Next Performance: 04/05 - Ferguson & Co @ Hood Canal Brewery Time: 6 PM - 8 PM

Kristen Ferguson

Musician & Teacher

Piano | Guitar | Mandolin | Ukulele

Kristen Ferguson, musician and teacher from Kingston, Washington playing piano

About Kristen Ferguson

Kristen is a musician from North Kitsap. Coming from a long line of players, and raised by professional musician parents, her upbringing was steeped in musicianship. Adept in multiple styles and instruments, she draws inspiration from the music she was raised on: Country, Bluegrass, Rhythm & Blues, Folk, Jazz & Classical.

Kristen's strong instrumental skills and uniquely striking vocals bring the listener deep into the core of a song. With a distinct talent for translating old music to new audiences, hearing her is a powerfully connective experience that transcends generations and genres.

Alongside her solo work, she was part of a female-led Roots/Americana band "The Outskirts", and currently performs as Ferguson & Co, a Bluegrass style duo with her Dad, National Flat Pick Champion Roger Ferguson. She also performs as Bannister & Maine with Anne Mathews.

Music Lessons

Since she was a teenager, Kristen has taught private music lessons consistently. She teaches all ages and styles and believes strongly in fostering motivation through the student's own interests in music. Her approach to teaching has resulted in an extremely high retention rate for students over the last 27 years.

Lessons are available in her Kingston, Washington home studio and via Zoom for remote students. If interested, email to inquire about openings. Instruments offered: Piano, Guitar, Mandolin, and Ukulele for beginners through advanced students.

Lesson Pricing

Lessons Available Weekly or Every Other Week

30 minutes: $50

45 minutes: $70

60 minutes: $90

Email inquiries to: ferguson.kristen@gmail.com

Upcoming Performances

Performance Videos

My Teaching Philosophy

Curriculum: My teaching approach is highly personalized and flexible, tailored specifically to each student's interests and abilities. Having grown up taking classical piano lessons myself, I’ve been teaching piano since I was a student teacher at 14 (I'm now 41), and began teaching guitar shortly afterward. While I’m familiar with and use materials from many piano publishers, my approach is not limited to any single method. Often, I enjoy creating custom arrangements or transcribing modern songs specifically to match a student's skill level and musical interests.

I understand that each student has unique musical tastes and goals, whether in piano or guitar. My priority is to meet students where they are and help them explore music that genuinely engages them, teaching essential theory and technique through songs they love.

Student Performances: My teaching style is focused on flexibility and respecting each student's individual pace and preferences. I believe learning music should be enjoyable and stress-free, without rigid timelines or mandatory performances. While I do provide opportunities and encouragement for performing, I recognize and respect that some students find music to be a personal and private experience, equally enriching even without public performances.

In my experience, embracing flexibility helps students cultivate a lifelong connection to music. My goal is to ensure music becomes an enjoyable, meaningful, and lasting part of each student's life, rather than imposing a strictly professional or rigid approach.

Meet and Greets: My schedule is quite active with teaching, performing, and homeschooling my 3- and 7-year-old children, so formal meet and greets are generally challenging for me. However, I warmly invite prospective students to attend one of my performances as a comfortable, informal way to meet, say hello, and briefly chat. Typically, those interested in lessons already feel comfortable moving forward without a separate meet and greet.

Practice Material: I always provide students with clear, engaging practice materials aligned with their personal goals, including songs, exercises, and theory activities to explore during the week. My approach emphasizes encouragement and motivation rather than pressure. The most important aspect of lessons is curiosity, attentiveness, and ongoing learning—how students choose to spend their practice time outside lessons is entirely respected and supported.

I find that genuine motivation and enjoyment drive the most meaningful progress. My aim is to foster an atmosphere where learning and playing music naturally integrate into students' lives as a positive, fulfilling experience.