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!
Coming soon!
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Welcome back!!! Saturday, September 7th
Nova
Goals this year!:
–Nova has a xylophone now!
–Gary Burton and Chick Corea: four mallet technique
–Hamilton musical: drum set stuff
–Bloom from Scott Pilgrim
–Photo ID Remi Wolf(?); Sabrina Carpenter; Call Me By Your Name; Over it by Dux
Warmups:
—Stick Control first 13 exercises
Remi Wolf: Photo ID
–Intro fill (3e a4e+ )
–Main beat: Basic beat level two
–Verse: drums drop out, bass drum pattern
–For next week: fills in the second chorus
Jack
Goals:
–Puss in Boots theme
–drum solos cymbals and
–big drum solos
–Two-handed playing
Puss in Boots:
–LH plays beat at tempo
–groups of three notes (LRL and RLR) at slower speed
Jared
Goals this year:
–Faster bass drum
–Joan Jett: Cherry Bomb
–Get more creative with drum fills and beats (Benny Greb book?)
–Funk Drumming? Latin Drumming? Other styles.
–Bruno Mars for open house at school (Treasure; Locked; Die with a Smile; 24k or Uptown Funk)
Warmups:
—Stick Control ex 1-13 goal tempo: 60bpm
—-Play each exercise 4 times, one measure rest before moving on
Bruno Mars: Treasure
–Practice this whole song with the recording, next week we’ll work on getting creative to make drum part more interesting
Assignments for the week of September 5th, 2024
Hello everyone! It was great to meet you all. Here are notes from your lessons:
Eva
What we learned:
- tracing out the hands, recognizing left and right with corresponding numbering (LH:54321 RH:12345)
- practicing patterns (ex: 123, 321, 131. 135, 432, etc)
- moving to the keyboard, noticing patterns across the piano (groups of two and three going up and down)
- Began looking through Faber Piano Adventures Primer Level, played pages 10-13
Recommended minutes to practice: 15 minutes a day (with a little bit of parental help)
What to practice:
- Left and Right Hand Patterns
- Hand posture at the piano, see the pages I scanned and uploaded for you (Faber Piano Adventures Primer Level, September 5th)
- Getting used to sitting and “playing” on a flat surface, can try it at the keyboard as well!
How to practice it most effectively: check in with the hand tracing to make sure fingers and numbers match. Practice slowly, keeping the hands relaxed.
Greta
What we went through/reviewed:
- scales (D major, G major), triads
- minor key signatures and how to find relative major
- acronyms to remember notes in the spaces and on the lines
- new pieces: Bouree in D Minor and Amber Moon
- beginning steps to breaking down a piece of music/how to practice
What to practice:
- Technique: G major scale (hands together, 2 octaves), D minor solid triad (2 octaves, hands separate or together)
- Look through new pieces, begin learning
How to practice most effectively:
- Review note acronyms for treble and bass clef, play through RH and LH separately and try putting them together. Always check in with the sheet music for fingerings and note accuracy. Look for patterns
Have a good week everyone!
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
