Good Points, Ryan. Mastery comes from repetition and understanding the connections deeply - not only practice, but practising in the right way - I read once that a novice will practise until they can play the part correctly, but to master it, you have to practise until you no longer make mistakes. There are no shortcuts.
@@ryanyardmusic My own concoction - but something like it probably already existed. I think those of us who are legitimately involved in music and music teaching owe it to ourselves and others not to dignify charlatans like Ridley with professional respect. They don't deserve it.
His style reminds me of "piano bar" playing. Not sure if they have this in the UK. But it is basically a bar where a performer plays a piano and sings popular songs, frequently by request and often mostly winging it. Just playing chords. It is like what is called"cowboy chords" on guitar. Really just a way to accompany a voice wirh some occasional flourishes It's fine but very, very basic really.
Ím so happy to listen to all teachers who tell the truth about this crazy man. I have started to feel sick every time he pop up on my youtube. Even at my level of pianoplaying I can see itś a scam.
You may not have the bells and whistles of Stephen Ridley, but when you are good at what you do, you don’t need bells and whistles. Your skill will speak for itself. You could play in your underwear, and your skill will shine through.
Well said. I've seen many people criticise the charlatan Ridley and all say the same thing. There is no substitution for hard work and time. If somthing is worth doing it takes time and dedication to master it. Anything which can be learned in five minutes will not have a lot of depth.Let's face it Ridley is only teaching how to debase something in an attempt to make money and he's not even doing that very well because almost everyone has seen through his inept presentation. He has however given a masterclass on how to be irritating.
I was curious about this "four chords can play any song" method, so I decided to try it as a joke...I'm a xylophonist, so I played the same 4 chords over and over on a glockenspiel as I sang, "Twinkle, twinkle, little star" along with it... 🤪🙄😂 Holy hell...It sounded like I threw a bunch of pots and pans down a staircase and yodeled to it! I dare all the musicians here to try this "method" on any musical instrument...I promise it will sound hilariously awful! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I've seen his adverts and I agree with you Ryan, he's not actually offering music lessons, he's trying to demonstrate how to become a showman like himself. It's also 4 chords to accompany songs so if the learner isn't already a competent, confident singer I can't see how they're going to become one by learning four chords on the piano. Far better IMO to take singing lessons with someone who can help you make the most of your unique voice. It's not the same but it's a bit like memorising four frequently used phrases of a foreign language instead of seriously learning a language to be able to converse freely!
He sounds a ‘strange’ teacher & making it hard for genuine teachers. It’s so upsetting for pupils who think they’ve reached a certain peak only to find they haven’t. I’ve never heard of him
Ridley is painful to watch. Absolutely obnoxious man. As a pianist myself I can confirm his courses are the biggest piano SCAM i've seen. Thank you for spreading awareness, Ryan!
A couple of things. In the first instance, there can be a lot of pretention among musicians. You, genuinely, for example, learn to play along with lots of popular music, on guitar, with 6-8 chords. However, that does not make you a professional guitarist; though you may be popular at parties. All that said, a guitar is a different instrument and, with the aid of a capo, you can use those same chord shapes in many different keys. The piano is different and everything i hear about this Ridley character makes me very suspicious. That said, i couldn't help notice that the advertisement at the end of this video was that very popular 4 chord/100 songs thing. So, rightly suspicious of the whole concept but happy to take his money. Just a bit short on the credibility factor, methinks.
@Hilary945 absolutely. I remember at college being thrown music left and right to accompany others. As a consequence I became very good at sight reading.
@ryantalksmusic-r4t I wrote my senior thesis about the Neuroscience of aural skills and sight singing, so when I hear some of these methods that are over priced and don't include it, I get concerned that people are getting ripped off.
just try to find an actual concert he's been featured in...some small town in Russia? seriously? if he's been so productive as a pianist for nine years and he's so good at showing off where are his concerts on youtube or anywhere...i bet someone saw him in the big crowd concert 2 second bite when it was likely him jumping on stage to test the piano sound system and joke with the audience ....where are the full concerts?
Having UA-cam premium really helps not getting fed such obnoxious crap. Thank you for bringing this up!
So they offer premium as a protection racket to avoid exposure to brain meltingly stupid ads and scams.
I'm also a piano teacher, and i couldn't agree with you more.
Good Points, Ryan. Mastery comes from repetition and understanding the connections deeply - not only practice, but practising in the right way - I read once that a novice will practise until they can play the part correctly, but to master it, you have to practise until you no longer make mistakes.
There are no shortcuts.
Let’s not forget that the Ridley Academy is a front for recruiting young people to the cult of Scientology.
Dammit! His ad came up when I clicked on the thumbnail for this video!! 😂🤣😂
He's listening
@@ryanyardmusic Ahhhhhh ! 😂
Lies flutter on pretty wings, truth trudges in flapping boots but brings bread.
Not heard that saying before!
@@ryanyardmusic My own concoction - but something like it probably already existed.
I think those of us who are legitimately involved in music and music teaching owe it to ourselves and others not to dignify charlatans like Ridley with professional respect. They don't deserve it.
I agree entirely- he's another example of the snake oil salesmen who shout at you over UA-cam. They make me 🤢
His style reminds me of "piano bar" playing. Not sure if they have this in the UK. But it is basically a bar where a performer plays a piano and sings popular songs, frequently by request and often mostly winging it. Just playing chords. It is like what is called"cowboy chords" on guitar. Really just a way to accompany a voice wirh some occasional flourishes
It's fine but very, very basic really.
Your opener saying you might see him on UA-cam depending what you're watching. Fair. But he is everywhere!
Truer words…
Ím so happy to listen to all teachers who tell the truth about this crazy man. I have started to feel sick every time he pop up on my youtube. Even at my level of pianoplaying I can see itś a scam.
The shouting is painful. I get that ad all the time and I don’t even play piano. It’s making me crazy.
Spot on
You may not have the bells and whistles of Stephen Ridley, but when you are good at what you do, you don’t need bells and whistles. Your skill will speak for itself. You could play in your underwear, and your skill will shine through.
@@A_Muzik that’s very kind of you thanks.
Well said. I've seen many people criticise the charlatan Ridley and all say the same thing. There is no substitution for hard work and time. If somthing is worth doing it takes time and dedication to master it. Anything which can be learned in five minutes will not have a lot of depth.Let's face it Ridley is only teaching how to debase something in an attempt to make money and he's not even doing that very well because almost everyone has seen through his inept presentation. He has however given a masterclass on how to be irritating.
I was curious about this "four chords can play any song" method, so I decided to try it as a joke...I'm a xylophonist, so I played the same 4 chords over and over on a glockenspiel as I sang, "Twinkle, twinkle, little star" along with it... 🤪🙄😂 Holy hell...It sounded like I threw a bunch of pots and pans down a staircase and yodeled to it! I dare all the musicians here to try this "method" on any musical instrument...I promise it will sound hilariously awful! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I get him every advert, wish he would just go!
Me too! Sounds like many are exposing him
He's like a rabid Martin Short!
I've seen his adverts and I agree with you Ryan, he's not actually offering music lessons, he's trying to demonstrate how to become a showman like himself. It's also 4 chords to accompany songs so if the learner isn't already a competent, confident singer I can't see how they're going to become one by learning four chords on the piano. Far better IMO to take singing lessons with someone who can help you make the most of your unique voice.
It's not the same but it's a bit like memorising four frequently used phrases of a foreign language instead of seriously learning a language to be able to converse freely!
He sounds a ‘strange’ teacher & making it hard for genuine teachers. It’s so upsetting for pupils who think they’ve reached a certain peak only to find they haven’t. I’ve never heard of him
Another video on Scientologist Ridley
Ridley is painful to watch. Absolutely obnoxious man. As a pianist myself I can confirm his courses are the biggest piano SCAM i've seen. Thank you for spreading awareness, Ryan!
Thanks for watching and all the best fir 2025
A couple of things. In the first instance, there can be a lot of pretention among musicians. You, genuinely, for example, learn to play along with lots of popular music, on guitar, with 6-8 chords. However, that does not make you a professional guitarist; though you may be popular at parties. All that said, a guitar is a different instrument and, with the aid of a capo, you can use those same chord shapes in many different keys. The piano is different and everything i hear about this Ridley character makes me very suspicious. That said, i couldn't help notice that the advertisement at the end of this video was that very popular 4 chord/100 songs thing. So, rightly suspicious of the whole concept but happy to take his money. Just a bit short on the credibility factor, methinks.
Any method that doesn't require aural skills and sight singing is a complete no from me, learning chords is a very small fraction of the picture.
@Hilary945 absolutely. I remember at college being thrown music left and right to accompany others. As a consequence I became very good at sight reading.
@ryantalksmusic-r4t I wrote my senior thesis about the Neuroscience of aural skills and sight singing, so when I hear some of these methods that are over priced and don't include it, I get concerned that people are getting ripped off.
So as soon as your video concluded the Stephen Ridley ad came on! 🙄
Also Ridley allegedly recruits people into Scientology through his piano scam course
To be honest, it's music education MALPRACTICE
He is a complete con artist I know because I fell for his bull so be warned
Oh really? Thanks for the heads up
just try to find an actual concert he's been featured in...some small town in Russia? seriously? if he's been so productive as a pianist for nine years and he's so good at showing off where are his concerts on youtube or anywhere...i bet someone saw him in the big crowd concert 2 second bite when it was likely him jumping on stage to test the piano sound system and joke with the audience ....where are the full concerts?
Very true!