"It’s Never Too Late to Learn Piano and Rediscover Joy | Ridley Academy."

I just have to say it again:

Thank you, Stephen.

This is truly the best gift I could have given myself.

Reconnecting with the piano has brought so much joy back into my life — more than I expected, and more than I even thought was possible at this stage.

When I was a child, I learned piano through the classical method. I stayed with it for about five years… but eventually, I became frustrated and quit.

But here’s the truth:

I never really stopped playing.

No matter where I lived, I always had a piano nearby. I would sit down and play — not perfectly, not technically, but enough to express something inside me.

I always loved music.
Especially jazz.

But I didn’t understand it.

I didn’t know about chords, chord progressions, or jazz theory — the things that actually allow you to play freely. Those were things I was never taught in the classical approach.

Everything changed when life took an unexpected turn.

Someone left a vibraphone at our place, and I started experimenting with it. Since the layout is similar to the piano, I was able to explore it naturally. That curiosity led me to learn a bit of jazz theory, and eventually, I connected with other musicians who loved Latin jazz as much as I did.

We started a band.

We played at local street fairs, farmers markets, and fundraising events. It was fun. It was alive. It felt like music again.

And then… everything stopped.

Our weekly practices ended, and there were no more performances.

That’s when I knew I wanted to come back to the piano — not just casually, but properly. I wanted to understand it. I wanted to be able to move between instruments and truly know what I was doing.

But I didn’t know where to start.

Until I found this course.

From the moment I came across Ridley Academy, I knew this was exactly what I needed.

Not just another piano course…
but a way to learn piano that was logical, practical, and actually enjoyable.

And step by step — everything started to make sense.

I began to understand chords.
Progressions.
Structure.
Freedom.

Now, I’m at a completely different place.

I can sit at the piano and accompany songs when friends come over.
I can begin exploring jazz and pop music the way I always wanted to.
And most importantly — I finally understand how it all works.

And the best part?

I’m 71 years old.

And I feel like that young girl again — the one who used to sit at the piano and fall in love with music.

Except now…

I love it even more.

Because now I have the tools.
The understanding.
The confidence to continue.

This isn’t the end of a journey.

It’s the beginning of one.

A journey filled with music, joy, discovery, and new connections.

And I know I’ll keep coming back to this course — not just for learning, but for encouragement whenever I need it.

Because sometimes, all it takes is the right guidance to reconnect with something that was always part of you.

I love music.
I love the piano.
And I truly love this course.

And Stephen — I believe you are on a very special mission.

With gratitude, 

Claude Villeneuve