Welcome to
A Luxury Music Retreat in Nashville
with Stephen Ridley
EARLY BIRD RESERVATION: $2,500*
(Limited to 20 Seats)
*Full price for the package is $10,000 USD. You will be able to complete your full registration as we near the workshop date in 2026. Please see details below.
Play Where Legends Played.
Step into the heart of Music City for four unforgettable days with Stephen Ridley. From private sessions in Nashville's most iconic studios to dining in historic venues and hearing the stories behind the songs, this isn't a tour-it's immersion into the world of music. Limited seats, extraordinary access, and memories you'll carry for life.
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Take a trip through Music City
May 14 - 18, 2026
Hello friends—Stephen here.
Nashville is the heartbeat of American music: pianos that have told a thousand stories, rooms where legends shaped songs, jazz nights that lift the soul, and a spirit that makes you want to play. I’ve spent my life at the keys and on the road, and I can’t wait to welcome you to a city that still gives me goosebumps.
This is more than a workshop. It’s a luxury retreat and a community—great food, iconic spaces, small-group time with me and our coaches, and the kind of supportive atmosphere where you’ll actually want to play for others! You’ll arrive with 2–3 pieces you’ve polished in pre-trip coaching, and leave with confidence, memories, and new friends.
Four nights in a boutique hotel near Music Row, elegant dinners, daily sessions with Stephen and Coaches in a studio, private tours of some of the most famous studios in the world, professional videography, and I’ll be with you every step of the way —so all you do is arrive, experience and play.
We’re keeping this to a small group so I can spend real time with each of you.
day 1
Welcome to Music City
May 14, 2026
Before your arrival
You'll receive 4 one-on-one sessions with your Mentorship Coach before you arrive to prepare 2 song performances.
4:00pm – 5:30pm
Check-in & Welcome Lounge
Collect your Ridley Academy gift box in the lobby, meet our team, and settle in. Light refreshments; concierge on hand for anything you need.
6:30pm – 7:15pm
A private welcome in the hotel’s intimate listening room
—soft lights, beautiful sound, the perfect place to exhale and meet the group.
7:15pm – 8:30pm
Welcome Dinner
Chef-curated courses and conversation. Set your goals for the weekend and get to know your fellow colleagues.
8:45pm – 10:00pm
Stephen’s Intimate Kickoff Set & Introductions
Stories from the road, piano that fills the room, and the moment you remember why you came to Music City.
A warm, guided round where each guest shares a short “who I am & my song” moment. The community begins here.
EARLY BIRD RESERVATION: $2,500*
day 2
From Legends to Lyrics
May 15, 2026
10:00am – 12:00pm
Morning in the Studio: How the Greats Listen & Create
Step inside Ocean Way Nashville, the legendary studio where Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, and Paul Simon once recorded. In this iconic space, Stephen leads a master session on how pros listen—hearing nuance, breaking down artistry, and sharpening instincts. Expect stories, live demos, and the thrill of learning where countless hits were born.
12:00pm – 1:00pm
Lunch + City Walk
Choose among local gems just steps away: perhaps Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant (a Nashville staple), Loveless Cafe (for Southern flavor), or stroll to the Ryman neighborhood and grab a bite at a music-themed café. Pop into storefronts tied to music history (publishing houses, vintage instrument shops) while you digest inspiration and food.
2:00pm – 4:30pm
Country Music Hall of Fame Tour + Songwriting Experience
Explore the Country Music Hall of Fame—see Elvis’s gold piano, legendary lyrics, and more—with Stephen adding his own insights along the way. Then, join a Nashville songwriter for a hands-on workshop: co-write an original song and record it together, leaving with music you helped create in this iconic museum.
5:30pm – 7:00pm
Dinner at Skull’s Rainbow Room
Dine at Printer’s Alley’s most iconic supper club, once frequented by legends like Etta James, Johnny Cash, and Paul McCartney. Enjoy a chef-curated meal with live jazz in a velvet-lit setting—and if the moment strikes, Stephen may even take the piano for a surprise performance.
7:00pm – 9:00pm
Stephen’s Curated Printer’s Alley Crawl
Step into Nashville’s neon-lit Printer’s Alley with Stephen as your guide. Visit two legendary venues—Bourbon Street Blues & Boogie Bar and Alley Taps—where music history and rising stars collide. Stephen challenges you to watch like a pro, noting what works and what doesn’t, setting up tomorrow’s group discussion.
Step into Nashville’s neon-lit Printer’s Alley with Stephen as your guide. Visit two legendary venues—Bourbon Street Blues & Boogie Bar and Alley Taps—where music history and rising stars collide. Stephen challenges you to watch like a pro, noting what works and what doesn’t, setting up tomorrow’s group discussion.
EARLY BIRD RESERVATION: $2,500*
day 3
making magic at the studio
May 16, 2026
10:00am – 11:00am
Stephen’s Morning Recap — From Audience to Artist
At Ocean Way Nashville, Stephen unpacks lessons from last night’s Printer’s Alley shows. In the same studio where legends like Dolly Parton and Ben Folds recorded, he shows you how pros think about stagecraft—what captivates, what falls flat, and how to apply it to your own performance.
11:00am – 1:30pm
Coaching Rotations — Polishing Your Nashville Set
\At Ocean Way Nashville, work one-on-one with your coach to refine the songs you’ve prepared—perfecting dynamics, stage presence, and confidence. Between sessions, rehearse with peers, grab a coffee, or simply soak in the studio’s legendary atmosphere.
1:30pm – 2:30pm
Lunch at The Row Kitchen & Pub — Songwriter History Served Daily
Dine where Nashville’s songwriters once swapped stories and launched careers. The Row’s walls brim with memorabilia, its menu with Southern classics—an authentic taste of the city’s music history.
2:30pm – 4:00pm
Group Performance with Stephen — Safe, Supportive, Exhilarating
At Ocean Way Nashville, step into the spotlight to perform one of your prepared songs. With peers cheering you on, Stephen offers direct feedback and insider insights—an unforgettable chance to play in the very studio where hit records were born.
Dinner & Songwriter Showcase at The Listening Room Café
Spend the evening at the legendary Listening Room Café, one of Nashville’s most iconic venues where the spotlight shines on the people behind the hits. Over a relaxed dinner of Southern favorites, you’ll experience a songwriter showcase unlike anything else in Music City.
On stage, the very writers behind songs for stars like Taylor Swift, Blake Shelton, and Kelsea Ballerini perform their own music and share the stories that inspired them. It’s an intimate window into the creative process—and a rare chance to see firsthand how the songs you know and love were born.
EARLY BIRD RESERVATION: $2,500*
day 4
Recording History atRCA Studio B
May 17, 2026
10:30am – 12:30pm
Songwriting & Co-Creation with Stephen
At Ocean Way Nashville, co-write an original song with Stephen—adding lines, melodies, or chords as he shapes it into music. The session is recorded in-studio, and you’ll take home the track, a one-of-a-kind keepsake from a legendary space.
2:00pm – 4:00pm
Exclusive RCA Studio B Tour + Recording Session
Walk the halls of RCA Studio B, where Elvis, Dolly Parton, and Roy Orbison made history. After a private guided tour, step to the mic and record one of Elvis’s songs in the very room he once did—leaving with a keepsake recording from Nashville’s golden era.
Farewell Dinner & Stephen’s Private Closing Concert
Gather at the Hotel for an elegant candlelit banquet and Stephen’s final intimate performance—a perfect close to the trip. Guests also receive a special parting gift to mark the experience.
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EARLY BIRD RESERVATION: $2,500*
This will be an unforgettable journey through the heart of Music City—combining private concerts, studio sessions, historic tours, and direct access to me.
Reserve your space now—demand is high and spots will go quickly.
We can’t wait to share Nashville with you.
Stephen Ridley
Everything Is Included for an Unforgettable Nashville Experience
From the moment you arrive, every detail is taken care of.
Your package includes:
- A four-night stay at the a luxury Hotel, Nashville’s premier music-inspired hotel.
- All group meals at iconic restaurants and private dinners with Stephen.
- Private studio sessions, tours, and performances curated exclusively for our group.
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Professional videography to capture the trip and your performances. Exclusive Ridley Academy keepsakes to take home.
- All you need to do is get to Nashville—once you’re here, everything else is handled.
- Relax, immerse yourself in the music, and experience the city the way only Stephen Ridley can show
A Luxury Music Retreat in Nashville- May 14 - 18, 2026 -
- May 14 - 18, 2026 -
EARLY BIRD RESERVATION: $2,500*
(Limited to 20 Seats)
*Full price for the package is $10,000 USD. You will be able to complete your full registration as we near the workshop date in 2026. Please see details below.
©2025 If you have any questions or need assistance on any of the steps above, don't hesitate to reach out to us through this email: support@ridleyacademy.com
