"When Music Becomes Freedom."
Every now and then, a student puts into words something I’ve felt about music my entire life.
Peg recently shared a reflection that stopped me in my tracks. She described music not as notes or rules, but as frequency that creates emotional impact — almost magically. And that’s exactly it. Music isn’t just something we learn. It’s something we feel. Something that moves through us.
What touched me most was her story of being drawn to music at a young age — how a single sound, a French horn fanfare from Camelot, could awaken something deep inside her. That kind of response is not intellectual. It’s emotional. It’s human. It’s the part of us that recognizes music before we ever try to explain it.
Over time, many of us learn to approach music through layers of structure, terminology, and “shoulds.” We’re told what’s correct, what’s allowed, what’s proper. And while structure has its place, it can sometimes bury the very thing that made us fall in love with music in the first place.
Peg spoke about feeling “locked inside” — wanting to express what lives within her, but feeling constrained by rules and the pressure to memorize before feeling free. That’s a feeling I hear from many students. They don’t lack emotion or desire. They lack permission.
One of my deepest intentions with this work is to help people reconnect with the emotional side of music — to understand that scales, chords, and concepts aren’t cages… they’re keys. They’re tools that unlock expression, not barriers that limit it.
When students realize that music is frequency, emotion, and relationship — not just theory — something softens. The pressure lifts. And expression becomes possible again.
Peg’s reflection is a beautiful reminder that music doesn’t belong to experts alone. It belongs to anyone willing to listen, feel, and show up honestly. The “secret of music” isn’t hidden in complexity. It’s revealed in connection.
If her words resonated with you, I encourage you to read Peg’s full story.
With gratitude,
Stephen Ridley 🎹💛
