 Born in Kirksville, Missouri, to Levi Prince Musick and Zada (or Sadie) Goeghegan, Musick received a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Kirksville State Teacher's College (now Truman State University) in 1919.From September 1919 to June 1921 Musick taught at Luana High School, Luana, Iowa, before moving to Garwin, Iowa in 1921, where she taught at Garwin High School until June 1922.She then continued her education at the State University of Iowa, graduating with a Master of Science in mathematics in 1928.