Swing in the Center

I had several wonderful teachers, but some left more of an impression than others. Much of what I know about rehearsing and performing as an accompanist I learned while working with my high school choir teacher, Mr. Jones. He’s also the reason I know how to lead an orchestra from the piano, but that’s a story for another day. During my senior year, I regularly went with him to all the area elementary schools to lay the seeds of future high school choirs. He was disappointed that I didn’t yet have a driver’s license. He thought I’d make a great race car driver. I was so tiny, he said, they could build a small roll cage for me making a lighter, more powerful car. I had him explain what a roll cage was, and immediately lost all interest in racing. Mr. Jones was ahead of his time. The very year I graduated, Shirley Muldowney (at 100 pounds) won the National Hot Rod Association championship.