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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Homework from Thursday December 19th
Hello Everyone!
We had some awesome lessons today!
Noreet:
Today we reviewed Jingle Bells. There has been a noticeable improvement since last week, especially in her sight reading! Today we talked about chords and learned our G Major, F Major, and C Major chords to accompany the melody of Jingle Bells. I’ve written in the chords for Jingle Bells in the boxes below the melody (right hand). The chords and the melody line up where Noreet should play both hands together. The chords themselves are written on a different page. We talked about playing the “root” note (“G” in G Major, “F” in F major, and “C” in C Major) with the 5th finger of the left hand and building the chord up from there. She should practice playing these chords and switching from chord to chord without the melody first until she in comfortable enough to try adding the right hand back in. Play hands together when confident. We also reviewed the G Major scale today so Noreet can warm up with both her C Major scale and her G Major scale. Practice playing C Major with both hands at the same time. The fingering of when to cross her 3rd and 4th fingers are different for the two hands. The goal is to practice making her fingers do two different things at the same time. Some really great progress today!
Vida:
Today we reviewed rhythm and our note value pyramid! We revisited the metronome and practiced clapping along to the beat and clapping eighth notes to the beat. Practice this at home with her. Continue to warm up with the C Major and B Major scales with the metronome. Start at 140 BPM and play each note to the beat, then challenge her to try 90 BPM and play eighth notes. The goal is to find the “pocket” where two eighth notes fit into one beat. Vida also played “Do Re Mi” from the Sound of Music. Keep encouraging her to play this as it will help us when reviewing intervals in the New Year. We reviewed Everybody Wants to Rule the World and sight read the bridge of the song. When reading at home, take turns pointing to the notes and naming them. Start by pointing to each note and asking Vida to name it, then switch and ask her to point while you name the note. This will help her associate notes on the staff with the correct letter names. You can slowly play along while you do this. When practicing Everybody Wants to Rule the World, start with the melody/chord page at the front of her book and then add on the notes for the bridge before going back to the chorus on the first page. Great listening and reading today!
Thank you everyone for your work these past few weeks!
A reminder that we are closed December 24th-January 1st. Lessons will resume the week of January 4th. Our first class in the New Year will be January 9th 2025!
Happy Holidays everyone, I will see you in the New Year!
Digital Portal Update
Hello Everybody!
As you know, we have a Digital Portal page on our website, which is meant to help you connect to your online lesson when you need it. Up to now it has been a grid of days, studios, and teachers, with Zoom links, and FarPlay links.
We have now updated this to be simpler and easier for you.
You choose your teacher’s picture, find the teaching day you are on, and click the button for it.
Remember, your teacher should always be online in case you can’t make it in, so you can jump into the digital studio any time. This is a standard part of our service, and doesn’t cost you more, so all you have to do is jump on if and when you need it. If you have questions about how this works, just let us know.
Thank you!
-Barnaby & the ABC Team
Preferred Books for Gergely’s Students
Click to buy them here, and they’ll come right to your house! What could be easier?
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
