Welcome to my teaching Page!

Lessons are offered weekly in Austin, TX. My availability is primarily on the weekends (Saturday or Sunday). However I am open to teaching on the weekdays after 6pm CST on a case-by-case basis.

Students may not accrue more than two consecutive absences. In the event that a student is absent for more than two consecutive lessons without prior arrangement, their regular lesson spot may be forfeited and opened up to other prospective students.

Please do not cancel your lesson simply because you haven't practiced. It is incredibly important to keep your weekly commitment. Even if you haven't had a productive practice week, we can still have a beneficial lesson focusing on guided practice techniques, music theory, or sight-reading.

I cannot accept a cello dropoff in advance of a lesson.

Parents are highly encouraged to occasionally sit in, observe, and record the lessons.

Parents and students are strongly encouraged to record the lessons (either audio or video). Capturing the lesson provides a highly accurate record of what was covered, preserving specific technical demonstrations and instructions exactly as they were taught. (Please note: To protect the privacy of everyone in the studio, these recordings are strictly for personal, at-home educational use. They may not be shared publicly, including on YouTube or social media platforms, without my explicit prior consent.)

Students must arrive at every lesson with all necessary musical materials. For cellists, this includes your instrument and bow. (Pianists, for obvious reasons, you get a pass on bringing your instrument!) However, all students must bring their current sheet music, any assigned method books, and a dedicated practice notebook to every lesson.

To maintain a clean and focused learning environment, please remove your shoes before entering the lesson space, and note that food, drinks, and gum are not permitted during the lesson.

Please do not attend in-person lessons if you are experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms, have tested positive for a virus (such as COVID-19 or Influenza), or have had a recent exposure to a contagious illness. In these situations, we will either reschedule or switch to a virtual lesson until the risk of transmission has passed.

Please note that if you arrive at the studio visibly ill, you will be sent home and the lesson will be forfeited without a makeup opportunity. Opting for a virtual lesson is always encouraged when you are feeling unwell, even on short notice. Similarly, if I am sick or if there is a contagious illness in my household, I will proactively reach out to move our lesson online or reschedule.

To avoid conflicting pedagogical approaches, concurrently taking private lessons for the same instrument with another teacher is not permitted without my explicit knowledge and support.

Fostering a supportive environment requires mutual respect. In the rare event that a student's behavior consistently falls short of studio expectations, I will communicate directly with the student or parents to provide constructive feedback before considering dismissal from the studio.

I carefully design each student's curriculum based on my professional experience and pedagogical training. 

Absence notices and rescheduling requests must be made at least 24 hours in advance of your scheduled lesson time so that you are eligible for a make-up lesson.

If you notify me less than 24 hours before the start time of your lesson, this is considered a "late cancellation" and the full lesson fee is due immediately. Because that time was reserved exclusively for you, I cannot fill that spot profitably on short notice.

An exception to the late cancellation fee is made for sudden, severe illness or true family emergencies. In these cases, please contact me as soon as possible, and we will arrange a makeup lesson or waive the fee.

If you need to reschedule more than once in a single month, please discuss your schedule with me proactively.

A no-show/no-call is payable immediately in full, with no exceptions.

For lessons that land on a holiday, we will reschedule to a different day for that month. 

• Federal Holidays includes: 

  • January 1st, New Year’s Day

  • 3rd Monday in January, Martin Luther King Jr Day

  • 3rd Monday in February, President’s Day

  • Last Monday in May, Memorial Day

  • July 4th, Independence Day

  • First Monday in September, Labor Day

  • November 11th, Veterans Day

  • 4th Thursday in November, Thanksgiving Day

  • December 25th, Christmas Day

Consistent, daily practice is essential for steady musical growth. As a general baseline, beginners should aim for 30 minutes a day, intermediate students for 60 minutes, and advanced students for 1.5 to 2 hours daily.

Creating an effective, distraction-free practice routine at home is crucial, and parent participation is highly encouraged. If your child is under 10 years old, please plan to supervise the majority of their practice sessions to offer structure and support.

Students (and parents assisting younger children) are expected to regularly listen back to the lesson recordings at home. Reviewing the lesson playback reinforces new concepts, clarifies any confusion regarding the week's assignments, and ensures that the student is practicing with the correct technique and musicality throughout the week.

If your child ever struggles to find the motivation to practice, please let me know! I would be more than happy to design a fun, incentivized daily practice chart to help keep them engaged and on track.

Whether you reach out via phone, text, or email, I make every effort to respond within 24 hours or by the next business day, and I kindly ask for the same courtesy in return.

If you need to contact me regarding an urgent issue—such as running late or a sudden illness—please text or call rather than sending an email, as I may be in the middle of teaching a lesson and unable to check my inbox.

Payments are paid one at a time. When you take a lesson, you pay for the lesson. Payment is due promptly at the end of each lesson. I accept Zelle or Venmo. To receive more specific contact information, please contact me via email: hiallisonliu@gmail.com. 

If I have not received payment by the end of the grace period, a $5 late fee applies everyday when your payment is not received. For example, your lesson is on Monday at 5pm. Payment is due at time of service, with a late fee applying Tuesday at 5pm. 

My rates are: 

• 30 minute lesson: $40 | 60 minute lesson: $70

• I also offer lessons at students’ homes on a case-by-case basis with an additional fee:

  • Within a 5-mile radius of my home: additional $10.

  • Within a 5-10 mile radius of my home: additional $20.