Li Tingsong was originally from Suzhou, Jiangsu. In his youth, he loved folk music. He studied from the famous Pipa master Wang Yuting, and was highly valued by his teacher. In 1924, he participated in the Shanghai Chinese Music Research Association. In 1925, he invited some like-minded people to initiate and organize the Xiao Chinese Music Society and served as the president. It was he who modified the ancient song "The Overlord Unloads Armor". Show the style of the song vividly.

After the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War in 1937, he left Shanghai and traveled to Yunnan and Sichuan to participate in charity performances, which were warmly welcomed by the masses. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Li Tingsong was hired as a special performer of the Institute of Ethnic Music of the Central Conservatory of Music, and successively taught at the Central Conservatory of Music, Tianjin Conservatory of Music, Shenyang Conservatory of Music and other schools. He has participated in the Chinese folk and classical music tour troupe organized by the Chinese Musicians Association and performed in major cities. His pipa performance is known for his martial arts, the style is simple and profound, strong and straight, and the music is handled in a simple way, echoing before and after, all in one.

Since the 1950s, he has performed traditional ancient songs such as "The Overlord Unleashes Armor", "House of Flying Daggers", "Xiao Drum in the Sunset", and "Qinglian Yuefu". The China Record Society also recorded some of his pipa music into records. In teaching, he emphasizes teaching students in accordance with their aptitude, focusing on practical results, and improving students' comprehension ability and art appreciation level in a targeted manner.