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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Student Awesomeness!
Drum Students Go Wild!
This is more of a human interest story, and it is a great opportunity for us to share a story about some of our students about their year in lessons.
At the start of the year, Laura, one of our drum teachers took a benchmark of a drum stroke pattern from each of her students called a paradiddle (named for the way that the stroke sounds). The paradiddle is a great asymmetrical drumming stroke that challenges, and builds coordination in students. Marking their progress by seeing what speed they can arrive at over the course of a year is great fun. There is a video about paradiddles at the end of this post.
Today, at the make-up day, we got the final numbers in! Everyone made significant gains in this area – which means that everyone’s coordination, and technical proficiency was greatly improved. Not sure about what the speed markings really mean? Check out this online metronome to get a sense of the speed changes for yourself!
So here are the results from the Fall 2011 to June 2012:
Emmet 185, now 215
Charlotte 130, now 145
Clementine 160, now 205
Noah 56, now 100
Daniel 223, now 240
Gil 188, now 215
Carlito 150, now 205
Vladimir Jon Cubrt – Student
I’m 38 years old and I just started playing trumpet last summer. I’ve been studying with ABC the whole time and I have learned a ton, and had a great time doing it. My teacher is great and makes sure I work hard. Thanks to my teacher, ABC and the gang for making ABC such a welcoming place for an old dog like me to learn a new trick.
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.


