Meet Tori Leppert | Music Teacher and Singer/Songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tori Leppert and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tori, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
I first started performing my music while in college and I really had to hammer down on timing. I had to time how long it would take to drive to and from work, how long I was in class, how long it would take me to get to a show and unpack, how long my homework would take, etc. College was much easier with balancing my time because I had a set schedule and I was able to plan everything down to the hour. With now being a music teacher in a much bigger city (not my college campus/hometown), I’ve noticed it’s about overall balance. I have to make sure I balance my time between lesson planning, grading, after school lessons, practicing my own music, going to my friends shows, and playing my own shows. When I first moved to LA, I tried doing all of it and I realized that was unrealistic and unfair to my students and my own music. Overtime, I had to realize that some things will come first sometimes and other things will come first later. This really helped me become a better musician and teacher because I don’t feel like I have to split my attention completely, and it also allows me to create realistic goals within a certain timeframe. I think balance is all about how you feel. The healthier you and your mindset are, the better you’ll perform for your goals.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I don’t consider my art to only be my music, I also consider it part of my teaching journey and the relationships I build throughout my life. Being able to share music with young students is beautiful, but being able to share your own music with students and help them create their own music is life changing. When I perform at venues, I always think about how excited I am that some of my students will have the opportunity to perform their own amazing songs one day, and they are so incredibly talented. One of the challenges I’ve faced finding my passion was the constant argument that “You can’t do both”. The amount of times I’ve heard others say: “Well, you can’t teach and be a songwriter” or “People turn to teaching when they give up on their music” is extremely frustrating. I’ve had to learn that people who say those things don’t truly understand the beauty in watching a student discover their own voice, or that they’ve created a strict rule book on what musicians should and shouldn’t be doing with their own musical journey. I believe that musicians should do what supports them and their music best, even if it’s different than what the world expects them to do. I would want others to know that I make music for myself, my audience, and my students because the feelings and emotions that music creates is shared among each other.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
OMG my best friend is in Chicago and I can’t wait for her to come visit one day. We would definitely hit Black Rabbit Rose, the Writer’s Room at The North End Hollywood, a Hotel Cafe show, The Bourbon Room, and a Troubadour show. I would take her to Monty’s Good Burger, Gracias Señor Taqueria, Arts District Brewing Company, West 4th and Jane Kayndave’s Cantina, Baked Bear, Kafn Coffee Bar, Emo Nite, Will Rodgers State Beach, and Little Tokyo.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I was lucky to have an amazing grandma and family and friends. My grandma was incredibly supportive of my music and my passion in teaching and always just wanted me to be happy. She encouraged me to not worry and allow life to take me where it wants. My mom helped move me across the country to show how much she supported me, and my dad gave me his Guild guitar that I still use to this day. My friends helped me pack up to move, did everything they could to support my music, and helped me get into venues that I dreamed of performing in one day. They’re amazing!

Website: https://www.torileppertmusic.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/torileppertmusic/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tori-leppert-485211158/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/torileppertmusic/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/mmansonandtswift17

Image Credits
Mira Horwitz Chad Comey Elena Lin