“I Thought It Was Too Late… Until I Tried Again”

My piano story actually began when I was eight years old. I took lessons for a year and then quit—life got busy and the dream quietly slipped away. Years later I tried again, but responsibilities pulled me off track. Still, the desire never faded. That quiet longing was always there.

When I saw the promotion for Stephen Ridley’s Academy, something inside me sparked. My doubts kicked in: Too old? No time? Is this really for me? But then I asked myself:

If not now, when?

So I enrolled.

From the very first lesson I felt the difference. The structure, the clear direction, the way everything made sense—it all clicked.

“In just three months, I’ve grown more than I ever expected. I’m proud of myself—and that is priceless.”

I’m learning music in a way I never did before. Not just songs—but why they’re built, how they feel, how they connect. The tools I’m developing? Hand coordination, rhythm, ear-training—real skills.

“This is the best personal move I could have made for myself—especially at my age.”

This journey has been more than playing piano. It’s been returning to a part of me I thought I’d lost. I feel more confident, more directed, more myself.
Joining Ridley Academy wasn’t just another course—it became a transformation.

If you’ve ever thought it was too late, too risky, or too much… I hope my story shows you it’s not.

It’s never too late to begin again.

With gratitude,

Iva Harris