We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Katy Hale a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Katy, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
I’ve always had a love for music, but I think the moment I truly knew I wanted to pursue it seriously was my first semester of college. I had a private piano instructor who really pushed me to experiment with different styles of music and find my niche as a musician. Before that, music was always something I enjoyed, but it was more of a personal hobby. When I started performing with others and experiencing the emotional power of music – how it could bring people together and communicate feelings without words-that’s when I realized I wanted to make it my path. Music became a way for me to connect, express myself, and have an impact on others.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My name is Katy Hale, and I am a private music teacher and Board Certified Music Therapist. I specialize in teaching private piano, guitar, and ukulele lessons as well as providing music therapy to all ages and populations. I currently work as a contract music therapist where I work with children in school system who receive special education services.
My musical journey began at a young age. My mother is a pianist and used to be a private piano instructor. She would conduct her lessons from our home here in Georgetown. So I grew up watching her and fell in love with the piano. I had the privilege of taking piano lessons from the same teacher who taught my mother piano. My piano teacher pushed me to better my craft because I believe she saw something in me that I hadn’t yet saw in myself. In high school I became more involved in the choral programs and began to accompany the choir during some of the concerts.
After high school I attended Georgetown College and received my Bachelors in Piano Performance. My piano instructor at Georgetown was fantastic and I learned a great deal from her. She made sure that I had every opportunity to involve myself through my talent within the community and I became more and more comfortable performing and accompanying. During my Junior year of college I began working for a small church in Georgetown where I would play and lead hymns and contemporary music. I learned a lot during that job but found a love for leading in worship.
During this time I was unsure of what I wanted to do professionally as a musician. Sure, I was already teaching private lessons and working for a church, but I felt as though that wasn’t all I was called to do.
While I was still attending Georgetown, I caught up with an old classmate who had recently graduated and began attending a program at UK for music therapy. At the time I had never heard of music therapy. She explained the program to me and a little bit of history about music therapy and I immediately fell in love and at that moment I knew that I wanted to pursue this career. After graduating Georgetown College in 2015 I began an equivalency/masters program for music therapy at UK. I began Board Certified in 2018 after completing an 7 month long internship at Big Bend Hospice in Tallahassee FL. I returned to Georgetown and began working for Therapy Lex LLC as a contract music therapist. Over the years, I’ve honed my craft and built my career around creating music that connects with people emotionally, whether it’s through live performances, recordings, collaborations, therapy sessions, or leading in worship. In July of 2024, I merged my private piano studio with Sable Snyder Music, and we’ve worked together building our business as a whole. We now both run a private music studio together in downtown Georgetown.
I am most proud of my ability to adapt and learn new skills when needed. People and society are always shifting and changing but music as something to connect us to one another. I love that I get to share my passion for music in different ways whether that be through teaching, leading in worship, or as a therapeutic outlet.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
For me the most rewarding aspect of being an a creative is seeing others discover that same love for music that I have found in my own experience. Getting to witness that is such a blessing. As a music therapist the most rewarding aspect is watching other’s achieve their goals through music. Even the smallest of victories are worth every minute of work I’ve put into the sessions.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
My goal as a musician and creative is to spread a positive outlook and love towards all styles and types of music expression.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: katy hale piano studio
