LOS ANGELES — As a violist, Daniel Morris depends on events to make a living. But the pandemic struck a chord that he hadn't played before.

"I had a client reach out, and she said, 'Hey, can you play outside my boss's window?' And I was like, 'Wow. That's kind of weird.' I even told my wife, 'Should I go do that? It's kind of like odd,'" he said.

Out of desperation, he says he took the job. But he never thought it would lead to thousands of followers on social media and dozens of requests for personal serenades. Morris says the requests are often to help others get through tough times and celebrate special moments when loved ones are far away.

"Music just gives people a little bit of hope, a little glimmer of light in their life and to give that to people, I feel like it's the best gift I could give the world," Morris said.

One day, Morris was asked to serenade a Los Angeles man who had lost work and loved ones during the pandemic. The request, Morris says, came from the man's daughter-in-law, who lives in San Francisco, hoping to cheer him up.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 300 million people worldwide are estimated to suffer from depression. Recent studies have shown music used as therapy can improve a person's mood, emotions and even reduce the feelings of depression.

For Richard Liberman, the man who received a surprise serenade, he says it was a surprise that pulled on his heartstrings.

"I needed that right now. I've been struggling in a dark space, so I feel like I just got a thunderbolt of lightning, you know. And I'm just glowing from in here," Liberman said.

Each song Morris played during the serenade created a special moment for Liberman. But for Morris, it gave him another chance to give back through music.

"I started playing really small like on the street, hoping people would listen. Like the Santa Monica Pier is kind of where I started my career and to see it grow so much and touch so many lives, like, it's super rewarding," Morris said.

While the pandemic might have changed the world, Morris says he'll continue to follow this path, sending sounds of healing to whoever might need it the most.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story referred to Daniel Morris as a "violinist," rather than a "violist." This has been updated. (Jan. 31, 2022)