Welcome to My Music Lesson

Hi, my name is Marina Heywood Lieberman. I'm a classically trained pianist and have been playing piano since the age of 4.

My Background

• I studied piano in Russia, Germany, and America
• Received a Master of Music degree in piano performance and music teaching.

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, where we:

• Match students with the right teacher
• Collaborate with industry professionals and music labels

Supporting Young Musicians

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 a showcase
• Performing to their best in the unfamiliar environment of a recording studio

It can involve:

• Playing to a click
• Listening to criticism from the producer

We strive to help labels collaborate with students and their families to withstand the pressure of the music industry.

Success Stories

Some of my students are:

• Performing in West End shows
• Signed to a label as performers or publishers
• Touring with a band or working for television
• Engaged in projects with movie stars

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

Teaching Philosophy

A good teacher should be willing to:

• Help students conquer the difficulties in a piece by playing it
• Explain it at a slow enough pace for understanding

Of course, the chemistry between you and your teacher should match.

A Memorable Performance

My most exciting performance was on BBC Asia. While participating in a beauty contest in Germany, I won Miss Talent and was asked to perform a piece on the piano in front of a camera team. What I didn't know was that it would be broadcasted to over a billion viewers on BBC Asia!

Since then, I've performed with orchestras like the Bavarian Symphony Orchestra and played in halls like the Royal Albert Hall.

Collaboration and Style

I've had the pleasure of performing music for various music labels and collaborating on numerous projects. My latest collaboration was with Alexis French, a contemporary composer.

For the past 10 years, I've been performing as a classical crossover pianist. I've developed my own style, combining:

• Classical grades
• Symphonic instrumentation and orchestrations

The best thing about classical crossover on piano for me is to inject a little part of myself into the music I create. For instance, I recorded versions of:

• "Apologize"
• Madonna's "Frozen"

I added orchestration to these pieces, making them sound the way I envisioned.

Inspiring Students

I'm inspired to show my students that the music they hear on YouTube or the radio can also take a different context and be played on different instruments. That's exactly where Rock School prepares students for piano.

What I Love About Rock School

What I appreciate about the Rock School syllabus is the variety of genres students play throughout their grades. They can explore a wide range of repertoire:

• From Rihanna to Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody
• Including Latin music and hard rock, like Hard to Handle

This unique syllabus allows students to try various techniques and musical styles before deciding on their path.

Conclusion

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