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!
Coming soon!
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Latest Homework from Gergely
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Tuesday, May 21st
Jonah
Warmups (1min/ea)
–Triplet Exercise (Goal tempo=115)
–Sixteenth-note exercise (goal tempo=100)
–Stick Control: ex. 57-64 (160bpm)
Xylophone
–C, G, and F major scales (straight, arpeggios, broken thirds)
–El Mosquito Maron melody
–Tropical Feel**
Joel Rothman: finishing up Lesson 17
NEW SONG Herbie Hancock: Watermelon Man
–See handout on the google drive for the main groove
Francisco
Warmups (30sec/ea., find goal speed):
–8 on a hand (140bpm)
–Singles (sixteenths at 140bpm)
–doubles (16ths at 90*)
–Paradiddles (16ths at 90*)
Drumset Musician p13 ex 16-19 a)
–polish these off this week
–If you’re ready, carry on to the next four exercises
Nirvana: Smeels like Teen Spirit
–Everything up until the end of line 2
–substitute floor tom for bass in opening fill
–add final BD to the & of 4 in the main groove
Noah
Warmups:
–Triplet Exercise (1mm RH, 2mm LH) @ 95bpm**
–Sixteenth-note Exercise (on handout)
Lenny Kravitz: Are You Gonna Go My Way
–Continuing this week with p/ 2:
—-Emphasize the “&” of 4 push at the end of the first line on p2
—-Drill the fill at the end of the second line min. 5x per practice session (hands only and then add bass drum)
—-Drill the extended drum fill at the end of Verse 2
Saturday May 18 Lessons – Erin P
Hakim
Congrats on polishing Lost Woods! It is super impressive that you can play that hands together, steady and with so many position changes! Proud.
*New* Bee. – the lines I drew are every 4 bars to show you the repeating 4 bar bass line. This is in the key of Bb major so all Bs and Es are FLAT. This week learn the first 4 bars hands together, and then keep exploring as much as you can hands seperate. This will sound great on an electric piano setting, you could even slow down the official recording a bit and play along!
You know your C, G and newest scale – F Major. They all have the same fingering except for F in the RH goes 1234 1234. See below
Warmup with those and your C triad patterns.
Maria
Golden Hour – Nice work on the first page! Next up is where I drew the star on the second page. Add in the RH here, it is the prechorus where beautiful lush chords start getting layered before the texture breaks into the powerful chorus. Watch the key signature.
We also did ear playback, lead sheet reading, and sightreading today :)
Shakira
Saints Go Marching lead sheet – Today we were able to put this hands together with simple power chords (root and 5th) in the LH. With lead sheets, you play the melody as written, and then you can make choices of how to bring the chord progression to life. This is a super underrated musician skill.
Noreet
*New* Lightly Row (Lesson Book) – This piece uses staccato solid intervals in the LH to make a fun accompaniment. Most are 5ths or 2nds (you can use the finger numbers as clues), but 3rds and 4ths are used too. The RH uses a combination of staccato and legato notes to create excitement. LH is bass C position, RH is treble C position.
*New Scale* G Major. See below for fingering guide.
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
