YouTube LIVE Music Premiere | David McDonald
Sat, Dec 26 | 2-3 PM
Premieres LIVE on Peoria Riverfront Museum's YouTube Channel
David McDonald established the Academy of Fretted Instruments in 2005 on Water St. in Peoria, IL with the sole purpose of providing a place where individuals could study all the various fretted instruments (guitar, banjo, mandolin, ukulele and bass) by an individual who possess a college degree in music. That’s it. Nothing to sell but the knowledge of how to become a musician by learning how to play the music one loves.
David starting playing the guitar sometime around third grade under the tutelage of Jim White at the Morton Academy of Music. He then later went on to study with Mario Ramirez at Elmore Musical Warehouse during his teenage years focusing on the electric guitar and, of course, all things Rock ‘n’ Roll. During these years of musical growth, he played in a couple of cover bands. At the fifteen years of age, he found himself ten years younger than the other guitarist in his band playing in area bars accompanied by his parents chaperoning every occasion the band got a gig.
Ironically, while attending Bradley University, David alternatively focused on a Communications major with an Art minor. However, during this time, he met an amazing songwriter from Chicago, Charles Bennett, who was self-taught on the guitar (albeit upside down and left-handed!!!) and had the opportunity of joining his band - Freudian Press. This would have a profound and everlasting influence on David’s musical journey - even to the point of willingly failing out of college to make a go of making his dream of becoming a professional musician (i.e. a rock star) come true.
Eventually, David’s time with Freudian Press came to an end and he returned to the university to study classical guitar literature under the guidance of Michael Hull and ended up receiving a degree in Music along with a minor in Theatre. Upon graduation, David focused on performing classical repertoire at area restaurants, wineries, coffeehouses as well as frequently being hired to perform at weddings and private parties. It was at this point that he also began teaching lessons privately and playing mandolin in The Bug Dance Rhythm Band - a trio founded by songwriter/guitarist Joe Park and featured Matt Swartezdruber on harmonica.
In 2001, David began teaching General Music at Charter Oak Primary School - a role he assumed off and on for seven years. While teaching at the Peoria Public School District 150, he not only started an after-school guitar program, but also recording three children’s CDs as a means to raise funds for the school’s Music & Art programs. One of the CDs he produced was a tribute to Woody Guthrie featuring 12 of his beloved children’s songs. This project also included bringing in Guthrie’s art and displaying his works at local establishments including One World & Eamon Patrick’s (now Kenny’s Westside Pub) - even Arlo Guthrie came and played the CEFCU CenterStage as well as his documentary about father was shown at the Apollo Theatre in connection with this project which led to McDonald being offered a position teaching middle school music at Peoria Academy. In 2010, McDonald left public and private education to focus on teaching private lessons via the Academy of Fretted Instruments.
In March of 2019, after having moved A.o.F.I. from Peoria to Morton in 2012, McDonald relocated his studio to Northwoods Mall reinventing his business model opting to start the Peace of Heart Artist Collective featuring local artists specializing in the various mediums. The space in on the second floor, next to Spencer’s, and currently representIng the ceramics works of Jacob Grant, custom jewelry designs by Jennifer Short, oil paintings by Andre Petty, graphite drawings/acrylic paintings by S.J. Boyd, metal sculpture by Gene Mialkowski along with McDonald taking care of the musical side of art.
Most recently, David recorded his first ever album of original songs last year with his band, Pauper Hill, at Rock Solid Studio in Dunlap, IL by Jimmy Bridgeman. The trio features area musicians Brian Stear on harmonica and Tim Harr on pedal-steel guitar. The recording was done live in one-take without any overdubs in front of an intimate studio audience consisting of family and friends. “The Coffeehouse Sessions - Vol. 1” draws from songs written over the past twenty years of his life and is available for purchase at the studio space inside Northwoods Mall.
