class series without lesson                                         25,000 Ft.                                          Sliding scale $90 - 180 USD

Drop-in singing class (single 90-minute class)                                 4000 Ft.                                              Sliding scale $15-25 USD

60-minute classes, including pronunciation, lectures, etc              3000 Ft.                                             $15 USD

Private lessons                                                                                          Sliding scale 7 - 10.000 Ft./hr,      Sliding scale $50-80 USD/hr,

                                                                                                                              or as agreed individually​                   or as agreed individually​

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About sliding scale:

For our online classes, we offer globally just pricing, ensuring accessibility to participants living in widely different economies, as well as fair compensation for the labor and expenses involved in holding these international classes.  We ask that you pay for the class according to typical singing class prices in your local economy.

 

"Sliding scale" means that you can choose what you are able to pay within the given price range. We understand that people individually have very different financial circumstances, and instead of offering various discounts (low income, students, seniors, etc), this allows you to make that choice based on your own circumstances and how you value the class. We hope that this pricing model facilitates equality, and we thank you for your support of this work.

 

If you would like to attend the classes but the cost is prohibitive for you, please contact us. We have arranged work-exchange and barter of goods and services, among other solutions (see our donations page to get ideas of the kinds of things that could be exchanged). We don't want money to stop anyone from joining.

 

Additional financial donations are also always gratefully accepted! While the sliding scale has a "maximum", if you are able to pay more, it supports the participation of those who cannot.

 

No refunds are possible if a class is paid for and not attended.​

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Membership:

Members pay an annual fee and can attend all classes we offer throughout the year that are open to the public (weekly singing classes, additional lectures and workshops, etc, both in-person and online), can receive the class materials for any classes they can't attend personally, and receive two private lessons per year as part of the membership benefits. Annual membership is 150k HUF for residents of Hungary (which works out to 12,500 huf/mo.) or sliding scale $750-1500 USD for international participants, and is also open to non-class participants who want to be a part of the Népdalkör family and contribute to our annual budget and financial stability in this way.​​ Annual membership can be joined for the calendar year (January-December) or the academic year (September-August).​​​

 

 

Payment method options, marked with the possible currencies

• Transfer to Hungarian bank account (HUF only) - Bozzay Zina, 12010240-01612266-00100005 (Raiffeisen)

• Transfer to US bank account (USD only) - email zinabozzay@gmail.com for details

• Wise (formerly Transferwise) to Hungarian or US bank accounts above

• Zelle (USD only) - send to zinabozzay@gmail.com

• PayPal (USD, Euro, or HUF) - use link or send to zinabozzay@gmail.com

• Revolut (USD, Euro, or HUF) - send to +36-70-603-7011 or @zinar3aji

• Venmo (USD only) - send to @ZinaBozzay

• Cash (USD or HUF) - for in-person classes or similar situations

 

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Information specific to online classes

 

Class times and class names

Because there are several class times and people are joining from various time zones all around the world, each class has a name (Chestnut, Tulip, Rosemary, etc) for the ease of participants figuring out which time is right for them and registering for the correct class! Some time zones are written below, but please double-check your own time difference with Budapest, and note daylight savings changes if applicable. The online classes are live and interactive, and not video recorded for later use unless indicated.

 

We have previously held group classes during Hungary morning (evening in Australia and New Zealand) as well as Hungary early afternoon (evening in East Asia). If you are interested in a class time other than what is currently offered, please reach out, and if there is enough interest, we will schedule it!

 

 

Devices and tech set-up

Using a computer or other large-screen device is strongly preferable to using a phone screen for the classes on Zoom, as seeing the video and screen sharing is a significant part of class. Please arrange your device so that you can sit or stand ergonomically in front of it, if you are physically able, and so that you are looking straight at the screen, and not looking down or to the side. This is important for good singing posture.

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You should have a working camera, microphone, and speaker or headphones. The ones built in to your device are just fine, you don’t need more than that. Please expect to be on video during class, as most participants are, as it creates a present and interactive class experience. You do not need to be able to play back the audio recordings during class time, as Zina will play them from her device — those are for individual practice outside of class.

 

Printing and note-taking

It’s important to be able to take notes during class, as a lot of information is shared that doesn’t already appear on the song sheets. If possible, print the PDF of the song lyrics, and if you are not able to print, you may find it helpful to write the words out on a piece of paper so that you can add details about the melody, translation, background information on the song, etc. to that paper during the class. Or, set yourself up to do the same digitally, typing up the translation notes and other information.

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Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you in class!

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