▁cho ir ▁and ▁joined ▁a ▁female ▁tri o ▁called ▁New ▁Da wn , ▁which ▁performed ▁at ▁night cl ubs ▁and ▁one ▁Black ▁Pan thers ▁r ally . ▁She ▁became ▁a ▁professional ▁viol in ist ▁aged ▁ 1 5 ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁playing ▁in ▁her ▁high ▁school ▁or chestra ▁at ▁Cass ▁Techn ical ▁High ▁School . ▁While ▁still ▁at ▁school , ▁Jean ette ▁also ▁played ▁in ▁various ▁orch est ras ▁and ▁bands ▁in ▁and ▁around ▁the ▁city ▁of ▁Detroit , ▁including ▁The ▁Elect r ifying ▁Str ings , ▁a ▁jazz ▁string ▁group ▁with ▁Earl ▁Kl ugh ▁( gu itar ), ▁Cec il ▁" V an " ▁Ce ph us ▁( key boards ), ▁and ▁Ralph ▁Arm strong ▁( b ass ). ▁She ▁played ▁in ▁studio ▁sessions ▁on ▁record ings ▁for ▁local ▁Detroit ▁artists , ▁and ▁earned ▁money ▁for ▁occas ional ▁performances ▁at ▁United ▁Sound ▁Studios ▁for ▁Mot own ▁Records . ▁ ▁Education ▁and ▁later ▁musical ▁career ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 7 2 , ▁upon ▁entering ▁the ▁music ▁department ▁of ▁Michigan ▁State ▁University ▁( MS U ), ▁Mc Gr uder ▁opt ed ▁against ▁purs uing ▁a ▁career ▁as ▁a ▁viol in ist , ▁and ▁instead ▁major ed ▁in ▁voice . ▁In ▁ 1 9 7 4 , ▁she ▁performed ▁" We ▁Sh all ▁Over come " ▁at ▁an ▁event ▁hon oring ▁Cor etta ▁Scott ▁King . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 7 8 , ▁after ▁four ▁years ▁of ▁studying ▁at ▁MS U ▁and ▁two ▁years ▁of ▁singing ▁in ▁local ▁bands , ▁Mc Gr uder