Szeryk Guitar Academy was formed in September of 1990 by Virtuoso guitarist Scott Szeryk in London Ontario Canada.
Scott Szeryk started playing at the age of 9 and enrolled in the Royal Conservatory of Music program where he studied for 10 years completing his Grade 9 in Classical Guitar with full Honours in every grade. After high school Scott moved out to Los Angeles California to further his music studies at the prestigous Musicians Institute GIT. Here Scott was able to fully hone his skills by being able to study and perform with the best players in the world! It was during this time that Scott was also able to study privately with Jazz guitarist Ted Greene. Upon returning to London Ontario in 1990 One of Scott’s goals was to open a music school for guitarists to study at that featured a state of the art learning system with a revolutionary curriculum that would help players develop at an astounding pace.
Our goal is to provide instruction for players at all levels;
- Camp fire 101
- Weekend warrior
- Touring professional
We see that all students develop to the highest level of technical and theoretical ability, regardless of their performance goals. Built on pure energy and self determination to be the best at whatever Scott Szeryk puts his heart into, Szeryk Guitar Academy has become one of the most respected guitar schools in North America. With the years of overwhelming, positive responses to Scott Szeryk’s unique teaching style and to his wealth of musical knowledge, the school has grown to a student body exceeding 100 students per week. As the school keeps expanding, Scott has continued to personally teach as well as through recruiting his top students, brought very knowledgeable and talented instructors on board.
Listen to Scott Szeryk’s latest release – Guitar Manifesto
Student Testimonials:
I have been taking lessons from Scott for almost ten years. I started with him in my early 50s. I have taken guitar lessons from other people over the years but NEVER have I learned as I have with Scott. About four years ago I asked Scott if he would teach me to read music as I had never learned to read before. We embarked on learning to play by note with the classical guitar through the Royal Conservatory of Music. It has been a true labour of love for me and I hope for Scott! Last year, 2012 Scott mentored me towards winning the RMC Gold Medal for Grade 2 classical guitar in Ontario. I still play blues, rock and a tiny smidgen of jazz but I have come to the classical guitar like a fish to water. He is the Zen Master of the guitar…my own personal Mr. Miyagia, ‘wax on, wax off.’ Scott rocks and is also a virtuoso! Paganini move over. -Noele Hall-
This guy is simply the best instructor you can get anywhere. He knows the material, he can teach any style any type of music with the patience of a saint. His authentic approach and know how is based on proven course material. He plays with and knows stars in the industry. He keeps himself up-to-date on the lasted products and techniques. All I can say is your wasting your time and money going anywhere else. -Gary Strang-
A beautiful working environment…!! This school is situated on the beautiful banks of the Thames River and features some cozy newly-renovated classrooms.. Professional teachers…patient and hard working. This school is the best there is in London! -Sarah Smith-
By far the most versatile and profound guitar experience around! Scott is not only a mentor and facilitator, he is also an extremely knowledgable coach. Whether your specialty is rock, blues, jazz, funk, classical, Scott has all the answers Any serious guitarist would be missing out by not investing time with Szeryk Guitar Academy. -Shem Cuprjak-
I had the privilege of being there when 40,000 people boiled into a patriotic eruption as Scott played the American, then Canadian, National Anthem. To take guitar lessons from that same guy is pretty cool. -Dan Mann-
Scott’s approach to guitar instruction teaches sound fundamentals in the context of the students personal musical goals. If you want to be a better guitar player I recommend Scott highly. -Scott Hill-
Scott is the man! I have just started going to Scott and i have already learned a lot. He’s a great teacher. I’m always looking forward to my next guitar lesson. -Andrew Martin-
Szeryk Guitar Academy has been the best experience I have ever had with music lessons. They are very professional while making it fun. I would recommend them to anyone especially if you have a younger child that really wants to learn. -Nancy Dietz-
Scott has been one of the best music instructors I have ever had. Having grown up taking piano lessons for years, I had somewhat mixed feelings about returning to lessons again as an adult. I can honestly say I look forward to my lessons on a weekly basis, rather than fear them. Scott helps you learn at your own pace but always challenges you to become a better player. -Andrew Beaton-
Scott is hands down the best guitar instructor i have ever had. i have had many teachers over the years but scott is by far the best. his knowlage of music is incredible and it shows during lessons. he is personally an idol guitar player of mine but not only that a great guy as well. he has always challanged me to become better and better every day. -Sean Perrin-
I’ve been taking guitar lessons with Scott for just over 5 years now and I’ve really learned a lot. Not only have I learned the basics and fundamentals of guitar but I’ve also been encouraged and taught how to be creative and write on my own! Scott is a good teacher for anyone at any skill level and he will for sure inspire you to be the best guitarist you can be! I would definitely recommend him because of his friendly personality and his phenomenal teaching skills. Five stars for sure! -Graham Ross-
I was one of Scott’s first students when he started out in 1990. For 23 years I have had an incredible musical journey thanks to Scott’s guitar and musical guidance. Scott has provided me with the tools to enjoy playing live in band situations and at a solo performance level. Pay a professional like Scott and you will play like a pro: Just follow his lead! -Chris Murphy-
I have been going to Scott for a year now, I have had two teachers before him and I have never learned as much with them in a year as I did with Scott. He is an amazing guitarist and teacher. He knows nearly every song and technique and if he doesn’t know one he is always willing to learn it and teach it to you with out a problem. He is a fun guy you can get along with and I enjoy taking lessons from him. He will teach you all of the important scales and little blues riffs to teach you solo techniques and make you a better player. I would recommend Scott to anyone who wants to play guitar. -Riley Rose-
I’ve been coached by Scott for over three years now. After I turned 40, I decided to take up music as a hobby and a stress release. After seeing what was available for lessons, I discovered the Szeryk Guitar Academy. I called up Scott and setup my first lesson with him. After arriving at the music studio, I quickly discovered that I chose the right place. Scott obviously took in consideration parents waiting for their kids because the waiting room has comfy furniture, a big flat screen TV and a great view of the river. After entering the professional recording studio, it was in that room after my first 30 minutes lesson that Scott turned took that spark of my interest in guitar and turned into my passion. Scott is a natural when it comes to teaching. His many instructional traits include patients, passionate for his student’s learning, a wealth of knowledge, diverse education and decades of experience in all of the corners in the music industry. He will get you to where you want to go and beyond. Yes, you will go beyond because the results and encouragement Scott provides in his teaching it will occur naturally. In my past few years I’ve gone from the basic alternate picking to playing live with bands. Like professional athletes they have professional coaches to train them. You need a professional coach to train you on guitar or bass. Each week I come to Szeryk Guitar Academy to meet with Scott and I get my guitar workout with him with proven results. I look forward to my lessons each week because Scott makes it fun and challenging. If you want to learn to play around the campfire or you want to be taught classical guitar or Royal Conservatory Music, or you want to learn to play, read and write music, or even wanting to be come a professional musician, Szeryk Guitar Academy is the place to enrol. The facilities are the perfect area to learn and Scott is the professional coach you desire to train you. -T. Bremner-
Scott is a professional guitar player and a top notch Guitar Teacher. We are honoured to have Scott help us educate others with our future guitar the Carparelli Infiniti. We chose Scott because he is very passionate about guitars and teaching the art of playing guitar. I’ve heard only great things about Scott from other circles. He is dependable and reliable for your learning needs. His playing is phenominal. Love watching his YouTube channel too! you can enjoy his Anthem presentations at the Blue Jays and Hockey games! Nice to know him as a friend too. Cheers! Mike Carparelli, Carparelli Guitars -Mike Carparelli-
I have been taking guitar lessons from Scott for over a year now. I started at age 50. I have always wanted to learn to play but was a little intimidated. Scott is very personable, warm, friendly and puts you at ease right away. His studio is professional but also very inviting, He is an extremely patient, encouraging and supportive teacher. He is an amazingly talented and gifted guitarist and musician and I have had the privilege of seeing Scott’s Manifesto concert and was completely blown away by what Scott can do with a guitar. I have learned so much in the short time I have been with Szeryk Guitar Academy and my confidence and skill is growing each week. I look forward to my lessons because I know if I am struggling or frustrated with something I am learning, Scott will take the time to answer all my questions and concerns or if I am feeling proud of myself, he will give me the kudos I am looking for. I would recommend Scott Szeryk Guitar Academy to ANYONE wanting to learn to play the guitar at any age and any level. Scott is an outstanding teacher and a wonderful person. -Nancy Brighton-
I have had the honour of playing and getting to know Scott on a professional level over the last few years. He is the “real deal”. He knows every aspect of the music business – teaching, recording, giging, etc. If you are thinking about guitar lessons from beginner to advanced you do not have to go to some far off music institute to become a top notch professional player. The guy to see is right here in London!!! I have read the bios of most of the great players, and they all started out with a great teacher like Scott. Allso in my over 60 ty years, he is one of the most decent people I have ever met. I’m sure as your guitar teacher he will enrich your life as well. -Richard Joyce-
Scott has been my teacher for almost 10 years now. He has taught me more than I ever thought I could learn. He has the ability to teach any style you can think of. I would not be even close to the guitar player I am today without him. In my opinion, he is one of the best guitar players in the world. I could not ask for a better teacher! -Christine Ura-
I started with Scott years ago, three locations ago. I can’t remember how long ago but Scott does, which is indicative of how much he cares for his individual students. Scott’s method of teaching works very well for me. He has a structure and an agenda but it’s not readily apparent. However, it quickly became clear that he has built his program around my interests. Rockabilly becomes Bach and Paganini under Scott’s instruction. The best part of a class is when Scott demonstrates how different artists would play the same piece of music. That is worth the price of admission right there. Scott is very detail orientated. He covers everything right down to what pick and how to hold it for that style of music; where to play for that tone; what chords to get the best feel. He even provides good ergonomic guidance. Besides the basic guitar instruction, Scott has been invaluable in other aspects of music such as setting amps, performance, presentation, and audience management. I often ask how a certain piece of music creates a mood or effect and receive an insightful response. He has even given me valuable advise in promoting my new career. He has guided and maintained my love of music. He has introduced me to material that I did not expect to like but now understand why, musically, they are important works. All in all, I highly recommend Scott as an instructor and for being a great human being. -Michael Turvey-
I’ve had about 3 other guitar teachers in the past, and Scott Szeryk surpasses every one of them in terms of his knowledge, integrity, and his teaching ability. I’ve been with him for a year now and I intend to stay as long as I live in London. Just to summarize what he’s helped me with: -playing ALL of the chords -playing in rhythm -playing with a band -writing solos for acoustic and electric -guitar maintenance -electric guitar sound mechanics -playing blues, rock, even jazz Scott knows it all and I can’t wait to see how much better I get over the next weeks and monthes. He even helped fix my electric guitar pickups and sound during one of the lessons free of charge! Can’t say enough good things about him. If you are considering taking guitar lessons, why would you not go for the best in the business? -Artur Wozniak-
I’ve been learning from Scott for a number of years and I have to say that I have grown immensely as a guitar player, recordist, and musician. He is a wealth of knowledge, and able to answer any questions I’ve had. His school is also a great learning environment. Finally, one of the most valuable things about Scott is not necessarily the actual techniques I’ve learned about playing guitar, but rather the way of thinking that he has instilled in me and the advice about the music industry as a whole that he has offered me. I would recommend taking lessons from him wholeheartedly and always refer anyone who asks me about lessons to him. -Josh Try-
Scott is the man! I have just started going to Scott and i have already learned a lot. He’s a great teacher. I’m always looking forward to my next guitar lesson. -Andrew Martin-
Scott has obviously given a lot of thought to how he teaches and after every lesson I feel as though I have learned something useful. His methods help me to work through new songs on my own, and the one-on-one lessons enable me to work through the difficult parts far more effectively than I would be able to do on my own. This has given me the confidence to be able to jam with friends and even get on stage to play with other musicians. -Zach Wilson-
An incredible school!! I watch the students progress and see how their work ethic and their accomplishments grow each week!! Cool mini jams in the lounge and the big smiles, says it all!! -Rebecca Brown-
My lessons with Scott were very helpful. He quickly assessed where I was, where I wanted to go, and provided an individualized program, with a clear roadmap of exercises and resources to help me fill in the gaps in my previous learning. I think he took me from Intermediate to Advanced player in a couple months, and I feel a lot more comfortable now, exploring modes, improving my blues licks, and generally using the whole guitar neck more productively. Scott has very friendly, patient manner, and is accomplished and professional in every aspect of guitar playing and teaching. It was a valuable collaboration on my musical journey. -Roger Fisher-
When looking for a quality guitar player for our school show this year, I turned to Scott. He quickly suggested to me one of his best students, and there were no disappointments. As a music teacher myself, I am glad to see that Scott’s guitar students are knowledgeable musicians, who can read and interpret music in written form, not just TAB. Recommended teacher for sure. -John Vermue-
Really great…I improved sooo much in such a short time. -Charles Ondrovcik-
If your reading these reviews, undoubtably you’ve seen that Scott is a tremendous guitar player, and capable teacher. What i’m going to add is that he’s a great guy, and well worth your time. I’m a busy guy and sadly not a rich one either. My lessons with Scott are a priority every week. There is a no more effective way i’d become a better player Any question I throw at him comes back with 3 versions of an answer, two of which i’d never even considered (“this is how Bach would have done it……”) Scott is well invested with his students and i’ve never seen him “coast” through anything. You can trust that your time or your childs time (and your money) is well invested. Jonbo y-
Scott Szeryk is one of the nicest easy going guys i’ve ever met and an amazing teacher . I couldn’t ask for a better guy to learn from , plus it doesn’t hurt that he is one of the best guitarists i’ve ever heard. -Nick Fetchison-
Scott ensures that you work on the essentials while keeping lessons and practicing fun. I highly recommend him. -Isaac Morgan-
I have always been impressed with Scott and his associated teachers. He has taught me for several years and then my son. We are very fortunate to have a musician of Scott’s calibre to dedicate so much of his life to advancing the enjoyment of playing music.
Scott is a true professional with all the patience and teaching expertise I would look for in any world class instructor
I have taken lessons off and on since 1994 as well my son has taken lessons for 4 years. I have always found Scott to be patient, cheerful, ready to share his experience with gear, techniques in music and recording. I am also impressed with his dedication to his students as demonstrated through his recitals and including students in other performance opportunities. -Paul Masseo-
Scott is a dedicated, highly skilled and knowledgeable instructor. I look forward to my lessons every week.
Szeryk Guitar Academy ™ | Guitar Development Program | Guitar Lessons in London Ontario since 1990.