Meet Marina Haywood-Lieberman

Introduction

Hi, my name is Marina Heywood Lieberman. I am a classically trained pianist and have been playing the piano since the age of 4. I studied piano in Russia, Germany, and America, and received a Master of Music degree in piano performance and music teaching.

My Passion for Music

Performing on stage all over the world and teaching piano is my absolute passion. That's why my husband and I founded Music Teachers London in 2015. Here, we not only match students with the right teacher, but also collaborate with industry professionals and music labels.

We spot young, promising musicians and guide them on their exciting journey throughout the music industry. This involves:

• Helping them prepare demos
• Getting ready for showcases
• Performing their best in the familiar environment of a recording studio

In this setting, students might have to:

• Play to a click
• Listen to criticism from producers

Our goal is to assist labels in collaborating with students and their families to withstand the pressures of the music industry.

Student Achievements

Some of my students are:

• Performing in West End shows
• Signed to labels, either as performers or in publishing
• Touring with bands
• Working for television

I also teach movie stars. For instance, my latest project was preparing Dame Maggie Smith for her role in the movie The Lady in the Van, which I thoroughly enjoyed. This experience showed me that no matter how old you are or how much experience you have in music, everyone can unlock their musical potential.

The Role of a Good Teacher

A good teacher should always be willing to show their student how to conquer the difficulties in a particular piece by:

• Playing it
• Explaining it at a pace slow enough for the student to understand

This approach helps achieve the best performance. Of course, the chemistry between you and your teacher should be a good match.

Memorable Performances

My most exciting performance was on BBC Asia. It occurred while I was living in Germany and participating in a beauty contest. When I won Miss Talent, I was asked to play a nice piece on the piano in front of a camera team. What I didn't know was that it would be broadcast to over a billion viewers on BBC Asia.

Since then, I've performed with orchestras like the Bavarian Symphony Orchestra and played in prestigious venues like the Royal Albert Hall. I've had the pleasure to perform music for various labels and collaborate on numerous projects. My latest project was with Alexis French, a contemporary composer.

My Musical Style

In the last 10 years, I have been performing as a classical crossover pianist. I've developed my own style, combining classical grades with symphonic instrumentation and orchestration. I absolutely love this creative process, especially when working with great producers.

The best thing about classical crossover for me is the ability to put a part of myself into the music. I incorporate elements of pop and rock, using different techniques. For instance:

• I recorded a version of "Apologize"
• I also recorded Madonna's "Frozen" on piano, adding orchestration to make it sound the way I envision it.

This inspires me and also encourages my students to realize that the music we commonly listen to on platforms like YouTube or the radio can be interpreted in different contexts on various instruments.

Rock School Syllabus

This is exactly where Rock School prepares students on piano. What I like about the Rock School syllabus is the variety of genres that students get to explore throughout their grades.

It offers a wide range of repertoire, including:

• Rihanna
• Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody"
• Some Latin music
• Hard rock tracks like "Hard to Handle"

This unique syllabus allows students to try various techniques and musical vibes before deciding on the right path for them.

Conclusion

I had great joy practicing and recording the pieces for you all, and I hope you have as much fun practicing them too!