Kodály Intézet

THE CROWN JEWELRY ✨💎 An article about our work at the Liszt Ferenc Zeneművészeti Egyetem / Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music and at the Kodály Institute. A short overview of Hungarian music education from the very early time...

With a rich musical history featuring figures from Kodály to Liszt, Hungary is home to a host of cultural education institutions. Alexandra Ivanoff takes MT on a tour of the country’s thriving music ecosystem...

The giant Ferenc Liszt Music University Academy of Music, with a sculpted frieze of Liszt on its façade, is one of Budapest’s best examples of Art Nouveau architecture. Liszt had originally established the Academy in his home in 1875, before moving it to a small building on the famous Andrassy Boulevard in 1878. ‘Liszt founded the Academy for the nation and the public,’ states Dr Judit Rajk, the academy’s professor of vocal arts. ‘We not only teach the students, we educate music teachers too.’ Major alumni include George Solti, Eugene Ormandy, Ernst von Dohnanyi, Béla Bartók, Antal Dórati, György Ligeti, Emmerich Kálmán, Éva Marton, György Kurtág and János Starker.

Dr Rajk is also the director of the Zoltán Kodály Pedagogical Institute of the Liszt Academy. Founded 53 years ago, the Institute is located in Kecskemét, Kodály’s birthplace, and the school welcomes students from all over the world. ‘Kodály’s principles and philosophy had a strong influence after the Second World War, especially in the primary schools,’ Dr Rajk explained. ‘His method is voice-based because of his years of research into folk songs in the Carpathian region. Kodály’s second wife persuaded the Hungarian government to found the institution, partly as a recognition of his works but also to provide weekly instrumental and vocal lessons as well as mentoring for the students, who would receive individual attention.’
Kodály’s unique approach to music training is followed around the world. The International Kodály Society, founded in 1975, exists in 34 countries and holds regular international symposiums. In 2016 his method was recognised as an item of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Read the full article👇
https://www.musicteachermagazine.co.uk/content/feature/music-education-in-hungary

Not even the heat can stand in the way of a splendid solfège lesson.
At the dedication ceremony for the new building of the Békéstarhos Music School: Zoltán Kodály, Director György Gulyás, violinist Ede Zathureczky, composer György Ránki, Mrs. Nándor Szávai, secretary of the Musicians’ Association, and Éva Varjasné Mányai are listening to the singing of the solfège class students in the institute’s garden.
May 2, 1953
Photo by Dezső Sziklai

A hőség sem lehet akadálya egy pompás szolfézsórának.

A békéstarhosi zeneiskola új épületének felavatásán Kodály Zoltán (elöl, b3), Gulyás György igazgató (j2), Zathureczky Ede hegedűművész (b2), Ránki György zeneszerző (hátul, j3), Szávai Nándorné, a Zeneművész Szövetség titkára és Varjasné Mányai Éva az intézet kertjében hallgatják a szolfézs osztály növendékeinek énekét.
1953. május 2.

Készítette: Sziklai Dezső
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Not even the heat can stand in the way of a splendid solfège lesson.

At the dedication ceremony for the new building of the Békéstarhos Music School: Zoltán Kodály, Director György Gulyás, violinist Ede Zathureczky, composer György Ránki, Mrs. Nándor Szávai, secretary of the Musicians’ Association, and Éva Varjasné Mányai are listening to the singing of the solfège class students in the institute’s garden.
May 2, 1953
Photo by Dezső Sziklai

Join us for the 35th International Summer Seminar and immerse yourself in the Kodály based music education. Have a special two-week intensive experience. ✨ Do not miss the deadline.
📅 Dates: July 20–31
📍 Location: Kecskemét, the city of Kodály.

The Night of Museums 2026: Due to warranty-related construction works, we are unable to open our doors today for the events of the Night of Museums. While we will miss welcoming you in person, we are definitely there with you in spirit! To bring a little bit of the Kodály Institute atmosphere to your feed, we would love to share a few lovely memories and photos from last year’s event. 📸🎶
We would also like to wish all the participating cultural institutions in Kecskemét a vibrant and successful evening, and to the public, a deeply meaningful and inspiring Night of Museums! We reopen our doors soon again and look forward to seeing you in July, at the events of the 35th International Kodály Seminar🙂

Don't miss this special concert conducted by Anna Füri, our institute's choir director and Margó Merényi, our former student! Everyone is welcome to join. 🎶
See the flyer below for times and location details! 👇

We are thrilled to share that Kodály Australia is offering the prestigious Deanna Hoermann Scholarship once again to support postgraduate studies at the Kodály Institute! 🇦🇺🤝🇭🇺

Check out the call and the requirements, explore our post-master and advanced study programmes on our website (kodaly.hu), read our former students' testimonials, and apply!
https://kodaly.org.au/awards/dhs/

Deanna Hoermann Scholarship Deanna Hoermann Scholarship (DHS) Kodály Australia (KMEIA Inc) is proud to honour the legacy of Dr Deanna Hoermann and her significant contribution to the Australian Kodály movement. The principal …

There is something truly special about the bond our students share with Kecskemét—no matter where their music takes them, they always find their way back! ❤️🎶

Recently, our former student Joanna Maluga (Poland) was travelling with her choir between a festival in Mohács and a concert for the Polish Society in Budapest, and she had one special dream: to make a stop along the way to show her choir the Kodály Institute where she once studied.

As she shared with us after her brief visit: she would not be where she is now if she had not studied at the Institute. ❤️

The doors of the Institute will always be open to our returning alumni. 🏛️ 🤗