Lessons in the Key of Life
Viewing comments for Prologue "A New York State of Mind"A music and dance teacher's improvization
36 total reviews
Comment from Lordinajamjar
Rachel your writing is beautiful. Your imagery just filled my mind. For a few moments I forgot I was reading, thinking I was watching a move. I could even smell the odor from that four eyed slug.
Great job. Really. This is a book I want to read.
Best
John
reply by the author on 25-Mar-2019
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Rachel your writing is beautiful. Your imagery just filled my mind. For a few moments I forgot I was reading, thinking I was watching a move. I could even smell the odor from that four eyed slug.
Great job. Really. This is a book I want to read.
Best
John
Comment Written 25-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 25-Mar-2019
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Oh, John. This review just made my night perfect. Thank you (though I'm sorry you could smell the four-eyed slug. It's NOT a good scent!!) xo
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Haha good night. xo
Comment from C. Gale Burnett
Rachelle, I loved this story about how 'dreams vs reality' are so very different. I enjoyed reading about your New York adventure, trying to find your way into the world of voice and singing. I also loved hearing the voice of your father, stating much wisdom and expressing his love for you.
You are a beautiful spirit, and I look forward to reading about how you came to teach.
Blessings,
Gale
reply by the author on 25-Mar-2019
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Rachelle, I loved this story about how 'dreams vs reality' are so very different. I enjoyed reading about your New York adventure, trying to find your way into the world of voice and singing. I also loved hearing the voice of your father, stating much wisdom and expressing his love for you.
You are a beautiful spirit, and I look forward to reading about how you came to teach.
Blessings,
Gale
Comment Written 25-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 25-Mar-2019
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What a lovely review this was to read, Gale. Thank you very, very much. xo
Comment from HealingMuse
Hi Rachelle,
This is a fabulous write, my friend. A delight to read, with a great moral to the story. As always, nothing to suggest improving upon. Thanks for sharing. Jan
reply by the author on 25-Mar-2019
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Hi Rachelle,
This is a fabulous write, my friend. A delight to read, with a great moral to the story. As always, nothing to suggest improving upon. Thanks for sharing. Jan
Comment Written 25-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 25-Mar-2019
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You never stop giving me the most wonderful encouragement, and I never stop appreciating it. I love this review, Jan. Thank you. xo
Comment from bob cullen
As a yet-to-be published writer, I understand your situation. Talent is not always the answer. Talent without opportunity destroys one's self-belief. But never stop knocking on doors, and believe.
Good luck. You write very well.
reply by the author on 25-Mar-2019
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As a yet-to-be published writer, I understand your situation. Talent is not always the answer. Talent without opportunity destroys one's self-belief. But never stop knocking on doors, and believe.
Good luck. You write very well.
Comment Written 25-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 25-Mar-2019
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I agree. The talent shows that are so prevalent today showcase exactly that, right? SOO much talent out there, yet without opportunity, it stays unknown. Thanks for a very good review here; I totally appreciate it. xo
Comment from Gloria ....
This is most interesting Rachelle. Your narrative voice is intimate, intense and the rougher spots dealt with using humour. Yes, I can imagine the road to stardom most certainly means overcoming a lot of obstacles along the way.
Very well done and relatable.
Gloria
reply by the author on 25-Mar-2019
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This is most interesting Rachelle. Your narrative voice is intimate, intense and the rougher spots dealt with using humour. Yes, I can imagine the road to stardom most certainly means overcoming a lot of obstacles along the way.
Very well done and relatable.
Gloria
Comment Written 25-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 25-Mar-2019
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Thanks, Gloria; I appreciate your wise words and your way of getting to the nitty-gritty of the situation so beautifully. xo
Comment from A. Willow Bends
Very well said. I love it that you went out and tried (and tried!) This is inspiring and it isn't so much that you didn't succeed, you re-routed your success in a different direction and sometimes Dorothy, there is NO place like home to find success. You write very eloquently of real life things and I like it! Great job. Applause here. :)
You don't even have to thank me. Keep writing. You are welcome!
Wendy
reply by the author on 25-Mar-2019
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Very well said. I love it that you went out and tried (and tried!) This is inspiring and it isn't so much that you didn't succeed, you re-routed your success in a different direction and sometimes Dorothy, there is NO place like home to find success. You write very eloquently of real life things and I like it! Great job. Applause here. :)
You don't even have to thank me. Keep writing. You are welcome!
Wendy
Comment Written 25-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 25-Mar-2019
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Lol.
What a beautifully written review! Thank you for the wide smile this has brought me this evening, Wendy. I love it. xo
Comment from susand3022
Hi Rachelle, This seems to be otherwise known as having your bubble burst. At least you were smart enough to know that this dream wasn't all it was cracked up to be after all and maybe it wasn't what you really wanted. Some people don't figure that out until it's way too late and it isn't just in the entertainment industry either. But I'm sure you know that! :)
reply by the author on 25-Mar-2019
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Hi Rachelle, This seems to be otherwise known as having your bubble burst. At least you were smart enough to know that this dream wasn't all it was cracked up to be after all and maybe it wasn't what you really wanted. Some people don't figure that out until it's way too late and it isn't just in the entertainment industry either. But I'm sure you know that! :)
Comment Written 25-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 25-Mar-2019
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You are so right about that. I credit my father with so much of that. A lesser dad might have said, "Stop being a diva; you've only been at this six months." But he knew me so well that he recognized my white flag as a big RED flag and guided me accordingly. Not everyone has that ace in the hole.
Thank you for this really good review, Susan; I appreciate it very much. xo
Comment from Joy Graham
Hi Rachelle,
I found this story to be fascinating. So sorry you found the dream wasn't as alive as you thought. It sounds to me that you paid your dues. I have the feeling you are a force to be reckoned with, and that you would clear better paths for your students to do great things. This makes me think of a neat phrase and motto I recently fell in love with - "When things don't go right, go left".
Looking forward to the next chapter.
Joy xx
reply by the author on 25-Mar-2019
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Hi Rachelle,
I found this story to be fascinating. So sorry you found the dream wasn't as alive as you thought. It sounds to me that you paid your dues. I have the feeling you are a force to be reckoned with, and that you would clear better paths for your students to do great things. This makes me think of a neat phrase and motto I recently fell in love with - "When things don't go right, go left".
Looking forward to the next chapter.
Joy xx
Comment Written 25-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 25-Mar-2019
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Oh, I LOVE that, Joyce!! I am definitely going to use that -a LOT- from now on. Thank you!
Don't be sorry that that particular part of the story wasn't so happy; it LED to happiness -immense happiness- as you'll see in the chapters to come.
Thank you for this sunny and delightful review. I love it. xo
Comment from Y. M. Roger
Oh what a lovely write, Rachelle -- no, not because things did not work out the way you set out for them to do, but because it shows that we should pick ourselves up by our own bootstraps and not let our parents do it for us --- oh, how I would love for more attitudes of youth to be like this!! :) ;) Thanx for sharing this well-written account .... I look forward to the next! ;) ;) Yvette
reply by the author on 25-Mar-2019
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Oh what a lovely write, Rachelle -- no, not because things did not work out the way you set out for them to do, but because it shows that we should pick ourselves up by our own bootstraps and not let our parents do it for us --- oh, how I would love for more attitudes of youth to be like this!! :) ;) Thanx for sharing this well-written account .... I look forward to the next! ;) ;) Yvette
Comment Written 25-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 25-Mar-2019
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It's all about choosing joy, isn't it, Yvette? I think that's the greatest gift we can give our youth: be a bulldozer! Keep going! Make your happiness!
Thanks for this delightful review; you always infuse such warmth into my day. xo
Comment from Mastery
Hi, Rachelle. You have this listed as fiction. Is it? This is six star writing, but it is a long way until we get some more, so I am holding one back for you, knowing full well you will be posting some more gems before next Sunday. I am being thrifty in other words. LOL
I liked this: "He may have been talking pianos, but he was thinking organs." (good)
Good your character (no name) had the sensed to spot red flags, eh?
Suggestions: Start a new paragraph with these words, for better flow:
"Certainly I wasn't about to merely teach piano! I was, after all, an aspiring operatic soprano with star quality!"
Good writing, my fiend, as always. Bob
reply by the author on 24-Mar-2019
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Hi, Rachelle. You have this listed as fiction. Is it? This is six star writing, but it is a long way until we get some more, so I am holding one back for you, knowing full well you will be posting some more gems before next Sunday. I am being thrifty in other words. LOL
I liked this: "He may have been talking pianos, but he was thinking organs." (good)
Good your character (no name) had the sensed to spot red flags, eh?
Suggestions: Start a new paragraph with these words, for better flow:
"Certainly I wasn't about to merely teach piano! I was, after all, an aspiring operatic soprano with star quality!"
Good writing, my fiend, as always. Bob
Comment Written 24-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 24-Mar-2019
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Ahhh! Thank you, Bob. I forgot that the "non-fiction" aspect doesn't carry over from chapter to chapter. Great catch; thank you! And thank you for the suggested edit on the sentence you mentioned. I'll get to that after I finish the reviews. You know I always appreciate your experienced feedback. xo
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:) Bob
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:) Bob