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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Efe — Apr 11th
Hi Efe! Wishing you a great week!
Here’s the outlook on this month.
The recital is May 2nd. The priority for you right now is to perform for the recital. Hence we’re putting the music reading and other guitar studies on hold for the time being.
You’re going to be playing the 3 main riffs of Boulevard of Broken Dreams for the recital.
— Practice the first 2 of these in Em (E minor); the way I showed it in class.
- The first one: Em, G, D, A.
- The second one: C5, G5, D5, Em. (The 5’s just mean that they’re powerchords. Remember to use fingers 1 and 4 for these.)
— The 3rd one: Use this Unlisted YouTube video to practice it with. March 18th Video. The key here is F# minor. Slow the video down to 0.75x speed when practicing with it.
- At minute 4:50 is where I start demonstrating this last riff.
- Regarding the vibrato: Just try to do some with your Left Hand fingers going left-right-left-right-left-right. The thumb must be located directly behind where the fingers are doing the vibrato on the guitar neck. Also, whatever number of finger is on the fretboard must have your other Left Hand fingers pressed down on the frets to its left. It is stronger and therefore more comfortable vibrato this way. Examples: Finger 3 vibrato means fingers 1 and 2 must also be on the fretboard. Finger 4 vibrato means fingers 1, 2, and 3 must also be on the fretboard. — These other fingers on the fretboard should each be on a fret, all right next to one another. (Not the most important thing out of this week’s work; I’ll tell you more about this next week. Just give it a try.)
I’m going to make an arrangement of these riffs in one seamless piece of music.
— This arrangement is now here, at this Unlisted YouTube video link: April 15th Link
- Slow the video down to 0.5x speed when practicing with it. For now. I know the video says 0.6x, but that’s a step I’m hoping you’ll be able to achieve in another week.
- Regarding playing speed: We’ll soon choose the final speed as a goal at which you’ll be playing this for the recital.
Enjoy the strumming patterns. Playing strumming patterns is one of the exciting things about playing the guitar.
Remember to do at least a little bit of practice for this everyday.
Good seeing you again today, Efe! I’ll see you in a week!
Homework for April 1-8
Dear students,
Great work today!! Here is your homework for this week:
Nova
Recommended minutes to practice: 20-30 min per day
What to practice: Halftime Show, Matchmaker, Ode to Joy, C triads
How to practice:
Halftime Show- great work on first two lines! Remember to repeat them. Distinguish between slurred staccato at the beginning of the third line (detached) to actual staccato at the end (sharper). Also distinguish between forte dynamic in the first two lines and mezzo forte dynamic in the third line. Practice the syncopation in the third line.
Matchmaker- Great memorization! Again, practice the slurred vs short staccatos. Think of beat 1 being the longest (connects to beat 2), beat 2 being shorter (detached; staccato and slur pretty much neutralizes it), and beat 3 being the shortest (full on sharp staccato). Pay attention to dynamics. Line 2 repeats but the first repetition is mezzo forte while the second is piano, think of it as a soft echo. Practice top of page 2 and transitions to first and second endings so that you’re as confident with them as you are on page 1 and don’t have to stop between bars.
Ode to Joy- review for recital
C triads- review
How parents can support practice- listen and guide as needed
Maya
Recommended minutes to practice: 10-15 minutes a day
What to practice: The Rainbow, Baby Bear
How to practice:
The Rainbow- good work! Have both hands on the keys to start so that left hand is ready to play right after right hand. The final note on line 1 should be held for 3 counts; be careful not to rush it. Left hand should go right after beat 3. Do not skip any notes.
Baby Bear- Great work on first four bars! The last four bars are as follows: bars 5-6 are C-D four times, do not skip the last D! Bars 7-8 have: Skip down up step down. There is also a pattern connecting 7-8 to the last two notes of bar 6: C-D-E-C-E-D-C
How parents can support practice: Playing with her works very well, continue doing so!
See you next week :)
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
