Gayle MacAulay Dunsmoor was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada where she completed the piano requirements for the Associateship of the Royal Conservatory of Music (R.C.M.) of Toronto (A.R.C.T.)

She continued her musical education at Le Conservatoire de Musique de Québec from which she received the Diplôme Lauréat de l'Académie de Musique de Québec (avec grande distinction).

Gayle's love of music and desire to speak French fluently, led her to two further years of study in Paris, France. Her program included concerts and competitions. A highlight during this time was being asked by l'Association France-Canada to perform as the Canadian representative at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes.

Returning to Canada, she taught piano in Montreal, P.Q, Ottawa, Ontario and Surrey, B.C. It was during these teaching years that Gayle became aware of a "missing subject" in the curriculum of formal piano education. Although many students could excel technically and interpret complex compositions with ease, they were often perplexed if asked to provide their own accompaniment to a basic melody, even after years of training.

Many other teachers seemed to recognize this shortcoming in the formal piano training system, but, like Gayle, were not aware of any effective teaching material to help students acquire the skill of accompaniment at the keyboard. Some expressed the opinion that "you had to be born with it".

Gayle was not satisfied; students deserved to be introduced to all aspects of music. She believed that, as a teacher, she was responsible to at least offer to turn the key. Her efforts to add accompaniment to her piano lessons led her to realize that structured daily practice was necessary - just like other music subjects. She began to collect and develop material that ultimately became The Keyboard Accompaniment Course.

Gayle lives in Surrey, B.C., Canada with her husband, and is a member of the B.C. Registered Music Teachers' Association.