Millionaire University How a Piano Hobby Turned Into a Million-Dollar Online Course | Jacques Hopkins (MU Classic)
Jan 27, 2026
Jacques Hopkins, an electrical engineer turned course creator who built Piano in 21 Days, shares his journey from hobby pianist to million-dollar course maker. He talks about finding a unique teaching angle, validating courses with live students first, and his three-phase method for building a course business. Expect discussions on beating imposter feelings, audience-first strategies, and designing systems for freedom.
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Hobby-To-Business Pivot
- Jacques pivoted from an engineering career after reading The 4-Hour Workweek and experimenting with side projects for eight years.
- Piano surfaced as a procrastination hobby that became the seed for Piano in 21 Days after he realized others might share his frustration with traditional lessons.
Quit Traditional Lessons For Chords
- Jacques discovered a new way to play by learning chords and improvisation from a peer, then quit traditional lessons.
- That shift made piano enjoyable and inspired his unique teaching method focused on understanding music rather than rote sheet reading.
Validate With Live Students First
- Validate your curriculum by teaching a small live group before building a full course.
- Teaching live surfaces questions and gaps faster than spending months recording content.
