Crouse graduated from the Juilliard School in 1951, where he studied with Milton Katims, Ivan Galamian, and Dorothy DeLay. In his debut Juilliard concert, he played the violin, but he was encouraged to switch to the viola.
After graduating from the Juilliard School in 1951, Crouse began his musical career with instruction from Milton Katims, Ivan Galamian, and Dorothy DeLay. During his first concert at Juilliard, he performed on the violin but was advised to switch to the viola.