"When Understanding Replaces Effort."

There’s a moment every musician hopes for —
the moment when things stop feeling scattered and suddenly connect.

Gerd experienced one of those moments recently, and it perfectly captures why understanding matters more than effort alone.

A few months ago, he tried to play “Fly Me to the Moon.” Like many students, he loved the song but struggled to memorize the chords. The rhythm felt challenging. Progress felt slow. It was one of those situations where you’re trying hard… but something still isn’t landing.

Then, after continuing his studies and going through Level 5 for a second time, something shifted.

It clicked.

Not vaguely.
Not partially.
But clearly.

Gerd described watching a video on the train, sitting down afterward with a lead sheet, writing out the chords, and within just a few hours, he was playing with confidence and momentum.

That’s not luck.
That’s understanding.

What really stood out to me was his reflection after a lesson with Rex. He spoke about finally seeing how the 4–5–1 concept works together with inversions — not as isolated ideas, but as one connected musical language.

This is where learning transforms.

When students stop memorizing shapes and start seeing relationships…
When inversions stop being theory and start flowing naturally…
When chords stop being something you recall and start being something you recognize…

Music becomes lighter.

Gerd shared some simple but powerful takeaways: learning basic chords first, letting inversions flow without overthinking, seeing chord tones clearly in different variations, and then adding scale tones to make the music more expressive.

That progression — from structure to freedom — is exactly how music is meant to be learned.

This is why I care so deeply about teaching concepts, not shortcuts.

Because effort without understanding leads to frustration.
But understanding turns effort into enjoyment.

Gerd’s experience is a reminder that breakthroughs don’t always come from doing more hours at the piano. Sometimes they come from revisiting the same material with new eyes — and letting it finally make sense.

When that happens, confidence grows naturally.
And music starts to feel like music again.

That moment — when confusion gives way to clarity — is one of the most rewarding wins a student can have.

And it’s one worth celebrating.

👉 You can read Gerd’s full story. And if his journey speaks to you, maybe it’s time to begin your own.

With gratitude,
Stephen Ridley