Gerald Schafer grew up in a musical family in British Columbia–his mother is a church organist/pianist. Starting piano at age eight, he continued piano studies through university, graduating as a biology and piano major from Walla Walla University (WWU), where he studied piano with Leonard Richter. While at university he had the opportunity to develop solo and ensemble skills and was in demand as a pianist for vocalists and instrumentalists. He taught in the Preparatory Division at WWU, under the supervision of Debra Bakland, and has taught beginning through advanced students. Gerald focuses on developing a strong technique that enables confident and expressive playing of many musical styles.

With his wife, Tanya Anderson, Gerald moved to Helena in 2013 to take a faculty position in the Health Sciences Department at Carroll College. Music continues to play an important role in his life and he's active as a singer in Musikanten Montana and as pianist at New Life Lutheran Church.