His mother worked a lot, giving music and singing lessons, composing, and directing the children’s church choir and the orchestra at the Congregational Church. She also sang at concerts and was a soloist in the church choir.

Because of her tight schedule, Grace’s father and housemaids handled raising the children and all the housework. On the other hand, Grace introduced her children to the cultural world of literature, art, poetry and music. She read them many books and organized visits to Chicago’s opera, theater, and museums. In addition, she insisted that all her children learn to play a musical instrument. The girls were encouraged to play the violin and piano, and Ernest was assigned the cello.