Rencontre Marina Haywood-Lieberman

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
• America

I 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.

Music Teachers London

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

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 unfamiliar environments, like recording studios

It can involve:

• Playing to a click
• Listening to criticism from producers

This is where we try to help the labels collaborate with the students and their families to withstand the pressure of the music industry.

Student Achievements

Some of my students are:

• Performing in West End shows
• Assigned to labels as performers or publishers
• Touring with bands
• Working for television

Unique Experiences

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 really enjoyed. It 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 students 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 is essential for achieving the best performance. Of course, the chemistry between you and your teacher should be compatible.

A Memorable Performance

My most exciting performance was on BBC Asia. It happened during a beauty contest while I was living in Germany. When I won Miss Talent, they asked me to perform a nice 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!

Since then, I've performed with orchestras like the Bavarian Symphony Orchestra and played in prestigious venues like Royal Albert Hall. I've had the pleasure of collaborating with music labels, and my latest project was with Alexis French, a contemporary composer.

My Musical Journey

In the last 10 years, I've been performing as a classical crossover pianist. I've developed my own style, combining classical grades with symphonic instrumentation and orchestrations. I've absolutely enjoyed doing that together with amazing producers.

The best thing about classical crossover on piano, for me, is to put a little part of myself into the music I'm creating. It's not just classical but also involves elements of pop, rock, and various techniques.

For instance, I recorded a version of:

• "Apologize"
• Madonna's "Frozen"

I added orchestration to these pieces, and they sound the way I want to hear them. This inspires me and encourages my students to realize that music we enjoy on platforms like YouTube and the radio can be interpreted in different contexts and played on different instruments.

Rock School Syllabus

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

Students have a wide repertoire ranging from:

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

This variety is quite unique about the syllabus, allowing students to explore different techniques and styles of music before deciding what is right for them.

Conclusion

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