Leo Liu Music Studio

Christchurch

Violin Lessons | Viol Lessons, Viola Lessons | Artist development, Aural Lessons, Ensemble Coaching, Theory Lessons, Conducting Lessons, Music And Movement For Under Fives, NCEA Music Tutoring, Online Lessons, Posture for Singers and Instrumentalists, Suzuki Music Lessons

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• Qualifications: BMus, BMus (Honours), MMus
• Pricing: $90 per hour/ $50 per half hour
• Styles: All styles
• Suitability: All styles + all levels for violin lessons, music theory, ear training and chamber music coaching.

Bio

Professional Bio

Leo (Yining) Liu is a versatile and charismatic Christchurch-based violinist with a passion for bringing music to diverse audiences. He completed a Bachelor of Music in Classical Performance Violin at The New Zealand School of Music, before going on to postgraduate studies at the University of Canterbury, where he received his Honours and Master of Music studying under Professor Mark Manzies.

Leo engages with both local and national music communities, performing with orchestras and chamber groups across New Zealand. His orchestral achievements include performing with Hawke’s Bay Orchestra, Wellington Chamber Orchestra, Wellington Youth Orchestra, NZSM Orchestra, Kapiti Orchestra, Tawa Orchestra, Christchurch Youth Orchestra, Da Tang Orchestra, and CBS Orchestra. In 2021, 2022 and 2024, he was invited to perform as part of the Baroque Music Community and Educational Trust of New Zealand’s national tours, playing alongside Professor Mark Manzies and international cellist Tomas Hurnick. In addition to Leo’s passion for classical concert performance, he has enjoyed collaborating with other New Zealand artists on diverse projects such as ‘Back of the Bus,’ a combined art form of dance and live music performance, with Java Dance as part of the ‘World Buskers Festival’, and as part of Christchurch LIVE in association with Synthony.  He also engages with Asian arts communities, performing at “The Third New Zealand Golden Ribbon Multicultural Youth Music Festival” in April 2025, as the concertmaster at “22^nd Chinese Festival NZ” by CCANZ. Outside of more traditional musical forms, Leo is an exciting and virtuosic performer in pop and contemporary genres, freely improvising to accompany bands, contemporary vocalists and DJs.

During his studies in Wellington, he received the Victoria International Excellence Scholarship and was selected as a finalist in the Body Harris Prize music competition – playing Gone by Kenneth Young – hosted by the New Zealand School of Music.

Teaching Info

Teaching Information

Leo is passionate about teaching music and sharing it with communities in Christchurch. With a decade of violin teaching experience, he has been investing himself in creating a highly effective pedagogy method that leads students to great progress. He explores different teaching strategies, such as Suzuki method, Kodály method, and other violin pedagogy theories, to best approach students’ engagement with music studies at all levels.

Leo’s approach comes from inspiring students to explore their own understanding of the music, encouraging students to be creative and inquisitive with their interpretation. Not only does it focus on the musicality, but also on the technical side of practice when techniques need to be refined. The integration of both musicianship and technique training builds Leo’s students a solid foundation.

Leo can teach a wide range of genres, including classical, jazz, blues, pop, and improvisation. Lessons are available in both Mandarin and English.

Lessons offered:

Violin performance for all purposes

• NCEA music exams
• ABRSM grade exams
• Trinity College grade exams
• School scholarship application applications
• Playing for personal enjoyment

Ensemble Coaching

Music theory

Ear training