Ridley Academy レビュー 

Excellent thanks loving the journey. Joined during Covid and I’ve also joined the Mentorship program too. It has been a dream to play the piano since I was a child. That dream is now coming true. Really grateful to Stephen for everything, he is amazing and a wonderful teacher. He has vision and a very infectious positive energy. We are so lucky to have him as our teacher. After having four miscarriages and not having any children only dogs which are like babies, I’ve loved finding something like this course to put my teeth in too and to fill my time with something achievable with Stephen’s help and Madison’s assistance. Madison is my beautiful couch and piano teacher, she really is the best person for the job. Love Stephen and Madison to bits. Thank you both for everything and the fabulous Ridley Academy team. Also wanted to mention my fellow students, they are also truly a great bunch of people. Bless you. Love you all, we are one, the RA family. May the entire universe be filled with peace, joy, love and light. Namaste 🙏

Hello,

I joined the Academy during Covid as a beginner. After being away for sometime focusing on my art practice. I reconnected with the course this year.
It’s so exciting now to see where my piano learning & playing is leading me to.

For me, it has been a such a great learning experience. Gaining confidence each step to fulfill a childhood dream. The lessons are practical and fun broken down to make you want to learn more with so much encouragement.
There is a great deal of support along your journey, the instructors are fabulous and people in the Academy are making awesome music!🎧

If you would like to read my story about becoming student of the week this year
I’ll leave it here for you to read.
Gratitude 🙏

Here is your success story:

“Here are some reflections, I decided to enroll with Ridley Academy to give myself the gift of music. I had heard some of Stephen’s songs, which I found incredibly emotionally connecting. This led me to a webinar with him, and I realized enrolling would be such a gift— to be able to play for other people without thinking too much and truly be myself on the piano. I wanted to really share something honest and expressive, and I wished to understand music on a deeper level, too.

Personally, I truly wanted to overcome some barriers in my self-confidence — specifically with performing — and to get the belief that music was not only for the ones who had studied it inside and out. There are many barriers I overcame as a beginner, and now every time I go to sit at a piano, I have so much love for it. To me, I think that’s a sign of remarkable teaching— that during the steps of learning you can really become connected to your instrument and can evolve with it, as your learning progresses.

I loved Stephen’s video lessons! Each one taught me so much, and I continue to dive into them. It was important to go back if I felt anything was missing, as I discovered and still am honestly discovering. There are so many golden nuggets in there! It’s a pleasure to walk through the journey with Stephen through his guided lessons. I enjoy his humor and the way he demystifies how music has traditionally been taught in our systems. He had me crying & laughing all at the same time in many moments along my learning.

My confidence and playing have evolved massively since starting Ridley Academy. Before, I didn’t even know what notes were, what a scale was, how rhythm fit into the whole picture, or how to sit at a piano with any confidence. It was all a bit alien to me. I remember feeling a bit disjointed at first, but I truly trusted that it would change in time.

I’m proud that I can now use both my hands independently and especially proud to have started to make up my own song! I’m also proud of being able to sing and accompany myself too. I overcame my own self-doubt with Ridley Academy. For me, that’s massively important. I’m still learning— that’s ongoing on this journey!

Something else I overcame was the understanding that even if music wasn’t part of your family upbringing in your household, it is still so possible to make that happen for you later in life, and I love Ridley Academy for that, truly.

The staff and team at Ridley Academy have always been so supportive. The instructors are always kind, and there is a real sense that you are being championed on your own journey, which I love. There are helping hands to nudge you back on track and make you feel really good about where you are at, no matter what that looks like at the beginning.

I’d love to play music live and write some songs. And I’d love to play or work with some really cool musicians in the future. It feels like a different chapter in my life opening up.

For that, I am forever grateful to have found Ridley Academy.”

Thank you so much Suzy! Warm wishes to you too 💫✨

I have a deep respect for this world-wide Academy, Ridley Academy. There have been growing pains, true. But nothing that their tech-team could not handle in a timely fashion. Ridley Academy has won Music Academy of the Year 2026, with a trail of awards since its design, by Stephen Ridley. I have personally experienced dramatic growth in my abilities, skills and understanding of history, theory, and performance. The instructors are professional musicians who deliver well planned lessons that align with my goals as a performing artist. My mentor is personable, experienced, clear, encouraging, and could make any student learn to play piano. They join a jaunty administrative team who has demonstrated extensive knowledge in the field, diligent in service, prudent and realistic about my goals, and constructive ideas for financing. Their customer service is A++. I felt very welcome and included from Day 1. I made the best decision to change my trajectory & Stephen Ridley is to credit. This is ‘the music of life’. #truth

Absolutely will recommend this Method of Piano Learning to my friends & family who have at least a basic knowledge of the piano. The Masterclass itself does walk one through some theories about the piano, the Latin/Italian phrases & symbols that are found in sheet music, and techniques & strategies that make learning interesting (compared to the rather tedious classical method). Having had some classical training, I must say my previous classical instructions re: Scales were tedious, a challenge & a disappointment leading to discouragement. But with the Ridley Piano Masterclass, I learned the Major & Minor scales in 2 WEEKS!!!! From there I was encouraged to continue & complete the Masterclass. I submitted a complete piano performance & was accurately & honestly critiqued resulting in my "graduation" from the course....
Onto the Mentorship program....my Mentor/Coach has an awesome talent, brilliant strategies, encouraging & an absolute delight to work with....Mind you she has MANY other students she mentors, but when she works one-on-one with me, she's dialed into my capabilities & is soooo VERY INSPIRING, kind & patient!
I am more inspired to play the piano & learn new songs! The piano is no longer tedious. It's an instrument of happiness for me now. THANK YOU, Stephen Ridley, Mentor, the Ridley Academy Staff & Experiences planned for the Students!

Stephen Ridley is very charismatic, emotional and switched, no doubt about it. He has switched people on who can lean this way.
I have never played any musical instrument before, they say no problem anyone can learn fast fun and simple. I have tried and tried and tried, I can't get past the scales I haven't got a clue how to play anything, I keep going back and trying again.
So then I decided to add on mentorship, it has not helped me because I cannot get past lesson 3. There is no one to one support direct. You have video yourself with what you can play, send it through a complicated system to a mentor, who feeds back after days. Then there are groups and people talking about things I don't understand like inverse chords. Just feel an absolute idiot. So depressing! People ring you who like try to cheer you on to keep going, they plead with you to keep going, even when I tell them im absolutely stuck! They said if you can't do it you get a refund no matter how long after. But when I asked many times they say no just keep going!

In 2022, I decided to return to a childhood dream: learning to play the piano.
I had no musical background, couldn’t read sheet music, didn’t know any chords, and had no idea where to begin. I simply searched online for “learn to play piano” and discovered Ridley Academy.
What started as a small personal challenge became a journey that has taken me much further than I expected. Just two months after I started learning, I had the opportunity to play at a hotel reopening.
One of my favourite moments was playing piano in a hotel and later discovering that I had unknowingly created a special moment for a couple who were on a date and loved live music.
Along the way, I’ve also met people who have become genuinely close to my heart — people who create music themselves and whom I can always reach out to. Having people around me who understand my passion for music has become one of the most meaningful parts of this journey.
Of course, learning an instrument takes personal effort, but for me, the most beautiful part is the joy of actually making music. There is something special about sitting down at a piano, placing your hands on the keys, and hearing something come to life that moments before existed only in your imagination. Sometimes I sit down intending to practise for a few minutes and end up playing simply because I’m enjoying it so much.
I think every day we make small choices about who we want to be and whether we want to make room for the things we’ve dreamed about. For me, learning piano has been one of those choices.
Ridley Academy and the people I’ve met along the way have become part of that journey, giving me a place to keep pursuing something I’ve wanted to do since childhood — while sharing it with people who love music too.
I’m still learning, and I’m curious to see where the music takes me next. Because whether you’re just starting out or already a world-class musician, there is always something new to learn, something to improve, and another level of mastery to pursue. That’s what makes the journey so rewarding — you never really stop growing. 🎹🎶

IT IS A SERIOUS WARNING TO EVERYONE WHO LIKES TO JOIN THIS COURSE. I BOUGHT THIS COURSE LAST YEAR, AND HAVE SPENT 2 HOURS PER DAY TO PRACTISE THE PIANO. UNFORTUNATELY SO FAR MY PIANO SKILL IS NOTHING PROVED AT ALL. NOT LIKE HIS PROMISE ONLY 10 MINS A DAY THEN REACH A HIGH LEVEL. OBIVIOUSLY HE IS LYING, HIS TEAM IS LYING FOR EVERYTHING. PLEASE KEEP YOUR MONEY FOR MORE VALUABLE AND GENURE INSTRUSTOR RATHER THAN THIS BRITISH ACCENT OVER ABOVE THE HIGH SKY LEVEL CONFIDENT BUT INDEED WITH NOTHING IN HIS HEART BLACK SUIT SO CALLED GOOD LOOKING MUSIC GENIUS (AT LEAST HE THOUGHT AND SAID SO IN HIS COURSE). I AM CALLING ALL OF THE MUSIC LOVER AND PIANO DIVERS, YOU DESERVE MUCH MORE BETTER AND PRECIOUS LESSONS, NEVER SPAEND AND WASTE YOUR TIME ON THIS LYER. ENJOY TRUE MUSIC, LIVE IN YOUR OWN MELODY. CHEERS :)

The company promises that you will be able to play the piano in 6 months, or your money will be refunded. However, when a refund was requested, all that happened was unhelpful comments and no refund.

I know this company gets great reviews because I read them before I purchased the expensive program that probably most learners start with. There are reasons the rave reviews keep pouring in. My own experience began equally euphoric. But after perhaps 6 to 8 months my enthusiasm was tested by the requirement of mastery of musical scales. Months and months of scales. In desperation I got a musical friend to help me with scales, and a few pieces of sheet music to alleviate the monotony. Now I am paying a very reasonable fee each week for a fabulous teacher on LESSONFACE and someday I’ll see if Ridley Academy can also add to my learning. I was very generous in my score of 3 stars only because Stephen’s Ridley Academy got me started believing I could learn piano, which is certainly a good thing!

He got me when I was totally new to piano but the value you get for your money is terrible. There’s so many other courses that cost a fraction of this course that are way better. Please don’t fall in this trap.

This is a difficult review to write. Stephen is a very talented teacher and the original Stephen Ridley Academy earns 5+ stars out of 5. It is so worth it and you will learn so much.
The next class, the Mentorship is about a negative 2 out of 5. A total ripoff of several thousands of dollars. He either did not vet his mentors, or he checked on them once and never went back to see how they were doing. No piano learning. The “classes” exist of gossip time about who has travelled to the most countries or has seen a piano at the most exclusive resort.

Amazing, fun course with quick, little successes that make learning a great experience and give a better, easier digestible understanding and feeling for the instrument and even music in general.

The Ridley Academy is the best way I've ever encountered to learn piano. I had piano lessons when I was younger, and I got to the point where I could learn "harder songs", but it took me forever. Every note was a struggle. I picked up piano again after college. I learned one song and half of another over several years. Still so slow. Then I started this program.

Results: after less than two years of the Ridley Academy mentorship (after doing their masterclass), I can write my own music. I'm covering popular songs and creating my own songs, and I don't need sheet music anymore. I can improvise on the spot and play in any key. I can hear a song, pick out its chords, and start playing it in a few minutes. I've even started performing at events! I used the same teaching methods with my kid, and in a couple of weeks he was improvising blues songs (these are real songs you can't help but bounce to, not simple or boring few finger affairs -- note: he had diligently practiced finger gym drills from the program for a while before this). Before any of this, I had to relearn how to learn music. Once I truly dove in to the process, it was incredible.

Conclusion: An entire new world of music has opened up, and it wasn't as inaccessible as it seemed. If you do what this program teaches and are consistent, it will cut through the mystique of music and give you practical skills that actually work.

The Ridley Academy Nashville experience has changed my life forever. The support and encouragement I received from the Ridley Coaching Team and the other participants allowed me to move forward with my music in a way that I did not know was possible. I have pushed past lifelong fears and doubts in myself involving performing and writing music. I so look forward to many years to come where I will share my creativity with the world. I am very grateful that I was given this opportunity and that I was brave enough to step up to the challenge.

I started the Academy about a year ago after taking live lessons from a local teacher. He is a great guy, but his focus is on teaching children. I'm 68. In the year at the academy, I have learned to play the piano with both hands and to read music (improving my bass clef immensely). I have gone back to the first songs I had tried to learn with my original teacher, and can now play them.

Last week was the most life changing, impactful, emotionally charged 4 days with Stephen Ridley & my Ridley Academy classmates in Nashville! They had coaching sessions, practice sessions, music tours working up to the Grand Finale of our piano recital on the piano that many greats (like Billy Joel) played on! Hallowed ground for any musician!
My piano learning journey began with the Ridley Academy! Having been classically trained (ho hum🥱), Stephen had the most refreshing way of teaching sprinkled with humor 😃 & encouragement 😇! Don’t get me wrong, I still needed to practice, & would take time out for life’s important interruptions, BUT, I persisted! Now I’m inspired & going the distance!🥰🤩🎹⭐️
Try the Ridley Piano Academy Masterclass. Give it your TRUE BEST SHOT/EFFORT!
Every staff I met including Stephen REALLY wants you to succeed & are very helpful!
Love, J. & Tim

Last week, I was fortunate enough to attend the Nashville experience, hosted by Stephen Ridley and his wonderful team. This was the first live teaching event of its kind by Ridley Academy, so I think everyone was a little uncertain about what to really expect. However, what happened in Nashville was nothing short of magical. We all had a brief agenda of what would happen each of the four days – concerts, studio tours, food, small coaching sessions, our own performances, songwriting showcases, and a general good time. What I didn’t expect was that this experience would result in incredible emotional connections among 30 students, the coaches, and the whole team at Ridley Academy, that would bring us all together as life-long friends. We listened to music together and played together, we cheered each other on, even through mistakes and tears, and we not only became better musicians together, but better friends.

One of the most emotional experiences was held on the last day, when everyone played a song at the piano in Ocean Way Studios. The performances weren’t technically perfect – but they were emotionally perfect. It’s an art that I find is sometimes lost in today’s culture – listening with our hearts. Each person had a story to share through music, and it was beautiful!! We also wrote about each other’s performances and then gave our positive messages to each other, so this treasured experience could be remembered forever.

I find it difficult to express everything I feel after last week, but I know that I was moved beyond words to share in this experience. During this trip, Stephen taught us how to communicate emotions through our music more expressively, and now I find that I need music even more, because there are no words great enough to express how this experience has shaped my life. What I do know is that both my music and my heart have changed for the better after those magical days in Nashville. My expectations were far exceeded, and I’m forever grateful to Stephen Ridley for creating such a magical experience for everyone there.

For me, there are 5 things that really set this Piano music Academy apart and any other online music program.
#1- The teacher….. Stephen Ridley makes it FUN! His Piano playing is very inspiring and motivating. He can change your mood 7 times in 2 minutes by playing the piano. It’s powerful!

#2-Very Short teaching videos break it down into doable assignments, so you can still make progress even if you only have 5-10 minutes. I also love the levels of progression. You can see what you’re accomplished.

#3- The Academy is loving community. It starts with Stephen himself and goes right to the mentorship program coaches and onto the other students. A truly supportive family.

#4-Confidence-Learning piano here has been about so much more than just music. I have gained a confidence that I have wanted all my life. A real confidence, not just pretense.

#5- Music Theory…. For years I have wanted to understand how music is put together. I wanted to be able to just sit down and play for my own enjoyment and to write songs. Now, I can.

The masterclass is great. The mentorship is great. Great coaches. The zoom calls are good. Does not live up to the advertising of playing like a pro after I day, I week, 1 year. The constant spam for early renewals, hurry before the price jumps and last chance is relentless. Always changing the goal posts. I have asked numerous times to stop the spam to no avail. The marketing is less than truthful. When you mention it in emails it is ignored.