Clumsy notes from beginning musicians have escaped through the cracks in Mary Murray's practice room door at the Muncie Music Center for the past 45 years.
Murray, 93, has been instructing novice Muncie musicians of all ages and backgrounds since she began teaching music in 1941.
Her primary instrument is the violin, but Murray is also accomplished on the piano, organ and accordion. Murray said the violin is the hardest instrument to teach children, but when they succeed she has her greatest sense of accomplishment.
Murray began her music career in grade school, when she was able to proficiently read music when she was eight years old.
"You learned fast, because if you didn't the teacher would smack your hands with a ruler," Murray said.
Due to the economic hardships of the depression, funding for the music program at her school was dropped.
"They took away the only thing I was good at," Murray said. This forced her to seek other means of furthering her music education.
After graduating from the eighth grade, Murray began doing odd jobs to raise money for private piano lessons. She would do anything from babysitting to cleaning houses to washing cars. Her hard work paid off when she was hired to give music lessons at the Muncie Music Center.
On May 1, 1941, Murray gave her first music lesson at the Muncie Music Center and never looked back. Even when the center moved, she kept teaching, using the same room for the past four-and-a-half decades. Murray has become a legend at the music center through the countless number of Muncie natives that she has taught. Anyone who comes into the store refers to her as either "Aunt Mary" or "Grandma Mary."
After seeing her appointment book and work schedule, Murray's frail fa+â-â-ºade suddenly appears able and motivated. Many of her co-workers marvel at her impressive work ethic. In her downtime in between appointments, Murray spends her time doing chores around the music store. Along with giving lessons five days a week, Murray also contributes to the Adams Street First Baptist Church orchestra.
When the timer dings at the end of a lesson, Murray's students only have one thing left to do: give her a hug. The connection Murray has with her students is what has allowed her to be a successful teacher for such a long time.
Check out a slideshow of pictures detailing Murray's love for music: 
A music teacher
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