Leah Waldvogel has been teaching music since she was 19, starting with practicums through her music education major before diving into string-specialized instruction with the UNL-LPS String Project. She joined the studio in the summer of 2016 and has been sharing her love for music with students ever since. While her formal training came through her schooling, she has also pursued additional studies in cello pedagogy to refine her teaching approach.

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Her teaching style is laid-back and student-driven, allowing young musicians to take the lead as they grow. Even the youngest students are involved in lesson planning, making each session both fun and educational. Leah especially loves working with elementary and middle school students—her inner child thrives alongside theirs! Nothing beats the moment when a student experiences a breakthrough, and everything they’ve worked on together starts clicking into place.

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Teaching was a natural path for Leah, as she’s always loved sharing her favorite things with others. Music, being at the top of that list, became something she couldn’t help but talk about—so much so that she had to teach parts of it just to get non-musicians to understand what she was saying! Now, she gets to pass on that passion in a more structured way, helping students reach their goals, whether it's landing a spot in an auditioned group, earning first chair (like her former student Connor in the all-state orchestra!), or even preparing for college music programs.

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Classical music holds a special place in Leah’s heart, with Romantic-era composers—especially Brahms—being her favorites. Though she’s not currently playing in a regular ensemble, she keeps up her passion by practicing solo and subbing for local high school productions, often playing in the pit for musicals. A fun fact most students don’t know? She didn’t take private lessons herself until college—proof that there’s no single path to musical success!