Dr. Nick Braae
Academic Staff Member - Music and Performing Arts
Contact info
About
Awards
Qualifications
PhD, MA (1st Class Hons)
BMus (1st Class Hons)
Advanced Performance Certificate (Piano, Trinity College of London)
Areas of expertise
Industry experience, affiliations and achievements
Research activity
Select publications
What do you enjoy about teaching/your job?
It's both challenging and extremely rewarding to work with students who come into the Music programme with varying types of musical experience. It means I'm always finding new ways to communicate and articulate ideas; no two classes from semester to semester are the same. The students are also great for helping me extend my own tastes in music.
What do you love about your area?
I love the fact that it's possible to move seamlessly from one style of music to another while teaching or playing, and be able to discover all the connections between different idioms.
Tell us about your experience in the industry
I have been playing piano for over twenty years and have played semi-professionally in and around Hamilton since 2010. This has been across a range of genres, including musical theatre, classical, indie rock, jazz, country, and pop; and has been as a recording musician, live performer, arranger, and musical director.
What keeps you busy outside of Media Arts?
Outside of my teaching and other professional work, I play squash in the winter months and have represented Waikato at various national tournaments. In the summer, I am a keen cricketer and enjoy hiking when the weather behaves itself.