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by Jennifer Walker
"Doesn't that book have something like 'Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer'?"
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Instructor brings variety of music to students fingertips
Michael Davis makes complicated musical concepts easy for students to learn. -Mark Hinkleman, photo
Music filled the room as eight students shyly plucked their guitars. They all played the same exercise, but the notes sounded choppy, disorganized, and out of tune as the students played at their own pace and waited for their instructor to arrive.
At exactly 1:30 p.m. Michael Davis arrived, his small classical guitar in tow. "Usually he's the last to arrive," Kelli Finnestad, a freshman, said, "but he does stay the entire class period."
Before joining the circle of students, Mr. Davis asked his students how they felt about starting to learn Christmas songs.
After a unanimous vote, he dashed into the music office to get his Christmas music. He sat among the students, he crossed his legs and began reading the table of contents.
"How about Jingle Bells?" Mr. Davis suggested.
The class grumbled.
"Really?" Mr. Davis said, trying to sound disappointed. "That's my
favorite Christmas song."
"Doesn't that book have something like 'Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer'?" Cora Templeton, a freshman, asked.
"You like the deep ones, huh?" Mr.
Davis said. His expressive blue eyes twinkled and he turned the page.
Eventually the class decided on "What Child is This?"
Mr. Davis again strode from the room to make copies of the song for each student.
He returned to class with the copies, but before jumping right into learning the song, he listened as the students reviewed the previous week's work. Mr. Davis picked up his guitar and strummed a few quick chords with long fingernails that substituted for a pick.
Mr. Davis was born in Bessemer, Ala., to a self-taught honky-tonk piano player. His father's natural talent for music passed down to Davis. Davis, a self-taught guitarist, has played for more than 20 years.
Music is Mr. Davis' life. While in high school, he played in a rock band. The band became known regionally, playing at proms and other school events. The band also traveled during the summers.
After high school, Mr. Davis traveled with several different rock and soul groups touring in the South.
Later, in Los Angeles, he developed a deeper love of jazz and improvised music styles.
However, in Davis' beginning guitar class, he teaches various music
styles including finger-style picking, Spanish and blues and contemporary praise and worship choruses.
"The class is pretty laid back," Finnestad said, "yet your nose is still to the grindstone; he wants us to take time to learn."
"He definitely knows what he is doing," Sarah Campbell, a freshman, said. "He can pick up [a guitar] and play anything; he can create something out of nothing."
Mr. Davis' interests extend beyond music to people, relationships, art and airplanes. He said that if he could choose a second profession, he would be a pilot.
Music plays the biggest role in his life. "To play and study music is a life-time commitment for me. Music is profoundly complicated and infinite," Mr. Davis said. "One will never come close to running out of the creative concepts that music has to offer."
Mr. Davis practices up to two hours a day. He said, "Music is a deep part of me. It's expression. It is a part God has given me to touch other people."
Michael Davis Likes Omelets, Stevie Wonder and Friday Harbor
Born August 20, in Bessemer, Ala.
Graduated from Ensley High School in Birmingham, Ala.
Married his wife, Terri, Oct. 22, 1977 in Portland, Ore.
Children: Jody and David
Arrived at MBC in 1980 for one year. Returned in 1984, left and returned again in 1986.
Favorites:
Food: hamburgers, omelets, Southern Style barbeque
Music Group: Beatles,
Fourtops, Stevie Wonder
TV show as a kid: Mission Impossible
Vacation Spot: Friday Harbor
Favorite Bible Verse:
Psalm 33:3 "Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully and shout for joy."
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