Music Tuition in West Sussex
~ PIANO TUITION IN HORSHAM ~ PIANO TUITION ONLINE ~
~ ONLINE THEORY COURSES ~ SCHOOL VISITS ~
~ for children ~ for adults ~
Liz Giannopoulos is a highly qualified music tutor with Diplomas in both instrumental teaching (ABRSM) and piano performance (Trinity College London) and a Master of Education in Music from the Royal College of Music, London.
Liz has a wealth of experience and a passion for both teaching and learning. She is committed to developing musical skills, enabling pupils to become independent musicians. She tailors lessons to the preferred learning styles of each student, responding to diversity with adaptability. Liz is creative, inspirational, self motivated and reliable. Her students have an outstanding exam success rate.
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Rubato Music Tuition is based in Horsham, West Sussex and offers:
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one to one piano tuition (face to face, in schools and online)
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group theory courses online
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coaching for advanced pianists and teachers.
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Liz Giannopoulos
MEd, CT ABRSM, DipABRSM, LTCL
a creative curriculum
Liz's teaching approach is competency based, ensuring that the learning path is robust and structured whilst remaining versatile and adaptable to individual goals, learning styles and musical preferences.
for children
Rubato Music's curriculum for children provides a comprehensive and creative framework for teaching musicianship and playing the piano. Liz utilises a wide range of respected materials and creative teaching strategies for piano lessons to meet core objectives in areas of pianistic technique, listening and internalising, reading notation and playing / performing.
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for adults
Lessons for adults are more self-directed as we work together to develop a programme with realistic goals that fit with demands of day to day life.
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With music at the heart of every piano lesson, Liz teaches students to listen to, respond to and play music. ​​
developing pianistic technique
The set of skills and methods used to play the piano efficiently, effectively, and expressively.
It includes finger strength and dexterity, hand and finger co-ordination, hand position and posture, wrist and arm movement, touch and articulation and pedal techniques.
scales and chords
Understanding the concepts of scales, arpeggios and chords allows musicians to comprehend the structure of music, improvise, and compose their own pieces. Mastery of scales and chords also enhances a pianist's technical abilities and overall musicality.
listening and internalising
Developing listening and internalising skills encourages awareness and understanding of musical elements. Active and critical listening to a range of styles, genres and mediums enhances aural skills which informs a musician’s own performance.
reading notation
Reading music notation is an important skill for musicians, enabling them to interpret and perform written music accurately and independently. This includes staff and clefs, pitch, note values and rhythm, time signatures, key signatures and stylistic instructions such as dynamics, articulation, tempo and interpretation.
playing at sight
A natural extension of reading musical notation is the ability to quickly and accurately read, interpret and play sheet music.
playing and performing
Building confidence in playing to an audience, incorporating personal interpretation and creative communication. Utilising effective practice strategies and mental preparation techniques.
a flexible approach
Rubato, an Italian term indicating the expressive and flexible alteration of tempo within a piece of music. The technique allows the performer to deviate from the strict timing of the notes as written in the score, giving more personal interpretation and emotional depth to the music.
Rubato adds a personal touch to the performance, making it unique to each performer. Applying the concept of rubato to teaching facilitates a flexible, responsive, and personalised approach to education:
flexible pacing
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Individual Learning Rates:
the pace of instruction is adjusted to accommodate different learning speeds; flexibility in pacing ensures that all students understand the material thoroughly
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Responsive Teaching:
slowing down to explain complex topics in detail or speeding up when students demonstrate mastery reflects how a musician might fluctuate tempo
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Dynamic Adjustments:
if students are particularly engaged in an activity, it can be extended, just as a musician might linger on a passage that resonates
personalised learning
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​Tailored Instruction:
teaching methods are adjusted to fit the unique needs and interests of each student by modifying lesson plans, using varied instructional strategies, or incorporating students' interests
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Student-Centred Approach:
emphasises student choice and voice in their learning journey, much like a performer interprets a piece of music in their own way
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Feedback-Driven:
regularly adjusting teaching strategies based on student feedback and performance, similar to how a musician might adjust their playing based on the audience's reaction
creative engagement
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Encouraging Expression:
allowing students to express their understanding and creativity in different ways is akin to how musicians use rubato to convey emotion
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Depth Over Breadth:
focusing on deep understanding rather than rushing through the curriculum. Just as rubato allows for expressive detail, delving deeply into key concepts, ensures students grasp them fully before moving on
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Reflective Learning:
encouraging students to reflect on their learning process and outcomes, fosters a deeper and more thoughtful engagement with the material
when and where
autumn 2024
4 September - 25 October
4 November - 17 December
catch up days: 18-19 December
spring 2025
6 January - 14 February
24 February - 4 April
catch up days: 24-25 April
summer 2025
28 April - 23 May
2 June - 14 July
catch up days: 15-16 July
piano lessons for children
Weekly one to one piano lessons take place at the Horsham Home Studio, within 10 minutes walk of Horsham Station and Town Centre.
Lessons are timetabled between 4pm and 7pm, Monday to Friday during school term time.
There are 36 teaching weeks per year.
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piano lessons for adults
Weekly one to one piano lessons take place at the Horsham Home Studio or online.
Lessons are offered between 1pm and 3pm, Mondays and Thursdays and are not limited to academic terms.
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school visits
Weekly one to one piano lessons are available at St John the Baptist School, Woking.
Lessons are scheduled during the school day on a rotating timetable to ensure students do not miss the same academic subjects each week. The timetable operates in line with school term time.
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music theory course
The Rubato Music Theory Course is delivered online, one to one or in small groups.