M.Mus (U of T)
B.Mus (Oberlin)
Guitarist Gergely Szabo has an Advanced Diploma in Music Performance from Cambrian College where he majored in the classical guitar. Over his time there, he completed 2 years of comprehensive pedagogy courses. He also gained well grounded vocal skills, as well as basic knowledge on the piano. Outside of classical music, he exhibits a repertoire of skills and knowledge in playing the genres of rock, blues, and heavy metal music. He has experience in teaching the guitar and the ukulele to a range of people aged 6 to 54.
Gergely’s teaching methods include both the use of books and digital methods. The three main books he uses to teach guitar are as follows: “Guitar Method Book 1 by Will Schmid and Greg Koch,” “Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests RCM Level 1,” and “Classical Guitar Repertoire and Etudes RCM Level 1.” For teaching ukulele, he uses the book “Ukulele Songs for 1, 2, or 3 players by Elizabeth Ragsdale.” Aside from these, he frequently uses the Muse Score application as a play-along practicing tool.
Gergely’s passion for music and his dedication to growing the love of music in others are the biggest reasons why he teaches guitar and ukulele. His approach to teaching involves learning through play. The material he covers with his students is always delivered in a way that is highly interactive. Most of the assigned exercises he gives involve the elements of play that students can enjoy both in class and as homework.
Get to know Gergely…Beyond the Bio!
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Latest Homework from Gergely
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Assignments from February 22nd
Happy Saturday Everyone!
Berke:
Please continue to warm up with both the G Major and D Major scale, playing them both hands together. Today we did some sight reading! I’ve uploaded a few more sight reading sheets to the google drive for Berke to warm up with. These exercises test how well Berke can read the notes on the staff. Please have him read “sight reading sheets 1, 2, and 3” when practicing this week. Remember, the goal of sight reading is to play the phrase from start to finish as accurately as possible. Have Berke play through these no more than 3 times, even if they’re not perfect. We will review them in class together next week. We also reviewed Mozart’s Minuet, playing hands together from measures 3-6. When practicing this piece, Berke can review both the right and and the left hand separately before practicing measures 3-6 hands together. For this week he is to slowly add on measures 2 and 7, playing both hands together. Isolate these measures, play them on their own to practice until confident then play measures 2-7 all together. You can find the sight reading pages here.
Great lesson today! I’m excited to see your progress next week!
Assignments from February 20th
Hello Everyone!
Such fun classes today!
Vida:
Great work this week! Continue to warm up with the F Major scale, hands together. Continue to work on Rhino in the Mud. Don’t forget the D in the right hand of measure 8, and review measure 9-11 (this phrase starts on a G!) You can feel free to record this song for Vida to hear! Ask her to play it as if she is “performing it” (playing start to finish smoothly, and as accurately as possible). When listening back, have Vida follow along by pointing to the notes she hears with a pencil. Take turns pointing so that Vida can read and listen at the same time.
Eva:
Great to see you this week! Please continue to help Eva read “Dancing with Frankenstein”. She knows the first phrase, we read this together in class. If she gets stuck and doesn’t remember the notes, I’ve uploaded flashcards of all the notes in the song for review. I’ve also uploaded a work sheet for Eva. The sheet asks her to write in the names of the notes, write the correct note on the staff, and to colour the notes she sees with matching colours. She can also practice “Jingle Bells” as she requested this song in class. Please help her to read this when practicing, she knows most of the notes, but some of them are new (D, F, and A). If she gets stuck, ask her if the next note is higher or lower than the one she just played and by how many steps on the “ladder”. You can find the worksheet and flashcards here.
Christin:
Great class today! Continue to warm up with the C and G Major scales. When practicing “A Little Night Music”, remember to look for the shape of the phrase to help with sight-reading. I’ve uploaded a recording of myself playing so you can hear the “finished product”. Try not to rely on the recording and remember to read the notes rather than listen for them. If you feel up for the challenge, try to sight read “Sailor’s Tall Tale” that I’ve uploaded to the drive. You can also start to work on “How Long Will I Love You”! Specifically work on playing the C Major (1st inversion) and G Major chords both solid and “rolled” and practice the eighth note melody in measure 9. Feel free to sight read as much as you can between now and our next class, we can correct any errors then. You can find the materials you need to practice here!
Thanks everyone for great classes this week! Happy practicing!
Preferred Books for Gergely’s Students
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Hal Leonard Guitar Method
The second edition of this world-famous method by Will Schmid and Greg Koch is preferred by teachers because it makes them more effective while making their job easier. Students enjoy its easy-to-follow format that gives them a solid music education while letting them play songs right away. Book 1 provides beginning instruction including tuning, 1st position melody playing, C, G, G7, D7, and Em chords, rhythms through eighth notes, solos and ensembles and strumming.
Four Star Sight Reading and Ear Tests
