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 Artasylum
This is excellent Rachelle and I suspect many of us have had to learn the hard way...
Love:
Lesson: If you try on a dream for size and discover it doesn't fit the way it should, you get to exchange it for Wisdom and something substantially more to your liking.
reply by the author on 24-Mar-2019
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This is excellent Rachelle and I suspect many of us have had to learn the hard way...
Love:
Lesson: If you try on a dream for size and discover it doesn't fit the way it should, you get to exchange it for Wisdom and something substantially more to your liking.
Comment Written 24-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 24-Mar-2019
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Ohhh, yes; learning the hard way really sears that lesson into a noggin, does it not?
Thank you for this really nice review. I couldn't appreciate it more. xo
Comment from royowen
Don't worry I was an aspiring singer/songwriter with, what I thought was, some talent. But after touring, 2albums of self written songs, but with a family to raise and provide for, I figured it out, my elder daughter with remarkable talent and a music degree, figured it out early, she still entertains/worship team with her church, like me, goes to amateur musicals, enjoying off-pitch music and singers, we are happy with our, not quite, but adequate talent, I too, still entertain, (but as a servant, not a virtuoso) but we enjoy what talent we were given,I UNDERSTAND! Enjoy just falling short! Bless you, I enjoyed, (we are Aussies, my daughter and family lived in NY for 4+ years,) we've probably seen performances by that very opera company. Well done, loved this Rachelle, blessings, Roy
reply by the author on 24-Mar-2019
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Don't worry I was an aspiring singer/songwriter with, what I thought was, some talent. But after touring, 2albums of self written songs, but with a family to raise and provide for, I figured it out, my elder daughter with remarkable talent and a music degree, figured it out early, she still entertains/worship team with her church, like me, goes to amateur musicals, enjoying off-pitch music and singers, we are happy with our, not quite, but adequate talent, I too, still entertain, (but as a servant, not a virtuoso) but we enjoy what talent we were given,I UNDERSTAND! Enjoy just falling short! Bless you, I enjoyed, (we are Aussies, my daughter and family lived in NY for 4+ years,) we've probably seen performances by that very opera company. Well done, loved this Rachelle, blessings, Roy
Comment Written 24-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 24-Mar-2019
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Wow, Roy, you really DO understand!! Upfront and personal!! But, like you said, it's all about enjoying the talent we have and the way it fits our lifestyle today. It sounds like your life successes are still going strong. Nothing beats being happy, after all!! I'm so glad you shared these interesting vignettes about your experiences -and your daughter's!- with the creative and performing arts. I loved reading about it. xo
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I did indeed, I sympathised and walked your musical pathway with you, know the pain, the politics, the "almost but not quite" but I am very happy, feet on the ground turkey that I am. Bless you.
Comment from kiwijenny
Life has bumps...I have found in mine when that which I dearly wanted didn't happen I had to revamp my plans and my ego...but those times have been my most valuable teaching moments that gave me life skills'
God bless/....I'm looking forward to the next installment
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reply by the author on 24-Mar-2019
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Life has bumps...I have found in mine when that which I dearly wanted didn't happen I had to revamp my plans and my ego...but those times have been my most valuable teaching moments that gave me life skills'
God bless/....I'm looking forward to the next installment
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 24-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 24-Mar-2019
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You are so right, Kiwijenny! The experience of that gives us HOPE. I think acquiring coping skills is Job One in this life, so when bad things occur -in the form dreams getting dashed- they can ultimately be what we become most thankful for in the years to come.
Thank you for your wise and introspective review. xo
Comment from Phyllis Stewart
Must have been frustrating, never having a chance to show your talent. Some might be happy with a part in the chorus, but not when you have star talent. I imagine it's hard to get an audition for a lead role if you come from the chorus. You could always go on one of those national talent shows, as Amira Willihagen did. She won, and now five years later the whole world loves her.
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reply by the author on 24-Mar-2019
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Must have been frustrating, never having a chance to show your talent. Some might be happy with a part in the chorus, but not when you have star talent. I imagine it's hard to get an audition for a lead role if you come from the chorus. You could always go on one of those national talent shows, as Amira Willihagen did. She won, and now five years later the whole world loves her.
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Comment Written 24-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 24-Mar-2019
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Perhaps if they'd had that then, I'd have done it. That ship has sailed now, and I'm on the shore sighing with relief. I love where life took me, instead; it honestly is my perfect fit.
Thank you for the lovely review, Phyllis. xo
Comment from judiverse
So very interesting. It should be must-read material for any young girl who sets off to New York with the dream of becoming a star. You wisely had a back-up plan as you took paralegal courses, but you seemed very determined about what you wanted. You were one of the lucky aspirants if you got a job in the chorus. It must have been exciting, but as you relate, the pay wasn't enough to take care of your living expenses. You gave that kind of life a fair trial before deciding to come home. You have your memories of your experiences, and probably came closer to fulfilling your dream than most. Excellent work. judi
reply by the author on 24-Mar-2019
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So very interesting. It should be must-read material for any young girl who sets off to New York with the dream of becoming a star. You wisely had a back-up plan as you took paralegal courses, but you seemed very determined about what you wanted. You were one of the lucky aspirants if you got a job in the chorus. It must have been exciting, but as you relate, the pay wasn't enough to take care of your living expenses. You gave that kind of life a fair trial before deciding to come home. You have your memories of your experiences, and probably came closer to fulfilling your dream than most. Excellent work. judi
Comment Written 24-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 24-Mar-2019
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You nailed it, Judi. I've never been sorry I did it -I would always have wondered and imagined I'd missed Something Great- but it sure wasn't, for myself, anyway, what I imagined.
As far as the Plan B, that was my father's insistence, and he was right. When I told him, originally, that the surgeon had said I couldn't even begin to sing for an entire year, his immediate response was, "Well, you're not just going to sit around here and do nothing that whole time. You need a back-up plan."
Thanks for this really nice review that let me know that I did convey what I hoped. xo
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You're welcome. Excellent work and very applicable to star-struck young people. judi
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I have a (piano) student who loves opera and has stars in her eyes about following that dream. I try, as gently as I can, to suggest that it's nowhere near the glamour -and I could support myself with piano gigs, which this girl NEVER will be able to do because, even though I love her enthusiasm, I know that she relies on charm rather than practice sessions to get her through!- she is NOT listening. (Not that I would have in eighth grade, either.) Oh well, a responsible adult doles out the knowledge anyway, right?
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Well, charm's a big part of it. Sometimes a girl has to find out for herself. It's so rare for someone to make it to become a star, and even then it comes at a great price. judi
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That's so right. That quote about "Judge your success on what you had to give up in order to achieve it."
Comment from 24chas
You're so wise, Rachelle. This was a fascinating glimpse backstage into an area where the average person doesn't get to venture. Thanks for sharing that with us. It sounds like your father was very wise with advice. Your chapter here was well written, with nods to humor and seriousness, just like real life. Which it was because you lived it and we get to experience it through your writings. Well done as always!
reply by the author on 24-Mar-2019
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You're so wise, Rachelle. This was a fascinating glimpse backstage into an area where the average person doesn't get to venture. Thanks for sharing that with us. It sounds like your father was very wise with advice. Your chapter here was well written, with nods to humor and seriousness, just like real life. Which it was because you lived it and we get to experience it through your writings. Well done as always!
Comment Written 24-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 24-Mar-2019
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Thank you, 24chas. I appreciate your words and the validation that what I intended this to convey has landed properly. It's always nice to be understood. xo