Playing the piano brings tremendous personal growth and fulfilment for all of us. As a teacher with 25 years of experience, I’m committed to supporting my students and giving this special dimension to my lessons and Master Classes.

Online Lessons

Today’s technology allows me to achieve excellent results with online students worldwide. Online lessons can be a very effective option for anyone from the intermediate to advanced level.
Maybe you have played for a lifetime and need some ideas and inspiration for the new repertoire or have particular technical issues or questions. Or you may return to the piano after a while or have started playing later in life and need professional guidance to progress. Don’t hesitate to ask for more details and availabilities.

Students feedback

“I can definitely recommend online lessons. This has been new to me and is a very smooth process technically. Professionally, I’m finding my lessons with Irina very rewarding and full of insight into the type of music that I prefer to play. These pieces are technically challenging for me, but they always sound better after her coaching and my practice.” Gary P. (Portugal)

“Irina Lankova opens doors - technically, musically, conceptually. She is a thoughtful and insightful teacher as well as an inspirational player. Working with her has been a game changer for me!” Mark D.(US)

Private Lessons in Belgium

One-to-one private sessions at my piano studio near Brussels for anyone from intermediate to professional level.
You can send your request by email describing your motivation, current program and availabilities.

Students feedback

“Irina taught me to play pieces I had never imagined I could: Rachmaninov!
She taught me to understand nuances, tonality and technicalities in music I had not imagined were there, thus making my listening to and playing music so much richer. She challenged me in a way that made me work harder - despite my busy work and travel schedule - and that was very rewarding and fun. I would highly recommend Irina as a teacher. I can assure you that it will be a most rewarding experience.” Hadewych H.(Belgium)

Coming soon

Master Class “Keys to Fulfilment in Piano Practice”
online lectures by Irina Lankova

Release December 1, 2024

Unlock the full potential of your piano playing with this meticulously crafted series of online master classes by the renowned concert pianist Irina Lankova. Whether you're an amateur pianist or an experienced player looking to refine your skills, this program offers a structured and comprehensive approach to mastering the piano. Rather than being a step-by-step method for learning to play the piano from the beginning, it's an extensive collection of tools to enhance your piano playing at any stage or level and draw inspiration from a concert pianist.

Irina Lankova graduated with the highest honours from Gnessin College of Music in Moscow and the Brussels Royal Conservatory as a concert pianist and educator. She studied with great Russian School pianists such as Evgeny Moguilevsky, himself a pupil of Heinrich Neuhaus, Irina Temchenko, Vladimir Ashkenazy, and many others. Her performing career is established on main stages worldwide: Carnegie Hall in New York, Wigmore Hall in London, Salle Gaveau in Paris, Het Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and many international festivals. She is a passionate piano pedagogue with 25 years of experience.

Chapter 1: Understanding the Meaning of Music 
Chapter 2: Defining Your Interpretation
Chapter 3: Working on the Sound
Chapter 4: Effective Practice Strategies
Chapter 5: Developing Piano Technique
Chapter 6: Sight-Reading and Memorisation
Chapter 7: Music Theory and Ear Training
Chapter 8: Building Repertoire
Chapter 9: Overcoming Performance Anxiety
Chapter 10: Motivation and Attitude in Piano Practice

Summer Master Classes in Belgium

Next session: August 19-22, 2025

Summer Master Class is usually booked within a few days of registration opening. Please email us to be the first to receive information about the next edition in 2025.

This Master Class is primarily destined for adult non-professional pianists from intermediate to advanced levels.

Maybe you have played for a lifetime and need some ideas and inspiration for the new repertoire or have particular issues or questions. Or you may return to the instrument (or even have started) later in life and need extra support and motivation. It takes courage and determination to learn and improve one’s skills (especially as an adult), but playing the piano brings tremendous personal growth and fulfilment for all of us. As a teacher, I’m committed to supporting you and bringing this special dimension to my lessons and Master Classes.

In the inspiring setting of a charming country estate, 30 minutes from Brussels and 20 minutes from the international airport, with a Steinway concert piano, the possibility to practice between lessons and to share time with other individuals passionate about the piano.

Students feedback

“I still am stunned from my experiences and impressions of this masterclass! Thanks a million Irina for your wonderful way of sharing your knowledge of and love for music and piano playing with all of us! You are not only an exceptional artist, but also a great teacher, who brought us a giant step forward with a huge amount of experience, with empathy, human warmth and a lot of appreciation. We were not only able to take part in your open lessons, but also received interesting tips in your workshops. And not to forget the time around! During these four days, the group, whose participants came from all corners of the earth, grew together with you into one big family. My most sincere thanks to you for this outstanding wonderful time.” Sabine M.(Switzerland)

“It has been a pleasure taking part in your Master Class this year. You are a great pianist, teacher and person. The individual lessons and the workshops were very interesting and encouraging. I'm really looking forward to put all that learning into practice. It was also lovely to meet the rest of the group and listen to each other's repertoire. We went from complete strangers in day 1 to a big family in day 4. A really wonderful experience. Thank you!” Cristina S.(Ireland)

“Thank you Irina for the wonderful 4 days! Your sharing of knowledge, your experience and your passion to help us improve while providing a very encouraging environment are all precious learnings for all of us! Moreover, the opportunity to meet people from such wide diversity is a rare gem experience. Looking forward to the next learning from you!” Yuin Y.A.(Singapore)

“An absolutely wonderful experience, fantastic people to share music with and all under the expert eyes of Irina who drove everyone to the next level and beyond” Gary P.(Portugal)

“I really can't quite believe what a truly exceptional and life-changing experience the last four days have been. I have learnt so much this week, which I will do my utmost to translate into my future playing.” Nick P.(UK) 

“I am deeply grateful for this whole week with you and our musical journey together. Irina, you are truly a wonderful teacher and a glorious pianist.” Louise H.(Belgium)

“It was just an amazing experience; I’ve learned so much during this master class, I recommend it for 100%” Cindy M.(Belgium)

Teaching is one of the professional activities I have enjoyed for more than 25 years after obtaining my piano performance and pedagogy diplomas at Gnessin’s College and Royal Brussels Conservatory. Sharing my professional experience and the knowledge that I received from distinguished teachers during my education is a very interesting and rewarding process, which I also take with a profound sense of responsibility.

How to convey emotions on the piano

If music is the language of the heart, we have to be able to convey the emotions that the composer expressed in the composition. Many aspects can help to play with more expressivity: giving inner experience to the dynamics, emphasizing certain intervals and shaping the melody, analyzing the succession of harmonies, adapting the appropriate touch that directly affects the sound, and many more.

How to make the piano sing

I attach the greatest importance to the singing quality of piano tone and phrasing; for me, the piano is not a percussive instrument but rather a human voice that expresses what is beyond words. Making the piano sing is a skill that I learned first with my teachers in the Russian musical tradition and then with years of playing the instrument.

The aesthetics of singing sound, phrasing with a natural lead, and technical precision at the service of meaningful interpretations are at the heart of my personal pianistic aspiration and in my teaching.

How to achieve technical freedom

The piano technique is a complex skill that we can build up with the right practice and discipline. It’s important to choose a progressive set of technical exercises and etudes but also have a correct and relaxed posture.

Irina Lankova graduated with the highest honours from Gnessin College of Music in Moscow and Brussels Royal Conservatory. She studied with great Russian School pianists such as Evgeny Moguilevsky, himself a pupil of Heinrich Neuhaus, Irina Temtchenko, Vladimir Ashkenazy, and many others.