It all started with a coffee...
Get to know Laura and Scarlett and find out why we started this wonderful venture.
Our story begins in 2022, when we met at an NCT course, both expecting our first children. Fast forward to February 2024 - we got together for a coffee one Saturday morning for Laura to pick Scarlett’s brain about her experience of teaching piano.
We started talking about how expensive private lessons have become for kids, and how many can get put off by the formal, one-to-one style of traditional piano lessons; Scarlett herself had experienced this as a child. We felt there had to be a way to make learning music more accessible and fun, without the pressure of grades. That’s when the idea for group, affordable keyboard lessons was born. Just a few days later, we named our new baby Viva Piano!
Our mission is simple: get more children to learn the piano and to love music, as we do. Although we learnt in totally different ways, neither of us can really imagine what our lives would look like without the piano. It's been a source of comfort, creativity and confidence (and even forged a career for Scarlett!). This is what we want for our students: to spark a lifelong love and appreciation for such a beautiful instrument.
Laura Murray
Founder & Teacher
Laura is a communications practitioner, with a degree in History and a Master’s in Social Sciences. She learnt to play the piano growing up and reached Grade 8 in practical and Grade 5 in theory during her teenage years. In recent years, Laura loves practising new songs, finds joy in revisiting old music, and has recently been expanding her repertoire by playing nursery rhymes on the xylophone for her two children. She believes that music lessons should be affordable and accessible to all.
Scarlett Neville
Founder & Teacher
Scarlett is a technical writer, with a degree in Law. She is also a former professional singer and pianist, but favoured a more informal style of learning, where she taught herself how to improvise piano accompaniments for her singing. In recent years, she enjoys playing and singing for her two children and hopes one day to teach them to love the piano. She believes a non- traditional teaching style which focuses on games and improvisation will spark a lifelong appreciation for music.
