By Matt Weafer
Western Kentucky Catholic
A steady buzzing noise travels down the hallway of St. Mary of the Woods Elementary School in Whitesville emanating from the door labeled Mr. Morris, as though a giant bee hive stood in the classroom.
Though no bees buzz in the classroom, a swarm of fourth graders plucks, strums, hammers and bows string instruments. The students concentrate on the sheet music on the stand in front of them and try to find the rhythm to “Drunken Sailor,” the English sea shanty song popular at Ho-Downs.
Meanwhile, music teacher David Morris walks from student to student, coaching, snapping beat and correcting finger placements.
For David Morris, music is not just a hobby or something he bops along to on his commute to work; it is his work, his life and his passion.
Next to his family, playing and teaching music occupies most of his time.
Since he was a 13-year-old student in Whitesville, Morris has been infatuated with music, more specifically string instruments.
Morris grew up around music. His mother played guitar and so did a few of his siblings. Naturally, he picked up the guitar.
“I started playing the guitar with my brother Barry when I was in eighth grade,” Morris said. “If it wasn’t for Barry, I wouldn’t be playing. And he doesn’t even play anymore.”
When Morris was 14, his mother bought a fiddle from Lewis Edge, a family friend. But before she had the chance to practice, Morris had swiped the fiddle, started playing and fell in love.
“My mom had been playing the rhythm guitar behind fiddle players my whole life,” Morris said. “And that’s the best thing for a fiddle player is to have a rhythm guitar player to keep the beat.”
So, over the next several years, Edge taught Morris all of his first songs and his mother helped him practice as he discovered his passion for the fiddle.
“When I started playing that fiddle,” he said. “I found what I wanted to do.”
Edge, 88, celebrated his 70th wedding anniversary with his wife Nora this year. But Edge is now on his death bed, Morris said.
“I can’t be thankful enough for all that he taught me,” Morris said.
Morris said his first audience outside of his house was with Edge and Whitesville Ho-Downers. “They were good to me,” he said.
After graduating, Morris moved to Eastern Kentucky and worked in the Floyd County school system and with the Kentucky Opry.
Morris and other musicians traveled around to 17 high schools in the area, demonstrating and teaching music to children.
Along with a few other instructors and artists in the area, Morris helped found the Mountain Arts Center.
But once Morris married his wife Monica, they moved back to Whitesville to start a family. To support this family, Morris started working at a factory.
Five years later, Don Ralph, the principal at St. Mary of the Woods Elementary School called Morris and asked him to teach.
“We worked up a contract and I left my factory job and never looked back,” Morris said.
Now Morris has been teaching music at both St. Mary of the Woods and Mary Carrico Elementary Schools for almost six years, and he is right where he belongs, surrounded by music and its students.
Since Morris moved back to town he has also been performing music at St. Mary of the Woods masses.
With several of his six children old enough to begin their journey in music, they also join him in performing.
Morris’ children are Charlotte (12), Cecilia (10), Reuben (8), Blaise (7), Xavier (6) and Gianna (6 months).
“The biggest thrill for me in the last few years is when my kids finally got old enough so that we can sing together and lead the music at mass,” Morris said. “Before then, when I got up there to sing at mass, my wife was stuck in the pew with five squirrels.”
The Morris family performs at St. Mary’s mass on Sunday at either the 7 a.m. or 8:30 a.m.
“It’s the Johnny Cash mass,” Morris said “because it’s so early everything has to be dropped down a key or two.”
Morris teaches various types of music in his classes and performs any hymn at mass as long as it’s good.
“There is a great treasury of hymns in The Bible,” Morris said. “A lot Christians since our Lord have been putting truths to music. Some of these pieces of music go back 1500 years or even later than that.”
The students at both elementary schools will perform their music at school masses, so they also learn hymns. But Morris also introduces them many other types of music including bluegrass.
“If somebody asked me to pick out my favorite song, I’d have to pass,” he said. “I don’t care when something was written or when something was built; if it’s beautiful, it’s beautiful. If it’s not, it’s not. I have no problem playing something that’s 1500 years old if its truths are still applicable. But if it’s a hymn that was written yesterday and it’s beautiful, I want it.”
Over the past 27 years, Morris has not only taught music, but he’s also performed in a number of mediums. He has played on several CDs and recorded a few solo albums. He’s also working on another solo album tentatively titled Turquoise Moon.
Morris is also a member of the Backstage Band, the house band at Goldie’s Opry House.
“Sometimes a guy gets tempted, if I could just go and do something,” Morris said, “and then you realize, I am doing something. It’s God’s will. I’m a husband and a father and that’s all that matters.”
And with his family rooted in music, Morris will continue to follow his passion and share it with his neighbors.
“I can’t think of anything that I can do better,” he said. “I’m not the best at it. I’m still learning, but I teach and give a lot of private lessons — just passing it on.”
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