Gail Lew is an author, editor, arranger, piano teacher, clinician, and nationally recognized leader in the field of piano pedagogy. Before pursuing a career as a professional piano adjudicator for state, national, and international piano competitions and events, she was an independent studio teacher in the San Francisco Bay Area, a Contributing Editor for the American Music Teacher magazine, and a New Music Reviewer for several music journals. Gail received her B.A. in piano performance, M.A. in music history, and a Lifetime California State Teaching Credential with specialization in music education. Her master’s thesis on the history of piano pedagogy in the twentieth century garnered a coveted award for the best master’s thesis at California State University East Bay. In 2011, she won first place for her pedagogy research paper at the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy in Chicago.

Highlights of her career include serving as senior piano editor for Kjos Music and director of keyboard publications for Warner Bros. Music. During this time, she worked as an editor for major recording artists and created piano arrangements for the Harry Potter movies. Her editorial projects include the landmark piano textbook “Practical Piano Pedagogy,” the jazz textbook “Playing Solo Jazz Piano: A New Approach for Creative Pianists,” and numerous editions of classical, popular, sacred, and piano technique books. Ms. Lew also served as Chair of the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy Committee on Independent Music Teachers (Princeton, New Jersey) from 2010 to 2012 and remained on the national committee through 2019. In 2023, she was honored as a Music Teachers National Association Foundation Fellow for her contributions to music education. Gail conducts annual piano workshops across the United States, including presentations at the Music Teachers National Association Conference, many state music conventions, and the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy.

Gail judges annually for the National Guild of Piano Teachers, the Music Teacher National Association, the United States International Music Competition, the Music Teachers Association of California, the California Association of Professional Music Teachers, and many local and state festivals. Ms. Lew has served as a judge for MusiQuest in India and as a judge for national piano exams across the People’s Republic of China. Throughout her forty-year teaching career, her students have won and placed in numerous solo and concerto competitions, consistently earned state, local, and national honors, and will continue to enjoy a lifetime of musical enjoyment.