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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Dalia — Oct 13th
Hi Dalia!
Here is what to play this week.
Strumming Patterns
Do the SP’s on each chord. — The first 4 chords are in last week’s post. Here is the newest one: G9. — This is easier than a G chord. Strum all four strings. The orange numbers represent which fingers to hold down the frets with. The diagram is now horizontal; what you see as the lowest string there is G. Going up from there completes the acronym GCEA.
- “Strawberries and Apples!” — DUDUD D
- “Grapes! Grapes! Snozzberry grapes!” — D, D, D DUD
- “Peaches, Pears, Pumpkin Pie!” — DUD DUD
- Feel free to play the ones from last week too. But please make sure you are doing these^ ones
- You did really well on these in class!
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Just pick twice on each of the first 2 notes. SP: D D. Keep repeating this.
- Fret 0 on the E string
- Then fret 7 on the E string
- Picking is done with a smaller movement of your RH. Push down through the string with mostly your thumb
- Make sure to have the pointed part of the pick be the one plucking through the string
Additional notes
- The LH (Left Hand) nails need cutting to be able to hold down frets properly. Please do that as soon as possible. — Please cut the RH (Right Hand) nails, too
- Remember to stretch your hands after an ukulele playing session. Just like we did in class today
Thank a lot, guys! See you in a week!
Hudson — Oct 13th
Hi Hudson!
Here is what to focus on this week.
Chords
- The newest chord is A minor (Am)
- Do strumming patterns on each chord — Examples: 1. D UD UDU. Make the down-strums the stronger strums. 2. D D D D. 3. Strum down and up slowly. D U D U
Sliding games
- Hold down any fret. Pick it, and before the note dies, slide up and down the string
- Hold down fret 2 of the G string. Pick it, and slide up to fret 4. Upon letting fret 4 ring, pick the B string. — This should sound like country music
Scales
Look at last week’s post to see what scale is what.
- Play the Em pentatonic scale. Go all the way up then all the way down
- Blues scale games. — Get comfortable with adding that fret 1 and that fret 3. 1 — Play only the frets you can find on the A string in this scale and keep cycling them. 0 1 2, 0 1 2, 0 1 2… 2 — Play only the frets you can find on the G string in this scale and keep cycling them. 0 2 3, 0 2 3, 0 2 3…
Imaginative help
Playing the above things can get boring. So imagine what scene of a movie would be playing alongside each of the tasks I’ve given you this week.
Remember: Just 5 minutes a day on one of these things is good practice. It is indeed better than not practicing at all.
Thank you, Hudson. See you in a week!
Hudson — Oct 6th
Hi Hudson!
Here is what to focus on this week.
Memorize the string names
- Eat A Darn Good Breakfast Everyday ;)
Chords (like last week)
SP (Strumming Pattern): D UD UDU
- Cycle this pattern. (Repeat it over and over.) Remember to start each cycle with a down-strum. — Pay attention to your RH when you do this. You’ve gotta make sure you start it with a down-strum. — Do this with each chord. So that’s 3 different chord exercises to do
- You were great at being nice and brave with your playing today. That is, you were not shy. Keep that up!
- Chords can be a great time to play without being shy
- The down-strummed chords are usually gonna be the louder ones in a SP. Aim to make the down-strums louder than the up-strums
Em pentatonic scale
You played this scale pretty well today.
- Keep playing it over the backing track: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSm2EhPZHFo
Em blues scale
Well done with this in class today. Keep doing it on your own.
- Get comfortable with adding that fret 1 and that fret 3. — Play those extra 2 games I gave you. Start by playing those. 1 — Play only the frets you can find on the A string in this scale and keep cycling them. 0 1 2, 0 1 2, 0 1 2… 2 — Play only the frets you can find on the G string in this scale and keep cycling them. 0 2 3, 0 2 3, 0 2 3…
- Then go up and down the whole scale. This is the 3rd game to play
- The only difference between this and the above scale are those blue dots. (Fun fact: in blues, they really are called “blue notes”)
- The 4th game for this scale: Once you’re comfortable with it (that is, you can play the scale without needing to see the picture), use these notes to play over the backing track above
Regarding picking
When picking in any scale, a good way to think about it is to push down with only the thumb.
- Aim to pick down as well as up. In class, you were mostly picking upward for the scales. Try picking both directions for the scales
Thank you Hudson! I’ll see you in a week!
Ronan — Oct 3rd
Hi Ronan!
Here’s what to do this week.
Memorize the string names
This^ PDF sows you the string names. I’ll quiz you on these next week.
- Funny sentence to memorize the string names with: “Eat A Darn Good Breakfast Everyday”
Open string strumming
Strum through all 6 strings. Try to play the SP (Strumming Pattern) of Down, Down-Up-Down, Down-Up-Down, Down-Up-Down. Like we were doing in class.
- An easier SP: Down, Down, Down, Down. If the one above is too difficult
4 string G chord
- Strum only the strings D, G, B, and e
- You can use any finger to hold down that fret 3; it doesn’t have to be finger 4
Two games
- 1: Strum away at that chord — An additional challenge: Try doing the strumming pattern from above on this chord. Not the most urgent way to play this game; it’s a challenge if you have gotten on top of the unorganized strumming I’ve given you
- 2: The on & off game. Strum it but keep switching between holding down fret 3 on the e string and playing the open e string
Em chord
This is the most challenging thing in the homework this week. Attempt to play this chord. — I won’t be very strict with how you play this one in class next week. But please do try to play it.
Have fun with this! I’ll 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
