“The First Time Clarence Said ‘Yes’”

There are moments in this Academy that stay with me — not because of a difficult piece mastered or a complex skill learned, but because of a quiet shift inside a student. Clarence had one of those moments inside the Mentorship — a moment of confidence, honesty, and growth that says far more than any scale or song ever could.

For years, whenever someone asked him, “Do you play the piano?” Clarence never felt sure of his answer. He told us he often said something like, “Well… it depends on who you ask,” because deep down, he didn’t feel confident enough to claim it.

But this week, something different happened. Something small… yet incredibly meaningful.

Someone asked him that same question —
And for the first time, Clarence finally said:

“YES, I can play the piano.”

That moment means more than any song, any scale, or any exercise.
It’s the moment when the work finally becomes real inside someone.

Clarence has been steadily building skills through the Masterclass. With the support of Ridley Academy and his coach Carlos, he’s started to feel the progress in a way that truly matters — not just intellectually, but emotionally.

He shared another beautiful win:
Someone told him that his piano playing was inspiring.
And while he joked about his head getting too big to fit through the doorway (classic Clarence), underneath the humor was something powerful:

He believed it.

Not long after that, Clarence submitted his Masterclass video for critique, and he received confirmation that he had officially passed the course. He told us the Academy was very kind in their feedback — and yes, his head “grew a little more.”
But it wasn’t from ego.
It was from pride.
From seeing his efforts pay off.

And now, after over five months away from the Mentorship Program, Clarence shared another meaningful milestone:

Beginning December 1st, 2025, he is officially back in the program — excited to keep improving exponentially.

That is the heart of transformation.
Not perfection.
Not rushing.
But the courage to keep returning to the path.

Clarence’s story is a reminder that breakthroughs often come disguised as small moments — a sentence, a compliment, a simple “yes” that suddenly means everything.

If you’ve ever hesitated to call yourself a musician, or doubted your progress, I hope Clarence’s journey encourages you:

You become a pianist long before you feel like one.
You become a pianist the moment you keep going.

It’s never too late to begin again.

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

With gratitude,

Stephen Ridley