Pushed by her father and starting at age three, Slenczynska was forced to practice the piano relentlessly.

To escape the pressure, she left home, abandoned her career as a musician, and attended studies at the University of California, Berkeley.

In 1964, she accepted a full-time position at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville as Artist in Residence, a title she retained until 1987.

[10] A large assortment of her memorabilia and recordings constitutes a Special Collection in the Lovejoy Library at SIUE.

[15] • "The Music Show, ABC, Ruth Slenczynska Interview with Andrew Ford".