[1][2] She learned to play the piano at the age of five from her mother, Pauline Gauer, who was a concert pianist.
She attended the Juilliard School in New York City, where she received instruction from Bernard Wagenaar, James Friskin, and Joseph Schillinger.
[2] In addition she wrote several songs with violinist Jascha Heifetz, who used the pseudonym of Jim Hoyl.
[2] In 1954, Tony Martin launched "My Bambino",[3] which Goetschius wrote as an adaptation of an Italian lullaby inspired by the birth of her son.
Her songs were played by popular musicians such as Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Doris Day, Duke Ellington, Johnny Mathis, among others.