On Auto Pilot
I've been thinking about how I can play familiar piano music without thinking about it. I can't play without reading the music, but I can read the music without thinking about it. I suppose that's some kind of abstraction.
I remember that in our first churches, Rogers Mill and Skulton, we had an evangelist and his wife come for meetings and she sang for us. I'd been through a very hectic day where I was going in high gear the whole day. And then Mrs. Shrier sang in the service that evening I played the piano for her song. My mind was racing, far away, and all of a sudden, I sort of woke up and realized that I was racing through the music and poor Mrs. Shrier was having a hard time breathing and keeping up with me! I slowed down immediately. She didn't know what to make of me. After that experience, I knew I had to pay more attention when I was playing for a singer.
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