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 – Jan 31st
Hi Efe!
So sorry I couldn’t be at the lesson today. I should be well for next time.
This week’s Google Drive: Efe – Jan 31st
Here’s what to look at for this coming week.
Em pentatonic scale
- New backing track: Em Blues
- This backing track is a little faster than the one from before.
- Try bends and vibrato here, too. — A note: for the high E string, doing bends and vibrato down toward the floor is not possible, so only do these things upwards.— High E string vibrato: small pushes upward.
— High E string bends: pushing up with at least two fingers on the note.
I’ve added some new notes to your knowledge of this pentatonic scale. There’s a picture of them in the Google Drive. Keep improvising in the notes of this scale for this week.
E, A, and D chords
These are all major chords. I’d like you to get acquainted with playing them, and have an idea of the shapes of each chord. This video in the Google Drive what I’m asking you to play along with. Feel free to slow it down if it feels too fast.
- The best way to play this particular game is to remember that finger 1 of the Left Hand never leaves the G string. It shifts between some of the chords here, but it never “jumps.” The other fingers have to jump.
Have fun with this, Efe. We’ll be able to go over previous and new material in much more depth next class. See you in a week!
Homework for Jan 28-Feb 4
Dear students,
Great work today! Here’s this week’s homework:
Nova
Recommended minutes to practice: 15-20 min per day
What to practice: Juggler, Ode to Joy, C and G scales, theory p. 29 risky rhythms, p. 31 tricky time signatures
How to practice:
Juggler- Staccatos are much better! Practice them particular in the Cs section, especially with finger 1 as that’s the fingering you use for most of it. Hold the G at the end of the phrase for two beats- no staccato there. Make sure that the rhythm is steady for the legato section. If unsteady, practice it using abnormal rhythms we did in the lesson, both ways.
Ode to Joy- practice the buildup from quiet to loud/triumph. Practice the feeling of playing quiet vs playing loud. With a piece that’s repetitive, using different dynamics each time makes it more interesting.
Scales- Know when the fingering transitions happen. Right hand happens on mi/3 and ti/7 and left hand happens on so/5 and do/1.
How parents can support practice: Listen and guide as needed.
Maya
Recommended minutes to practice: 5-10 per day
What to practice: C-D-E, C-B-A, Marching
How to practice:
C-D-E/C-B-A- remember which notes are one-beat (ta) and which notes are two-beat (too). In line 2, the E in C-D-E and the A in C-B-A is a ta, so it is followed by another ta. It has to be played as a ta, not a too, so that the next ta can take its turn.
Marching- hands together, thumbs share middle C. Both lines are ta until the end which is a too. Remember when it is right hands turn and when it is left hand’s turn. When a hand is not playing, keep it close to the piano so it is ready to play.
All songs- practice reading the songs on rhythm, out loud, using ta and too, and then once comfortable, read it on rhythm naming the notes.
How parents can support practice: Listen and support with notes and rhythm as needed.
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
