Lessons in the Key of Life
Viewing comments for Chapter 4 "Finale, Act One"A music and dance teacher's improvization
19 total reviews
Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
Your talent at so many wonderful things is certainly paying off. You might not have become that opera star, but you've done very well, none the less. The trouble with interfering noneducators is, they get their way! So onto another part of your career. :)) Sandra xx
reply by the author on 03-May-2019
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Your talent at so many wonderful things is certainly paying off. You might not have become that opera star, but you've done very well, none the less. The trouble with interfering noneducators is, they get their way! So onto another part of your career. :)) Sandra xx
Comment Written 03-May-2019
reply by the author on 03-May-2019
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You're absolutely right! As is the case MANY times with people who get forced into leaving a job, it was a blessing. They truly did me a favor because I LOVE this brand of teaching now. Every day, I am so HAPPY to be heading off to work.
Thanks for this terrific, encouraging review, Sandra. I always love your feedback. xo
Comment from Y. M. Roger
Oh, Rachelle, this is just a wonderful lifetime story -- so happy for you and that you found a way to continue to follow your passion. I wish I could say that in education, but c'est la vie! ;) ;) Love your writing style in telling your story! ;) Yvette
reply by the author on 23-Apr-2019
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Oh, Rachelle, this is just a wonderful lifetime story -- so happy for you and that you found a way to continue to follow your passion. I wish I could say that in education, but c'est la vie! ;) ;) Love your writing style in telling your story! ;) Yvette
Comment Written 23-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 23-Apr-2019
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There you go, making me feel so special and encouraged again. Thank you, Yvette, for this helpful, gracious review. xo
Comment from Michele Harber
Wait, wait, I am still useful. There's an unnecessary apostrophe after "Finale" in your title, that should be a comma or colon.
I hope you're sitting down, but I didn't find a single typo to correct or edit to make. (I'm suddenly feeling so useless.) I enjoyed your story, and admired the courage it took to change careers and enter what, for you, was uncharted territory. Your chapters all have a nice, light touch. You tell an interesting and serious, truthful story, but so conversationally that you make the readers feel as though we're simply sitting down to tea with you and chatting. That's a very nice feeling, and one which few writers are able to provide.
reply by the author on 22-Apr-2019
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Wait, wait, I am still useful. There's an unnecessary apostrophe after "Finale" in your title, that should be a comma or colon.
I hope you're sitting down, but I didn't find a single typo to correct or edit to make. (I'm suddenly feeling so useless.) I enjoyed your story, and admired the courage it took to change careers and enter what, for you, was uncharted territory. Your chapters all have a nice, light touch. You tell an interesting and serious, truthful story, but so conversationally that you make the readers feel as though we're simply sitting down to tea with you and chatting. That's a very nice feeling, and one which few writers are able to provide.
Comment Written 22-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 22-Apr-2019
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This is a big day! But, I have to be honest: I'd made a lot of corrections because other reviewers helped earlier in the day. You're still MORE than needed.
Thank you for this so-encouraging review. You know I always appreciate your feedback. xo
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It's my pleasure, Rachelle (and I'm glad you've switched your apostrophe to a comma). I did read your other story, but won't get to do an actual review until later, as I have a lot of running around to do for my mom and my sister.
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You know that's never a problem. I'll look forward to it whenever it happens. xo
Comment from DeborahWrite
Your story began instantly and held me until its end. I enjoy your descriptive and endearing writing talent. It's as if I am there and apart of everything. Writing talent of this nature is rare and you are able to 'capture' the reader each time.
Thank you for sharing your stories with all of us.
Deborah
reply by the author on 22-Apr-2019
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Your story began instantly and held me until its end. I enjoy your descriptive and endearing writing talent. It's as if I am there and apart of everything. Writing talent of this nature is rare and you are able to 'capture' the reader each time.
Thank you for sharing your stories with all of us.
Deborah
Comment Written 22-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 22-Apr-2019
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Omigosh! I love this review, Deborah. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. This words are the equivalent of gold in the bank. xo
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xo
Comment from LisaMay
This is such an affirming, inspirational story of 'ability and a leap of faith will be rewarded'. A good dollop of serendipitous timing never goes astray either. Those damn higher-ups are often such spoil-sports.
Someone (a higher-up) should tell that parent who was so elated, she squealed, then jumped up and down, and hugged you, that she should be less effusive and more understated when dealing with teachers.
reply by the author on 21-Apr-2019
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This is such an affirming, inspirational story of 'ability and a leap of faith will be rewarded'. A good dollop of serendipitous timing never goes astray either. Those damn higher-ups are often such spoil-sports.
Someone (a higher-up) should tell that parent who was so elated, she squealed, then jumped up and down, and hugged you, that she should be less effusive and more understated when dealing with teachers.
Comment Written 21-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 21-Apr-2019
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Hahahah. Yes, you are right! She was WAY too effusive for a grown-up. Shameful, shameful, shameful!!
Thanks, LisaMay, for this supportive and, as always, delightful review. xo
Comment from karenina
Your writing is really quite addictive! Chatty and so real and relevant to life experiences I forget every time that you've stitched in a valuable lesson for the reader. Quite right, you! I've had crossroads I did not anticipate that at the time seemed to be troubling detours off my pre-planned path...but in every circumstance I have learned something new, experienced something I would not have, met people who became important to me--and I to them. I love the way you sum it all up and I, for one, intend to keep test driving every vehicle that crosses my path just to see what lies ahead!---Karenina
reply by the author on 21-Apr-2019
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Your writing is really quite addictive! Chatty and so real and relevant to life experiences I forget every time that you've stitched in a valuable lesson for the reader. Quite right, you! I've had crossroads I did not anticipate that at the time seemed to be troubling detours off my pre-planned path...but in every circumstance I have learned something new, experienced something I would not have, met people who became important to me--and I to them. I love the way you sum it all up and I, for one, intend to keep test driving every vehicle that crosses my path just to see what lies ahead!---Karenina
Comment Written 21-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 21-Apr-2019
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Good for you! In that case, you'll get to the finish line satisfied and fulfilled. Thank you for this encouraging and positive review. I loved it. xo
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I do enjoy your writing so!
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And I, yours. Mutual Admiration Society: Population, 2! : )
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I LOVE a small town! LOL
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Believe it or not, where I am, it's exactly one square mile! That's all area there is to East Rochester, NY!! We're the smallest suburb of Rochester.
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I lived on Saint Paul Street, across from the school for the deaf--I was a child and cannot tell you now if that was north, south, east or west....but I was born at Saint Mary's and spent my formative years in Rochester!
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You can NOT be serious!!! I had no idea!! Wow! Now the school for the deaf is part of RIT and HUGE! "NTID" it's known as now. What a small world! Where are you now?
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More coincidences...my Nephew just graduated in May from RIT with a degree in Bio-Chemistry (Minor in Chinese)--he's my son's boy and a genius! He's still living there with his girlfriend while he looks for a job in his field. After Rochester, we moved to Monroe, CT and then to Wilbraham, MA (where I completed high school)--I went (lucky me!) to Salve Regina on the ocean in Rhode Island for my Bachelors in Nursing and now all these years later my husband and I live in Agawam, MA (just outside of Springfield in western Mass...and about fifteen miles from Amherst, where I go at least twice a year to visit Emily Dickinson's grave! I didn't get to visit John when he was at RIT and did not know the school for the deaf was part of RIT now...the strange thing? I spent hours sitting on my front porch absolutely fascinated with the silent children who used their hands to "sign"--and somehow I KNEW that it would be important to me. In 1979 my firs born (my son Michael) was born deaf in his left ear and right after the birth of HIS daughter he developed Meniere's disease and lost all hearing, as well, in his right ear....leaving him with a newborn he could not hear. Fortunately, thought the left ear is a brain/nerve issue--the right ear was deemed a candidate for a cochlear implant and by the time his daughter was, oh, about nine months he'd had the surgery and has heard via cochlear implant for nearly 15 years now! The surgeon told him the "life" of a cochlear implant was about seven years but his is still fully operable...there are no coincidences in life, I swear!
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WOW!! Awesome slice of your life!! Once a cochlear implant loses its life, can it be replaced by another?
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Yes. Unless too much scar tissue has compromised the area it is possible to open the scalp, remove the "dead" implant and replace it with a new one. It's about $150,000 for that procedure though and (get this)--Medicare considers it a non-essential medical procedure... Lots of hoops to jump through but when it comes to that I will be jumping!
Comment from Rhonda Skinner
Great story. Isn't it interesting how when one door closes another opens? Your reputation as a student-centered teacher served you well.
Just a couple suggestions: A look at my history, (Given my history)
You might want to remind us who Rose is.
reply by the author on 21-Apr-2019
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Great story. Isn't it interesting how when one door closes another opens? Your reputation as a student-centered teacher served you well.
Just a couple suggestions: A look at my history, (Given my history)
You might want to remind us who Rose is.
Comment Written 21-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 21-Apr-2019
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Absolutely excellent suggestions, Rhonda! Thank you! I'll get right on those. I appreciate your having my back like that. xo
Comment from damommy
Breaking away from a job is scary. I know because I've done it, too. Good things came from it. You were able to teach your way and not be dictated as to how it 'should' be done. Congratulations!
reply by the author on 21-Apr-2019
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Breaking away from a job is scary. I know because I've done it, too. Good things came from it. You were able to teach your way and not be dictated as to how it 'should' be done. Congratulations!
Comment Written 21-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 21-Apr-2019
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Thank you. I was always taught that you HAVE to love what you do for your living. Too much time is spent at work to not enjoy it. So it was a risk I really HAD to take. And, like you, I am so glad I did...as you'll read in the chapters to come!
Thanks for this lovely review. xo
Comment from Mastery
Oh, How I love this on two plains, Rach. One, I give you lots of credit for having the fortitude to change your life style and teaching so dramatically. What would happen if that woman had been "all talk" with regard to having you teach their kids. and you would have come up empty-handed with no job at all after leaving the other one. But, I suspect you were smart enough to cover your bases before resigning, right? LOL
Secondly, you had the initiative to try to better yourself in your profession. I can only imagine the benefits with regard to payment for forty children. Good for you. (All of that driving would probably be the only draw back to your new deal.)
In any case, this is a well written account of your adventures in teaching and I look forward to the next installment. Bravo! :) Bob
reply by the author on 21-Apr-2019
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Oh, How I love this on two plains, Rach. One, I give you lots of credit for having the fortitude to change your life style and teaching so dramatically. What would happen if that woman had been "all talk" with regard to having you teach their kids. and you would have come up empty-handed with no job at all after leaving the other one. But, I suspect you were smart enough to cover your bases before resigning, right? LOL
Secondly, you had the initiative to try to better yourself in your profession. I can only imagine the benefits with regard to payment for forty children. Good for you. (All of that driving would probably be the only draw back to your new deal.)
In any case, this is a well written account of your adventures in teaching and I look forward to the next installment. Bravo! :) Bob
Comment Written 21-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 21-Apr-2019
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No, you guessed it; all the families were on board (including the five I picked up from the flier sent home with the campers), so I knew I would be fiscally fine. As far as the driving, they were all neighbors, so the teaching time I lost between lessons was, literally, minutes. I do that still to this day: I teach neighborhoods and am never in the care more than five minutes between students' homes.
And you're right, too, that the benefits are way better as an entrepreneur than as an indentured employee. NO regrets that way!
Thanks for the supportive review. xo
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Cheers, Rach! More power to you. Bob
Comment from judiverse
That's a lot of students to teach, especially when you go to their homes. Convenient for the students, though. It was so interested the way the women got you thinking about the possibilities of teaching on your own. You did a very vivid job of detailing your problems with the jcc and the roadblocks they were putting up for your way of teaching. Excellent descriptions in this. Happy Easter to you. judi
reply by the author on 21-Apr-2019
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That's a lot of students to teach, especially when you go to their homes. Convenient for the students, though. It was so interested the way the women got you thinking about the possibilities of teaching on your own. You did a very vivid job of detailing your problems with the jcc and the roadblocks they were putting up for your way of teaching. Excellent descriptions in this. Happy Easter to you. judi
Comment Written 21-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 21-Apr-2019
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Thank you, Judi. This is fantastic feedback, and I appreciate the time and thought that went into this review!
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You're very welcome. You must have had amazing success with your new venture to garner that many new students. judi
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When you love what you do, people are eager to become part of that. I feel so lucky that, even all these years (27) and students (73!) later), I am STILL so excited every day to go to work. I can't imagine ever wanting to retire.
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It's wonderful that you still feel that way! judi