Instructor and Owner Kristopher Hale

Kristopher Hale, a native of Roanoke, Virginia, is the founder and director of Hale’s Music School in Salem, VA. Through his school, he offers high quality instruction, professional instrument repairs, and access to top-tier gear for musicians across the New River Valley and Roanoke regions. He is also an in demand performer, appearing at public and private events throughout Virginia. Hale earned a Bachelor of Music magna cum laude in 2003 and a Master of Arts in Music in 2005, both from Radford University, where he concentrated in Guitar Performance. His academic accolades include a Graduate Teaching Fellowship, three Honors Recital nominations, the RU Senior Excellence Award, and placement on the National Dean’s List. He is a member of the Theta Mu chapter of Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, and the Alpha Zeta chapter of Mu Phi Epsilon. As a student, Hale was a founding member of the Southwestern Virginia Classical Guitar Society and led the organization as president from 2003 to 2005. He was awarded scholarships from Fender Musical Instruments and Duquesne University’s Guitar Workshop and was a semifinalist in the St. Joseph International Guitar Festival competition. His professional appointments include Professor of Music and Director of Guitar Studies at Emory & Henry College, Lynchburg College Radford University and Roanoke College.

Kristopher began playing guitar at age nine and won a regional composition contest by thirteen. At Radford, he studied under Robert Trent, the first doctoral recipient in guitar performance from Peabody Conservatory. Over the years, Hale has performed widely and received instruction from renowned guitarists including David Russell, Lily Afshar, Vincent Airault, Anthony Glise, Christopher Berg, and Carlo Barone.

Nancy has recently relocated to Salem from her home state of CA and brings with her a wealth of knowledge and teaching expertise. She has been a piano instructor for well over two decades and has taught at various schools and music studios. She enjoys teaching both children and adults and, under her instruction, students learn to play both classical and modern styles of music. Sight reading, theory and technique are also included as part of her curriculum.

While growing up in Saratoga, CA, Nancy was privately trained in piano from ages 5 through 18. She was taught by several prominent instructors and had many opportunities to perform in recitals and regional competitions. After graduating from high school in Saratoga, she then earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies (Elementary Education) w/ an emphasis in the Arts, from San Jose State University. 

In addition to teaching piano lessons, Nancy has previously held other private sector positions while at Apple Computer as well as various other companies in the areas of education marketing, product development, customer support and administration.