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For the new autumn term, we are delighted to present our 8-week online Solfège course at 4 levels. Based on Kodály's philosophy of singing, ear-training and active music-making, this course will help you to build sight-singing, aural and musicianship skills while developing your understanding of music theory. Our new dual levels system allows you to further tailor the classes to your needs, with optional assignments for those who would like to earn a certificate to reflect and celebrate your hard work!
COURSE DATES
Start: October 14/15
Finish: December 2/3
CLASS TIMES
Level 1: Wednesdays 7:00-8:15pm
Level 2/3: Thursdays 6:45-8:00pm
Level 4/5: Wednesdays 7:00-8:15pm
Level 6+: Thursdays 6:45-8:00pm
All classes at local time (Dublin, Ireland)
COURSE FEE
Solfège: €140 (members)/€180 (non-members)
Solfège and Methodology: €220 (members)/€240 (non-members)
An Early Bird discount of €20 on all tickets is valid until midnight on Sunday September 27
COURSE INSTRUCTORS
Level 1: Amy Walsh
Level 2/3: Yasmin Folini
Level 4/5: Lara Afrazmanech
Level 6+: Boldizsár Kiss
YASMIN FOLINI
Yasmin Folini is a graduate of the Department of Music Pedagogy at the Liszt Academy of Music. As a recipient of the Hungarian State Scholarship, she obtained her BA in General Music studies with Kodály Emphasis (Distinction), and her MA in Kodály Music Pedagogy (Distinction). In 2018 she received her diploma in Kokas Pedagogy from the Kokas Klára Agape Foundation (Kokas Klára Agape Zene-életöröm Alapítvány) in Budapest.
In September 2015 she joined the faculty of the Kodály Institute of the Liszt Academy of Music, where she teaches mainly Solfége and Music Theory. As a music teacher, she has delivered workshops in Italy, Greece, Hungary, Romania, Portugal, Slovenia, Estonia and South Korea.
Since 2021 Yasmin teaches musicianship to various children and adult groups, as well as sight-singing for singers at the Athenaeum Conservatory and the Apollonio Conservatory. In 2023 she obtained a Counterpoint diploma at the Athens Conservatory, where she also continues her piano studies with Theodore Tzovanakis.
Lara Afrazmanech
Recently graduated from the masters in music pedagogy at the Kodály Institute, Lara Afrazmanech is a French/Irish choral singer and conductor with a passion for teaching. She is pursuing another year of post-masters studies with a scholarship at the Institute. Having grown up in France with the fixed do system, she transitioned to the movable do system in her undergraduate music degree at Trinity College Dublin, where she studied solfege under Amy Ryan, Lynsey Callaghan and Orla Flanagan. At the Institute, she studied under Yasmin Folini and Nóra Keresztes. A true advocate for the Kodály philosophy, Lara is also curious to explore and integrate new ways of teaching. Her thesis was on holistic harmonic perception. Lara is an independent filmmaker on the side and recently released her first feature film.
Amy Walsh
Amy is a committed music educator who has worked in many different settings throughout her career. She is committed to her work with musicians of all ages and experience, and
aiding the professional development of teachers in Ireland, particularly relating to Zoltán Kodály, his philosophy and concept of music education.
After completing her BA Music and H.Dip in Trinity College Dublin, Amy completed a one-year diploma in the Kodály Institute of the Liszt Ferenc Academy, Hungary, which further instilled her passion for music education. Following this, she graduated with the first cohort of the MA in Choral Studies in Dublin City University achieving a First Class Honours.
More recently, Amy has completed the International Kodály Certificate Level 3 in Musicianship and Pedagogy from the Kodály Institute of the Liszt Ferenc Academy, and the Professional Certificate in Secondary Level Teaching from the British Kodály Academy and National Youth Choir of Scotland. She is currently working to complete the complementary certificate for Primary Level.
From 2011 to 2022, Amy worked as a Music Teacher in Newpark Comprehensive School in Blackrock, Co. Dublin. Since then, she has worked in Dublin City University working with undergraduate and post-graduate trainee music teachers; ExWell Medical Unity Choirs;
teaching music and taking choirs in Our Lady of Fatima School; teaching musicianship with Kodály Ireland and in Leeson Park School of Music; and occasional work with the Post-Primary Music Teachers’ Association, and Sing Ireland.
Amy currently lives in Wexford and enjoys a freelance career.
Boldizsár Kiss
Boldizsár Kiss is the artistic director and conductor of the Pax et Bonum Chamber Choir, Budapest, and is currently a doctoral student at the Liszt Academy of Music, Budapest. He has been teaching Solfège, Music Theory and Conducting at the
Kodály Institute since 2024.
Boldizsár Kiss studied at the Liszt Academy of Music, Budapest, between 2010 and 2018. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Orchestral and Choral Conducting in 2013. In 2016, he completed his MA studies in Choral Conducting. In 2018, he received his second MA degree in General Music Studies and School Music Teaching with highest honours. His most influential professors were Péter Erdei, István Párkai, Csaba Somos and László Norbert Nemes. In 2015, he spent a semester at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin on an Erasmus scholarship, studying in the class of Professor Jörg-Peter Weigle.
Boldizsár taught Solfège and Music Theory and directed the male choir at St. Stephen Music Secondary School in Budapest between 2017 and 2023. He worked at the Hungarian State Opera as a conductor and piano accompanist for
the Children’s Chorus between 2016 and 2019.
Boldizsár has recorded an album entitled Veni Sancte Spiritus with the Pax et Bonum Chamber Choir, featuring motets by the early Baroque German composer Bartholomäus Gesius. The album was released in January 2026. On 15 October 2025, he conducted the premiere of Máté Balogh’s Winter, or The Wall Has Ears, a musical stage work for vocal soloists, mixed choir and chamber ensemble, in the Solti Hall of the Liszt Academy of Music. He conducted the Béla Bartók Chamber Choir, Szolnok (Hungary), for six years - the only professional female choir in Hungary. During his tenure, the choir gave numerous concerts and premiered choral works by Péter Andorka, Levente Gyögyösi, András Derecskei and Máté Balogh.
In 2024, at the 6th International Ave Verum Choir Competition held in Baden bei Wien, Austria, the Pax et Bonum Chamber Choir was awarded the Audience Prize, while Boldizsár Kiss, the choir’s conductor, received a Special Prize for Conducting.
In June 2024, the Pax et Bonum Chamber Choir participated in a masterclass led by The King’s Singers, organized by the House of Music Hungary. The choir was selected by members of the world-renowned vocal ensemble from among more than 30
participating choirs.
LEVEL DESCRIPTOR
level 1
A fun and supportive class for beginners, recommended for anyone regardless of musical experience! The class requires no musical knowledge or experience, and will build the basic skills to support you in singing in a choir, taking up an instrument or better understanding the music you listen to.
level 2/3
This class is recommended to anyone who has completed Level 1, to those returning to music after a long break, or who have studied an instrument but are new to relative solfa. Level 2/3 gives a thorough grounding in diatonic music and introduces simple part-work - choose between activities and assignments at Level 2 or Level 3 to tailor to your individual needs.
level 4/5
For those who are comfortable with the use of relative solfa, and have a good understanding of music theory. Perhaps you have previously taken Solfège Classes, or have had some formal training in music (either recently, or many moons ago!) This class introduces modes, chromatic alterations, functional harmony and more complex musical material.
level 6+
For those who are very comfortable with the use of relative solfa and/or music theory, and those who have had formal training in music. Diving deeper into music theory and harmony all encountered through singing and listening, this is a space to push your musical knowledge, skill, and coordination.
Classes will run subject to enrolment. Spaces are limited.
Classes are guaranteed to take place on Wednesday and Thursday evenings; however, exact class details are subject to change.
REFUND POLICY
If you have booked onto our solfège course but can no longer attend, we can offer you a credit note for use on any of our future courses. You must cancel your place via email before Sunday October 11 to avail of a credit note. Refunds will be offered where the course is cancelled, or otherwise does not run as advertised.
What is Solfège?
Solfège is an interactive, collaborative, and kinesthetic type of music lesson, with the aim of developing musicianship skills such as ear training, the ability to sight-read as well as an understanding of music theory. It is not to be confused with the more commonly known word solfa, a term that describes a group of musical syllables ( "do re mi", etc) which are used to help understand melody (and will be used in a solfège class!).
Solfège is a type of musical training long-associated with the pioneering Hungarian music educator Zoltán Kodály. It was the aim of this impactful composer and pedagogue to provide young people with a life-long love and understanding of music. Kodály said that a good musician is one with a well- trained ear, a well-trained mind, a well-trained hand and a well-trained heart; a solfège lesson based on the Kodály philosophy is a highly practical one, with lots of music-making at its core.
What is Solfège?
What happens in a typical lesson?
As a solfège student you will develop your understanding of music in an active manner: our students sing in every lesson, both in unison and in harmony; work on ear-training and memory development; perform and analyse folk songs and art music from the classical repertoire, with the intention of furthering their understanding of music theory and deepening their love of music.
What happens in a typical lesson?
Would I need to read music?
The Level 1 course is suitable for complete beginners, with no experience necessary! Level 2/3 assumes a basic knowledge of music literacy, while participants at Level 4 and higher should be comfortable reading from stave notation.
Do I need to read music?
Do I need to bring an instrument?
If possible, try to have a piano/keyboard nearby during the classes, particularly for the upper levels.
Do I need to bring an instrument?
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
A. C
"The course was thought out and executed very well. It introduced me to a wide range of new music and provided me with lots of new tools to improve my musicianship. The class was challenging but fun!"
K. N
"This course has improved and refreshed my musicianship skills, and I think it would be beneficial to all musicians."
E. M
"I think this course would benefit musicians with any level of prior solfège experience. It was engaging, encouraging and made me feel like I was consistently improving my musicianship skills."