--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I came from a really musical family. I…" description: "\"I came from a really musical family. I studied classical piano because my grandparents were piano teachers, but started doing musical theater at age ni..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e7/audra-mcdonald-9650_age_i-came-from-a-really-musical-family-i-st_2924868.jpg" --- # I came from a really musical family. I studied classical… ![“I came from a really musical family. I studied classical piano because my grandparents were piano teachers, but started doing musical theater at age nine in Fresno, California, and went to a performing arts high school. That was my life.” quote by Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e7/audra-mcdonald-9650_age_i-came-from-a-really-musical-family-i-st_2924868.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e7/audra-mcdonald-9650_age_i-came-from-a-really-musical-family-i-st_2924868.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e7/audra-mcdonald-9650_age_i-came-from-a-really-musical-family-i-st_2924868.jpg) > “I came from a really musical family. I studied classical piano because my grandparents were piano teachers, but started doing musical theater at age nine in Fresno, California, and went to a performing arts high school. That was my life.” [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker grew up in a musical family, studied piano, and pursued musical theater early. **In simple terms:** She was raised with music, learned piano, and performed theater from a young age. Key Takeaway Leverage early influences to shape your path. Themes family music theater Mood inspirational reflective Type biographical motivational When to use this quote - performing arts education - career choices Key Concepts artistic development career foundations Questions to Reflect On - How did early exposure shape your career? - What role does family play in artistic growth? A Different Perspective May lack context of later achievements. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Arts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arts/) [Because](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because/) [California](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/california/) [Came](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/came/) [Classical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classical/) [Classical Piano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classical-piano-1408390/) [Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Grandparents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grandparents/) [High](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [I came](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-came/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Musical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musical/) [Musical Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musical-family/) [Musical theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musical-theater/) [My life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-life/) [Nine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nine/) [Performing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performing/) [Performing arts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performing-arts/) [Piano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piano/) [Piano Grandparents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/piano-grandparents-3351520/) [Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started/) [Studied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/studied/) [Studied Classical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/studied-classical-334484/) [Teachers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teachers/) [Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater/) [Were](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/were/) ## Related quotes > [I studied classical piano from the time I was 4 through my first year of college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lari-white/i-studied-classical-piano-from-the-time-i-was-4-through-my-first-year/) [Lari White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lari-white/) > [I wasn't even a theater kid in high school. I studied classical piano, and I ran track.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condola-rashad/i-wasn-t-even-a-theater-kid-in-high-school-i-studied-classical-piano/) [Condola Rashad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condola-rashad/) > [At 11, I went to live with my maternal nan and granddad temporarily, after my parents separated, and Nan would let me have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jools-holland/at-11-i-went-to-live-with-my-maternal-nan-and-granddad-temporarily/) [Jools Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jools-holland/) > [I went to the Performing Arts School and studied classical ballet. That attitude is something that's put into your head. You are never thin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmen-electra/i-went-to-the-performing-arts-school-and-studied-classical-ballet/) [Carmen Electra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmen-electra/) > [I went to performing arts high school, and I took dance and acting every day. Then, I went to Marymount Manhattan College and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-ushkowitz/i-went-to-performing-arts-high-school-and-i-took-dance-and-acting/) [Jenna Ushkowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-ushkowitz/) > [I grew up with gay family members, and I went to a performing arts high school. So I grew up in children's theater, musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erika-jayne/i-grew-up-with-gay-family-members-and-i-went-to-a-performing-arts/) [Erika Jayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erika-jayne/) > [I did musical theater, and I did dancing for what it was at the performing arts high school that I went to. I went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassie-ventura/i-did-musical-theater-and-i-did-dancing-for-what-it-was-at-the/) [Cassie Ventura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassie-ventura/) > [I think for a lot of people that are in performing arts, it's easy to fall into the trap of starting to confuse what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/i-think-for-a-lot-of-people-that-are-in-performing-arts-it-s-easy-to/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [In the performing arts you have to have thick, thick, thick skin, because of all the rejection you face on a daily basis, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/in-the-performing-arts-you-have-to-have-thick-thick-thick-skin/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [I think it comes down to the type of personality that the performing arts seem to attract. And that's outgoing, very sensitive - sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/i-think-it-comes-down-to-the-type-of-personality-that-the-performing/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [I think in the end there is one ultimate goal with all my careers, and that is, as a performing artist, you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/i-think-in-the-end-there-is-one-ultimate-goal-with-all-my-careers-and/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [When I wanted to audition for a dinner-theater junior troupe in my hometown, I needed to have a piece of musical theater music to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/when-i-wanted-to-audition-for-a-dinner-theater-junior-troupe-in-my/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [I took classical piano lessons from the age of five.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-van-halen/i-took-classical-piano-lessons-from-the-age-of-five/) [Eddie Van Halen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-van-halen/) > [In fact although I have studied in a Conservatory the classical piano, I do not consider myself a classical pianist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-clayderman/in-fact-although-i-have-studied-in-a-conservatory-the-classical-piano/) [Richard Clayderman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-clayderman/) > [I was always involved in the arts from a young age. I started studying classical piano at age four as a student of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-raymund/i-was-always-involved-in-the-arts-from-a-young-age-i-started-studying/) [Monica Raymund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-raymund/) ## More by Audra McDonald > [Anytime I get the chance to sing or work with Michael John, it is such an incredibly fertile and incredibly creative and safe and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/anytime-i-get-the-chance-to-sing-or-work-with-michael-john-it-is-such/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [One thing that is constantly on my iPod is India Arie - I like her a lot; I listen to her a lot. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/one-thing-that-is-constantly-on-my-ipod-is-india-arie-i-like-her-a/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [And I found the theater, and I found my home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/and-i-found-the-theater-and-i-found-my-home/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [I was a little girl with a pot belly and Afro puffs, hyperactive and overdramatic, and I found the theater and I found my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/i-was-a-little-girl-with-a-pot-belly-and-afro-puffs-hyperactive-and/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [I find that I'm just drawn to anything that's going to challenge me as an actress. So, anything that's going to help me grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/i-find-that-i-m-just-drawn-to-anything-that-s-going-to-challenge-me/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [I choose things that challenge me. I was afraid of the camera - that's why I chose to do 'Private Practice.' It's not like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/i-choose-things-that-challenge-me-i-was-afraid-of-the-camera-that-s/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [When you become a parent, it blows you open in ways that you never thought possible in terms of a level of love that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/when-you-become-a-parent-it-blows-you-open-in-ways-that-you-never/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [Without theater, I don't think I would have thought I was a smart person or excelled at anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/without-theater-i-don-t-think-i-would-have-thought-i-was-a-smart/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [I feel a connection to many songs that I won't sing because I don't think they are right for me! There is something in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/i-feel-a-connection-to-many-songs-that-i-won-t-sing-because-i-don-t/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [I've spent my whole career trying to stay out of any box that anyone could put me in. 'I'm going to do a play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/i-ve-spent-my-whole-career-trying-to-stay-out-of-any-box-that-anyone/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [I auditioned for Julliard because I wanted to live in New York, and I wanted to be on Broadway at the time. Julliard seemed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/i-auditioned-for-julliard-because-i-wanted-to-live-in-new-york-and-i/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [I used to practice Tony speeches in my bathroom with my hairbrush.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/i-used-to-practice-tony-speeches-in-my-bathroom-with-my-hairbrush/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [I think in the end there is one ultimate goal with all my careers, and that is, as a performing artist, you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/i-think-in-the-end-there-is-one-ultimate-goal-with-all-my-careers-and/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [I guess what I know now that I definitely didn't know as a child, is that being truest to yourself is the greatest weapon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/i-guess-what-i-know-now-that-i-definitely-didn-t-know-as-a-child-is/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) > [Every human being has a dream. I think what's special about the American Dream is that it implies, given everything that's happened with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audra-mcdonald/every-human-being-has-a-dream-i-think-what-s-special-about-the/) [Audra McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) [Explore all 71 Audra McDonald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audra-mcdonald/) ## More Age quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [When I first started writing, when I was 15, I would go to work with people and they would tell me my lyrics were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-claudio/when-i-first-started-writing-when-i-was-15-i-would-go-to-work-with/) [Sabrina Claudio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-claudio/) > [Real people speak in my books about the main events of the age, such as the war, the Chernobyl disaster, and the downfall of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/real-people-speak-in-my-books-about-the-main-events-of-the-age-such/) [Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Age is an accumulation of life and loss. Adulthood is a series of lines crossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/age-is-an-accumulation-of-life-and-loss-adulthood-is-a-series-of/) [Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/) > [I calculated that if I live up to the age of 80, then I end up using 450 toothbrushes in my life. All that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dia-mirza/i-calculated-that-if-i-live-up-to-the-age-of-80-then-i-end-up-using/) [Dia Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dia-mirza/) > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? Because all else is temporary, while beauty and wisdom are the only real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/why-is-wisdom-so-fair-why-is-beauty-so-wise-because-all-else-is/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [That old man dies prematurely whose memory records no benefits conferred. They only have lived long who have lived virtuously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/that-old-man-dies-prematurely-whose-memory-records-no-benefits/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [We have started to make music at age seven. That was a hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kaulitz/we-have-started-to-make-music-at-age-seven-that-was-a-hard-work/) [Bill Kaulitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kaulitz/) [Browse all 18,948 Age quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I came from a really musical family. I studied classical piano because my grandparents were piano teachers, but started doing musical theater at age nine in Fresno, California, and went to a performing arts high school. 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