Today we’d like to introduce you to Leroy Esparza.
Hi Leroy, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
My story begins in a small town called Encinal with a population of 670 people. Just 40 miles north of Laredo, my hometown was so small, most people traveling on I-35 wouldn’t even know it was there.
My mother and I lived with my grandparents in their home, which also served as one of the grocery stores in town. You couldn’t get produce from Laredo if you didn’t have a car, and “La Tiendita de Cata” (my grandmother) was the store most folks would go to for groceries, fireworks, and VHS rental tapes.
I remember being 5-7 years old helping customers find what they were looking for, cleaning shelves, and watching my grandmother talk to customers throughout the day. My mother and immediate family consisting of an aunt, uncle would help out when they could, and I never once looked at our Tiendita as a job, but more as “this is what we do as a family.”
Living in that house for those brief years hold the fondest memories, and as the years rolled on we added a restaurant across town selling burgers, chicken strips, and the occasional flauta plate. When I was in high school, it didn’t take long for my grandmother to recruit me into running her Arcade Room, which was a separate business from the restaurant and the grocery store.
Throughout my time in Encinal, going to school, helping my family with their businesses, the one passion I couldn’t stop from developing was music. It was always in my head, and I was always listening to it. ALWAYS. In church, I learned to play the guitar. In middle school, it was the saxophone. In high school, it was Drum Line for football season, saxophone for concert band, and guitar/vihuela for mariachi. It never occurred to me I had found my passion.
Excelling in school gave me the opportunity to pursue my Bachelor’s degree in music at St. Mary’s University, beginning my adventure and future in San Antonio. It wasn’t long before I found I could study music in the classroom, and perform it in venues throughout my newfound home while in school.
After graduation, I found a music store where I could teach private lessons consistently, which would allow me to continue performing as a musician, but now, across the country and internationally. I began to work with several Tejano artists/bands in the recording studio and was fortunate to have been nominated for three GRAMMYS, and two Latin GRAMMYS.
Once I met the love of my life, I felt there was more for me than just teaching at someone else’s business, and decided to open my own music school. Since 2010, we’ve had the privilege of teaching music at our studio, LJE Music Lessons, and it’s been a complete blessing.With our music school we provide our students the opportunity to learn, grow, and fall in love with music the way I did when I was a child.
I never thought I’d end up with my own business, let alone my own “tiendita”. It’s never felt like work or a job. Simply, this is what we do as a family.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
A smooth road?
I think when you’re pursuing your dreams & goals in life, challenges are meant to be there. Otherwise, the joy of succeeding wouldn’t exist. It’s meant to be a struggle. It’s a choice. It takes discipline to be consistent, drive to keep going when you’re too tired to finish the work and accept the loss of time with family.
Music has allowed me to develop these skills when I was young, and as I’ve gotten older, has contributed towards my entrepreneurship. When my students are about to perform in a recital or concert, I remind them all the time: “Get out there and be somebody, ’cause no one’s gonna do it for you!”
It holds true in life.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about LJE Music Lessons?
At LJE Music Lessons we strive to give our students the music education I never had as a kid. We provide each student one-on-one private lessons in the instrument they wish to learn. We teach all instruments from voice, guitar, drums, violin, and piano, to name a few.
I believe what sets us apart from other studios is our commitment to developing independent musicians. We have various performance opportunities throughout the year for students to showcase their hard work. With the support from local restaurants, such as Bobby J’s Old-Fashioned Hamburgers (Helotes, TX) and La Hacienda Scenic Loop restaurant, our students are able to perform in venues that are open to their family and friends, but to the general public as well.
It can be difficult or scary to perform in front of an audience, but at LJE Music Lessons our students develop the traits needed to overcome these emotions by preparing and knowing their music, of being responsible for their own practice time at home. The responsibility and accountability that comes from preparing for their performances ultimately transcend music becoming applicable to everyday real-world experiences.
(We recently had a high school student, who has been taking lessons since elementary, thank us for encouraging her to prepare and perform at various recitals. “The recitals,” she stated, “gave me the confidence to present my science project in front of the entire school & judges.” She received 1st place and an academic scholarship which she could apply to her tuition).
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.LJEMusicLessons.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ljemusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LJEMusicLessons
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/iFR1Uq8_jq0
Image Credits
Noel Hernandez of Koasis Media
