Register for Virtual and In-Person Hungarian Folk Singing Classes

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Upcoming Class Dates

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Registration Form

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Payment Information

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More Info and FAQs

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Current and Upcoming classes:

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All February - March 2021 classes listed below are held in English online on Zoom, taught by Zina Bozzay.  The classes are live and interactive, and not video recorded for later use.  Please register for the virtual classes as soon as possible, as space is limited and Zoom links are sent in advance of class.

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HUNGARIAN PRONUNCIATION CLASSES

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Level I:

An in-depth class on Hungarian pronunciation, open to absolute beginners as a first introduction to the language as well as those with experience who want to review.  The class covers each letter sound, and includes practice words for each letter.  Participants receive a detailed pronunciation guide for later reference.  This class is typically offered at the start of each singing class series or before a workshop, and is open to anyone to attend, whether or not you are taking a singing class.

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Level II:

This class is designed for those who have already taken Level I or have previous experience with Hungarian, including heritage speakers in the Hungarian diaspora, who are interested in learning further details to fine-tune their pronunciation.  This class covers pronunciation quirks and exceptions often not taught to beginners, such as consonant assimilation, consonant voicing and devoicing, archaic name spellings, and examples of dialect pronunciation.  There will be time dedicated to participants pronouncing words and receiving feedback.
 

Participants may attend one or both classes on February 21.  Both classes are held in English by Zina Bozzay, who has been teaching Hungarian pronunciation to non-Hungarian speakers for over a decade.
 

❋ Level I: Sunday, February 21, 6:00-7:00pm Budapest time (9-10am California / 12-1pm New York)
❋ Level II: Sunday, February 21, 7:30-8:30pm Budapest time (10:30-11:30am California / 1:30-2:30pm New York)

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Due to the high level of interest, we have added a Level I class on Friday February 26 at 6-7pm Budapest time, and a Level II class at 7-8pm Budapest time.  Join us!  Just make a note in the registration form below.

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Individual pronunciation lessons/coaching scheduled upon request.

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Price:

Residents of Hungary:             1000 Ft. per class

International Participants:   Sliding scale $8-15 USD per class

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HUNGARIAN FOLK SINGING CLASS SERIES

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Several-week class series teaching a variety of beautiful traditional Hungarian folk songs, including village source recordings, pronunciation and translation of the lyrics, background information on the style, and more.  Held in English and open to participants of all cultural, linguistic, and musical backgrounds, welcoming experienced singers as well as those with no previous experience in the style.  Further details about each specific class are below.  If this is your first Hungarian singing class, consider taking the pronunciation class above before the class series.

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It is strongly preferred for participants to commit to the full class series, but drop-ins are also welcome.  There is a minimum of 5 registered participants to hold the class, and classes are capped at 25 people.  Because there are several class times and people are joining from various time zones around the world, each class has a name (Chestnut, Tulip, 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.

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1) Transylvania Semester

Over the course of January - May 2021, we will learn a wide variety of songs from Transylvania, moving progressively eastward and spending a few weeks on each of the ethnographic regions, broken up into three class series: Szilágyság and Kalotaszeg (6 weeks, Jan 12 - Feb 16), Mezőség (6 weeks, Feb 23 - March 30), and finally Maros-Küküllő vidéke, Szekélyföld, and Gyimes (and possibly Bukovina) (8 weeks, April 13 - May 30).  You do not need to have attended previous classes to take this class and each class series is a separate group of songs - new people can join anytime.

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Songs of Mezőség (Transylvania Semester Part II)

6-week Class Series: Tuesdays Feb 23 - March 30

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- Chestnut Group: Tuesdays 8:00-9:30am Budapest time

Europe daytime, Australia and New Zealand evening:

9pm Hawaii (Sunday) / 7am England / 3pm Hong Kong / 6pm Sydney / 8pm Christchurch

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- Rosemary Group: Tuesdays 7:00-8:30pm Budapest time

North America daytime, Europe evening: 10am California / 1pm New York / 6pm England / 9pm Istanbul

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Price:

                                                           Full class series (six 1.5hr classes):           Drop-in (single class):

Residents of Hungary:               10,000 Ft.                                                                  2000 Ft. per class

International Participants:     Sliding scale $60 - 150 USD                                  Sliding scale $12-25 USD per class

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2) Songs for Folk Dancing

6-week series: Tuesdays Feb 2 - Mar 9

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- Peacock Group: Tuesdays 2:30-4:00pm Budapest time

North America morning, Europe daytime, Asia evening: 8:30am New York / 1:30pm England / 9:30pm Hong Kong

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An entry-level Hungarian folk singing class teaching songs from Kalotaszeg and Mezőség in Transylvania - primarily well-known dance songs - including a lot of repetition and strong focus on pronunciation.  The class also includes “csujogatás” (rhythmic shouting calls) used during dancing.

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Price:

All Participants:   Sliding scale $7-15 USD per class.  It is strongly preferred for participants to commit to the full six-class series (and pay for all classes at the beginning), but drop-ins are also allowed.

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WEEKEND WORKSHOPS
 

Weekend Singing Workshop: Two Practical Hungarian Folk Songs to Know
The Traditional "Happy Birthday Song" and the World-Famous "Tavaszi szél"

Saturday, February 27: 7:00-8:30pm Budapest time (10am CA, 1pm NY)
Sunday, February 28: 7:00-8:30pm Budapest time (10am CA, 1pm NY)
Please double-check your own time difference with Budapest!

Join us to learn two famous Hungarian village folk songs that are very useful to know.  Held in English and open to participants of all cultural, linguistic, and musical backgrounds, this workshop includes village source recordings, pronunciation and translation of the lyrics, and learning the songs well and in detail.  We welcome newcomers and long-timers alike, including participants who are and aren't already familiar with these songs.  Because we're learning directly from multiple village recordings of each song, there will be many details and new information for those who already know the melody.  The is also a perfect workshop for those who have never learned a Hungarian folk song and want somewhere to start - these are relatively easy songs and you'll be able to put them into use in your life!

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(Note: In these classes we will go through the pronunciation of the song words, but not review the basics of Hungarian pronunciation - see the pronunciation class offered above to learn each of the letter sounds!)

Saturday:
The beautiful "Tavaszi szél" from Moldavia, famous in Hungary and performed by Hungarian and non-Hungarian musicians around the world.  The village recordings of this springtime love song - including a recording nearly 100 years old - are full of rich melodic details and additional song words not heard in the popular versions.  If you'd like to learn a famous folk song others are likely to know, join us!

Sunday:
"Sok születésnapokat", the Hungarian folk "happy birthday song".  Learn this gorgeous folk song from the village Szék in Transylvania which you can sing for your loved ones on their birthdays!  It has a beautiful melody and equally beautiful and poetically rich song words, and is commonly sung within folk music and dance communities both in Hungary and in the diaspora.

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Price:

                                                           Full Weekend:                                                       Single Class:

Residents of Hungary:               Sliding scale 3000-4000 Ft.                                     2000 Ft. per class

International Participants:     Sliding scale $20-50 USD                                         Sliding scale $12-25 USD per class

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PRIVATE LESSONS, PRIVATE GROUP CLASSES, WORKSHOPS & OTHER EVENTS

In addition to the public group classes listed above, we have students studying both in-person in Budapest and online from around the world in one-on-one private lessons, semi-private or small group private study (2-5 people), and in larger groups (choruses, school music classes, workshops, festivals, summer camps, etc).  In-person teaching can happen in other cities as well, but is more limited right now due to coronavirus travel restrictions.  Beyond learning folk songs, frequently requested topics include an introduction to the style, locating specific recordings or song words, pronunciation coaching, feedback and corrections on a song before a performance or recording, and stylistic vocal technique.  Please either contact us with your inquiry or add a note in the registration form below.

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ABOUT ZINA BOZZAY

Zina Bozzay is an active performer, collector, arranger, and teacher of Hungarian folk songs in the US and Hungary. She has taught these songs to Hungarian speakers and non-speakers for over a decade, and is known for her accessible teaching style, academic rigor, and contagious enthusiasm. When her in-person classes went virtual in spring 2020 due to coronavirus, people joined from around the world, leading to these expanded online offerings in fall 2020 and spring 2021. For more information on Zina, click here.

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LOOKING FURTHER AHEAD

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Weekly class series and assorted workshops will continue to be offered through the end of May.  In the summer we plan to host a weeklong intensive summer camp, whether in person, online, or both.  Weekly classes will resume in September through December.  Whether or not we are able to hold in-person group classes, we plan to continue offering online classes in any case.

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Sign up on our email list to hear when the next classes are announced and registration is open.  Emails are infrequent.

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Useful links:

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Join our email list to hear about other upcoming classes, workshops, and other events.

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More information about the Hungarian Folk Singing Circle on our main page.

Hungarian Folk Singing Circle on Facebook ("like" our page to hear about future events).

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More Information and FAQs:​

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Preparing for Virtual Classes:

Using a computer or other large screen device is preferable to using a phone screen for the Zoom call, to be able to see full-size video. Please arrange your device so that you can sit or stand ergonomically in front of it, and so that you are looking straight at the screen (not looking down or to the side). This is for good singing posture and ability to do the standing and movement exercises that are part of the classes.

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Have paper, pencils, and a glass of water ready when class begins, as well as snacks if needed.  If you have previously taken classes with Zina, have previously learned songs and other materials also on hand.

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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, etc to that paper during the class.  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.

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Using Zoom:

Please sign on to the online class punctually a few minutes before start time, so we can begin class together.  You do not need to download anything to use Zoom (no app needed), but if you have never used Zoom before please go to the link ahead of the class start time to get yourself oriented and test your set-up.  You just need a working microphone, speaker or headphones, and camera (the camera is optional, but much better for all participants and the functioning of the class) - by default it will use those built in to your device.

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But I'm self-conscious about my singing! / How will we sing together?

Besides warm-ups, much of the class will be in a listen-repeat format, or singing together with participants muted.  In this format, beginners and others who may feel self-conscious can sing with wild abandon, because they cannot be heard -- AND everyone experiences the singing as a duo with the instructor.  There will also be opportunities for participants to sing for the group and receive feedback, particularly after learning a song well or toward the end of a class series to show what they have learned.

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Pricing:

For our virtual 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 the current pandemic has additionally impacted incomes and expenses for many.  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 in difficult times, and we thank you for your support of this work.  Additional financial donations are also always gratefully accepted. 

If you would like to attend the classes but the cost is prohibitive for you, please contact us.  We have arranged work-exchange, exchange of professional services, and barter of goods, 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.
 

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

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Recording: 

We ask that you not record or videotape the classes, bearing in mind that all class materials (audio files and song words) are emailed to all participants.  We expect all participants to honor and respect the host and fellow participants by adhering to this policy.  We reserve the right to record or photograph the classes for documentation and possible promotional purposes.

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Questions / Contact:

Contact Zina here or at zinabozzay@gmail.com.

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

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