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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Saturday, June 14th
Jack
So glad to have worked on Holiday with Jack today! We did a simplified version of the snare tom intro lick. We will speed it up and try to play it with the music next lesson! Jack loved the song!
Aleksander
We chose Holiday as the Green Day song to play! Good job picking up the intro so fast and remember always lock into the beat (1 and 3 on bass drum and 2 and 4 on snare drum) and all the triplet material are just flair added onto that beat. Starting from B, think of this as our usual 8th note rock beat, except the eight note is slightly shuffled into triplet/swung. Also the swung note is marked as ghosted, so try to apply the push/pull motion when practising the groove. We would play the rest of page 1 next class.
Jonah
We continued with the worship song “Praise” today. I encourage you to read the score more carefully, as you are quick to pick up the groove, but often times it is the intricate details that makes the song interesting and is crucial to supporting the melody and development of the song, for example bar 21 and 22 of the piece. Whether it is an accent or a change in pattern, observe it and practise WITH those in mind. If not you will always be practising something sounds right but not quite there yet.
Jared
We read through Silhouettes till “I” today. “G” was slightly tricky with the buzzed snare hit, which at times make your time feel a little shaky. Try to think of that passage in bigger phrases and things will feel much easier to process. We are very close to the end of the song, might try to play through it next class!
Mario
You are growing more and more familiar with the rhythm but it seems like you are at times remembering the rhythm in a fixed speed and not thinking about it in the context of the bpm you have chosen to play the passage at. I encourage you to work with a metronome during practise and actually try to subdivide it (1ena which you are either playing 1()na or 1e()a) The song is also rather slow so instead of practising to play it faster, aim to play it slower but more in time. You got this!
Homework for June 18-25
Henry
Great work today Henry! Here is this week’s homework:
How long to practice: 5-10 min per day
What to practice: Rain on The Roof, Song of The Volga Boatmen, Only Love Can Break Your Heart
How to practice:
Rain- Great progress! Fix fingering so that right thumb is on middle C. Different than Only Love Can Break Your Heart!
Volga Boatmen- Try at home
Only Love- Review
How parents can support practice: Listen and guide, supervise fingering for Rain; he should learn the correct fingering
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
