Kristi started playing piano with her grandmother teaching her at only 5 years old. She started taking formal lessons by the age of 7 and had completed all traditional level training by age 14. She began to learn chord music and playing in a contemporary band by the age of 15 and continued to advance her classical training as well. She married her high school sweetheart at the age of 20 and they began to pursue music and worship together as he answered the call to ministry in 2007. She opened Kinsey Studios in Spring Lake, NC in 2013 and has been teaching students ever since. In 2018 she began offering virtual lessons as students began moving around the country and did not want to give up lessons with the studio. Kristi personally is inspired by musicians like Jim Brickman and Kenny G and enjoys playing broadway favorites when not practicing for her upcoming church services.