Larry McDonald

Larry McDonald grew up surrounded by music in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with a father who performed in the symphony. By age 13, he was mastering classical guitar, igniting a lifelong passion for both playing and teaching music. His insatiable desire to learn led him to music education, and in 1975, while attending college, he took a job at a local music store—where he met his future wife, Ellen. The couple later purchased the business and transformed it into Hartland Music, a thriving hub for lessons and the latest gear during the 1980s rock boom. Their success led to a major expansion in 1997, allowing them to move into a larger space with multiple lesson studios. When they decided to focus on piano sales, Larry—never one to stop learning—became a certified piano technician so he could personally tune the store’s inventory. When he’s not running the shop, performing, teaching, or tuning pianos, Larry channels his creativity into oil painting, finding as much joy in brushstrokes as he does in music.