Lessons in the Key of Life
Viewing comments for Chapter 2 "Pre-School Dance Lessons"A music and dance teacher's improvization
27 total reviews
Comment from LG Wolfe
Rachelle - you did it again! I absolutely gobble up your stories every time. I hope you realize just how talented you are. Your hilarious take could fool the reader into thinking this writing is easy, but in fact it's tremendously skilled, and the subject matter is deep. I can tell you're super smart too - you've chosen to see the depth of these tales and take these kids seriously. I was a hard core ballet aficionado until age 14 when I had to choose between ballet school and horses. I chose horses, but still carry ballet with me. My teacher was sooooo strict. I wish I'd had someone like you! Congratulations again.
reply by the author on 07-May-2019
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Rachelle - you did it again! I absolutely gobble up your stories every time. I hope you realize just how talented you are. Your hilarious take could fool the reader into thinking this writing is easy, but in fact it's tremendously skilled, and the subject matter is deep. I can tell you're super smart too - you've chosen to see the depth of these tales and take these kids seriously. I was a hard core ballet aficionado until age 14 when I had to choose between ballet school and horses. I chose horses, but still carry ballet with me. My teacher was sooooo strict. I wish I'd had someone like you! Congratulations again.
Comment Written 07-May-2019
reply by the author on 07-May-2019
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I can't imagine I will ever love another review more than I love this one. Thank you, Lisa. This is extremely gracious and encouraging. xo
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Awww, so welcome. And I know you will get many more you will love more. Your talent is soaring.
Comment from MissMerri
Congratulations on the close finish in the Book of the Month Contest, Rachelle!! I'm so pleased for you. It is great to see talent recognized. The story is flawless, as far as I can tell. You have a great editor. ;p And, you have wonderful stories to tell. Keep up the great work. Many more prizes are ahead for you, I'm certain.
reply by the author on 07-May-2019
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Congratulations on the close finish in the Book of the Month Contest, Rachelle!! I'm so pleased for you. It is great to see talent recognized. The story is flawless, as far as I can tell. You have a great editor. ;p And, you have wonderful stories to tell. Keep up the great work. Many more prizes are ahead for you, I'm certain.
Comment Written 07-May-2019
reply by the author on 07-May-2019
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Thank you, MissMerri! I am lucky to have Michele Harber looking out for me and helping the way she does. She's been invaluable! I appreciate your always-considerate words and the way you never miss a chance to be encouraging. xo
Comment from judester
Bravo you. I know that this is a bittersweet victory, but you have "won" in so many ways chica. First, to see the love and support surface from fellow writers that have your back and that you will be the catalyst to change. (New rules!)
Our own Norma Jean! I love your honest vignettes and smooth delivery. The Meryl Streep observation is so me.
Let's just say white leggings, the mall and leave it there. Haha, sigh.
Anyway, make some lemonade with those lemons and add a shot of absolut. Best, judester. ð???ð???â?¤ï¸?
reply by the author on 07-May-2019
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Bravo you. I know that this is a bittersweet victory, but you have "won" in so many ways chica. First, to see the love and support surface from fellow writers that have your back and that you will be the catalyst to change. (New rules!)
Our own Norma Jean! I love your honest vignettes and smooth delivery. The Meryl Streep observation is so me.
Let's just say white leggings, the mall and leave it there. Haha, sigh.
Anyway, make some lemonade with those lemons and add a shot of absolut. Best, judester. ð???ð???â?¤ï¸?
Comment Written 07-May-2019
reply by the author on 07-May-2019
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You are as adorable as life gets, Judester. Thanks for this DELIGHTFUL review. xo
Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
I think I would have thumped Chloe's mummy! That poor little girl, I have a granddaughter named Chloe, and as a child, she would always want to dance and sing for me when I visited. I just loved it. I have wonderful memories of those days. I didn't realise how many parts I'd missed of your stories, I really enjoyed reading this one. Good luck in the BoM contest, I think you are a really wonderful, talented writer. :) Sandra xx
reply by the author on 03-May-2019
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I think I would have thumped Chloe's mummy! That poor little girl, I have a granddaughter named Chloe, and as a child, she would always want to dance and sing for me when I visited. I just loved it. I have wonderful memories of those days. I didn't realise how many parts I'd missed of your stories, I really enjoyed reading this one. Good luck in the BoM contest, I think you are a really wonderful, talented writer. :) Sandra xx
Comment Written 03-May-2019
reply by the author on 03-May-2019
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Okay - I am sitting here wiping tears away now. A compliment like that from you, Ms. Super-Highly-Rated-Standout-of-A-Talent Writer? I am so grateful for these words of yours, Sandra. Thank you times a million zillion. You have always been so gracious to me. I will never forget how good you just made me feel. xo
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You are so welcome, I enjoyed reading every part, and won't be missing any again. (whisper ... you have made my head swell, lol!) xxxx
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Ditto!!!!
Comment from Rhonda Skinner
Very entertaining. And what a great solution to addressing stage fright ahead of time. Just a couple things I noticed:
-A quick glance in the mirrored wall straight ahead, and I realized that, yes, indeed, I actually was not Meryl Streep in The French Lieutenant's Woman, after all.
This sentence seemed cluttered (indeed, actually) and the "yes...I was not" phrasing threw me.
-The tone that (Her tone) implied that someone my age...
I look forward to the next installment. Cheers, Rhonda
reply by the author on 10-Apr-2019
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Very entertaining. And what a great solution to addressing stage fright ahead of time. Just a couple things I noticed:
-A quick glance in the mirrored wall straight ahead, and I realized that, yes, indeed, I actually was not Meryl Streep in The French Lieutenant's Woman, after all.
This sentence seemed cluttered (indeed, actually) and the "yes...I was not" phrasing threw me.
-The tone that (Her tone) implied that someone my age...
I look forward to the next installment. Cheers, Rhonda
Comment Written 10-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 10-Apr-2019
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Rhonda, I so appreciate these kinds of reviews from other members; they are SO very helpful. And I totally see what you're saying with that sentence. "cluttered" is exactly the right word. I'll get to work on it. Thank you.
Comment from shaffer40
This is a heartwarming story -- that mom walking out teared me up -- and delivers an important message. It would be useful in parenting workshops, IMO. It is well written, with great imagery and not a distracting error that I could see.
reply by the author on 09-Apr-2019
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This is a heartwarming story -- that mom walking out teared me up -- and delivers an important message. It would be useful in parenting workshops, IMO. It is well written, with great imagery and not a distracting error that I could see.
Comment Written 09-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 09-Apr-2019
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Thank you, shaffer40. I appreciate these words very much. xo
Comment from meeshu
I love your stories about you and your 'kids'. you have such a great rapport with them. I used to coach Little League and 6yr. old 'T-ballers' are much the same as 6yr. old ballerinas. the cuteness is astounding. great write, Rachelle...........................meeshu
reply by the author on 09-Apr-2019
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I love your stories about you and your 'kids'. you have such a great rapport with them. I used to coach Little League and 6yr. old 'T-ballers' are much the same as 6yr. old ballerinas. the cuteness is astounding. great write, Rachelle...........................meeshu
Comment Written 08-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 09-Apr-2019
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I think there's a reason they're so cute, don't you, Meeshu? It offsets the times when they're naughty and makes you forgive every last little transgression. (My husband used to coach Little League, too. But he knew he'd gone a little overboard in his zeal to get little Timmy to run faster one day when he told him, "Just pretend there's a monster chasing you!" Oy!)
Thanks for this wonderful review. xo
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I had Maggy (Magneson) who sat and filled his (Dad's) glove with grass. so I took him to "his" spot, where the ball could never be hit. at the end of the year his spot looked like we were herding sheep. so great.
Comment from Gail Denham
Wow - great story - and amazing that any parents would do that do a child. Plus the things that a 4 year old can say - oh my. And then deciding you were 80. Oh my - what great experiences you have - and what a difference in the life of those kids you can make.
Great story - you're a good teacher
reply by the author on 08-Apr-2019
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Wow - great story - and amazing that any parents would do that do a child. Plus the things that a 4 year old can say - oh my. And then deciding you were 80. Oh my - what great experiences you have - and what a difference in the life of those kids you can make.
Great story - you're a good teacher
Comment Written 08-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 08-Apr-2019
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Oh my goodness, Gail. Thank you for this extremely warm and encouraging review. I love it and appreciate you for writing it. It made my night.
Comment from Louise Michelle
This is so funny - I love the humor you wove throughout. Kids say the cutest things and I love how they hold their own when dealing with an adult, especially an adult who's playing with them. As always, very nicely written, Rachelle. Hugs, Lou
reply by the author on 08-Apr-2019
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This is so funny - I love the humor you wove throughout. Kids say the cutest things and I love how they hold their own when dealing with an adult, especially an adult who's playing with them. As always, very nicely written, Rachelle. Hugs, Lou
Comment Written 08-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 08-Apr-2019
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Thank you, Lou. You now I always love it when you review any of my pieces. xo
Comment from Mark Valentine
I like the arc of this one. It starts out with some Kids-say-the-darndest- things humor and then pivots to one of the more serious life lessons thqat parents can learn, summarized by my favorite line -- "we're making memories here". For as many things as I've failed at in my life, I think I've always had that perspective as I raised my children.
What a wonderful teacher you must be. By the way, my daughters are in their twenties now - is it safe now to tell them that they sucked at ballet?
reply by the author on 08-Apr-2019
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I like the arc of this one. It starts out with some Kids-say-the-darndest- things humor and then pivots to one of the more serious life lessons thqat parents can learn, summarized by my favorite line -- "we're making memories here". For as many things as I've failed at in my life, I think I've always had that perspective as I raised my children.
What a wonderful teacher you must be. By the way, my daughters are in their twenties now - is it safe now to tell them that they sucked at ballet?
Comment Written 08-Apr-2019
reply by the author on 08-Apr-2019
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Maybe on your deathbed. I'm thinking that would love that as their lasting memory of their father even more, Mark.
Thank you for this great review, from a writer whose own works I consider exceptional. xo