Murphy David Skirvin, 10, and sister Macy Skirvin, 11, are rising stars. They were born in Indiana, but today live in Cherokee County.
The two local kids don’t spend their time on cell phones or in front of computers, but rather atop a skateboard or behind a musical instrument. Parents Dustin and Amanda Skirvin provide many opportunities for the kids to do so.
The brother-and-sister team seem to have everything they need to rise to the top – talent, motivation and drive.
Both kids are homeschooled with interactive and dedicated parents. David’s best subject is math, while Macy likes spelling. Both kids get good grades.
Mom and dad both come from a musical background themselves, with each having performed in different bands.
David plays the saxophone and base, while Macy enjoys the keyboard and drums. They’re both learning to play the guitar as well. Macy’s keyboard was found in a Dumpster but was fixed up and plays works well.
The young Skirvins consider themselves to be a garage rock band, with some rockabilly mixed in.
Dad believes that Macy’s musical inclinations may have come from her mother when she was pregnant, as she would hold the accordion on her belly while playing. He believes Macy heard the music repetitively.
When Macy was just 3, she would hit the piano keys with what seemed like purpose or meaningful key taps. She was too small to even see the keys.
The youngsters have been seen performing locally, in Franklin and most recently at the Art Walk earlier this month.
David said of his musical experiences, “I’m having fun.”
Macy also enjoys playing music with her family.
“It’s fun to play songs that I enjoy hearing, and I hope people enjoy hearing them, too,” she said. “My favorite part is when people tell me they’ve heard that song before and they like it.”
When asked what it’s like to perform in front of a crowd, David said, “Sometimes people like it, and sometimes they tell me to leave but in a nice way.”
Macy enjoys performing in front of people, even though at first she’s a bit shy. Her goal is to make people happy and inspire them to play an instrument or make their own band.
“I’m really happy that they’re putting all my instruments to good use,” Dustin said.
Both David and Macy also enjoy and compete in skateboarding. In recent competitions in Silva and Andrews, David earned a first- and third-place award, while Macy took two second-place spots.
They practice in Andrews, as there’s nowhere to skate in Murphy. Dad wishes there was a skate park in town.
When David and Macy aren’t performing musically or skateboarding, the two kids like reading and doing things outdoors. David has started learning to identify plants. Both kids also enjoy boxing.
Plans for the Skirvins include having recordings done through a professional studio and producing a vinyl record. Their band’s name is called The Wyld Dreams.