About Us
Suzie Gailer
B.Ed. (Teaching)
Suzie is a qualified Early Childhood Education (ECE) teacher with many years of experience as an ECE centre manager. She is a mother of four. During her career she has established and led specialist music and movement sessions for young children for 11 years and has founded and led a Kapa Haka Group for three- and four-year-olds for 10 years. She has extensive knowledge and experience in the field of using children’s natural love of music as a means to motivate young children to participate in movement activities that enhance body and brain development and prepare them for formal schooling. She whole-heartedly believes that movement drives brain development. She is passionate about supporting young children to develop skills in musicality, midline development, vestibular development, proprioception, eye fitness, early literacy, and early numeracy. She has composed several songs for children, including songs in te reo Māori. She has been published twice in The First Years Ngā Tau Tuatahi, a recognised academic journal. Suzie’s strengths are her knowledge and experience in early childhood leadership and music education which informs her lyrics and planning for learning. She is experienced in leading parent education workshops and passionate about sharing her knowledge and experience.
Ben Gailer
B.Mus. (Hons), ATCL
Ben is Suzie and Nick’s son. He is a multi-instrumentalist, composer/arranger, and music teacher. He holds a Bachelor of Music with First Class Honours majoring in Jazz Performance from the University of Auckland. As one of Auckland’s most in-demand jazz pianists, he performs regularly as both a soloist and as a member of a variety of ensembles around New Zealand. Ben is also a skilled classical pianist and award-winning saxophonist. He is regularly commissioned for compositions and arrangements for a variety of ensembles and recently released his debut studio album, Monolith, a collection of his jazz orchestra works performed by the Auckland Jazz Orchestra. Ben has recently been appointed as a Professional Teaching Fellow at the University of Auckland, where he currently lectures in a variety of subjects including ensemble direction, music theory, and composition, and teaches one-on-one lessons in jazz piano performance. Ben also teaches piano at several of Auckland's top secondary schools, as an Artist Teacher for the University of Auckland, and from his home piano studio in Auckland's East Coast Bays. He is a registered Level 2 Suzuki piano teacher with the New Zealand Suzuki Institute. Ben has experience in ECE from relieving Suzie’s specialist music and movement sessions while he was a student. His contributions to this project are his skills and professional experience as a composer, producer, and recording artist.
Dr Nick Gailer
BHB, MBChB, FRNZCGP, Dip Obst.
Nick is Suzie’s husband and a medical doctor. Nick had a strong musical upbringing, learning and performing classical piano and violin. His skill and passion for music was evident in the awards he won as a child. While he was in medical school, he was involved with a number of bands playing keyboards, guitar and harmonica. His bands regularly played both covers and originals in venues around Auckland including The Gluepot, Shadows, and The Jolly Farmer. He also featured regularly playing solo in the piano bar at The Grafton Oaks. Nick is a prolific songwriter and one of his strengths is the ability to compose songs with catchy melodies very quickly. As a General Practitioner, Nick had a sub-specialisation in developmental paediatrics, which has sparked a strong interest in this project. Here he sees great potential in helping all children, especially those with special needs, to experience joy while gaining appreciation for music and enhancing their development.
Licensing
Information to come