from [summit] street to here in nashville: "shake your blues off, put your smile on"

(blog title comes from steve moakler's "best thing" from watching time run)

There is certainly something special about living in the South… Although there are days I miss the blooming trees on my beautiful home campus, Tennessee is in some ways even more gorgeous this time of year.

(photo by Jenny Leininger)

Life in Nashville has been so much more than I ever could have imagined. It truly is a big city with a small town feel. This tight-knit community (just twenty-eight students & six total staff) has been just what I needed. It's been really great getting to know everyone—we feel as if we've known each other for years instead of mere months!

Time is surely flying by, as we will be heading home in less than a month, but we are continuing to learn so much. The director of our program says because of the hands-on nature of CMC what we learn here in 14 weeks takes 3+ years to learn on your own in the industry…I’ve been soaking in every second of it! (Now you know why I don’t get to update you as often as I’d like—my apologies!) I know now, more than ever, that this is where I am supposed to be and that I could not have experienced any of this elsewhere. Through our classes and staff connections, we have the pleasure of meeting up with producers, engineers, managers, etc. who work with world-class artists and musicians on a day-to-day basis.

As a part of the business track, I’ve been managing 3 of the 15 artists who are also studying here--meet "team heather" below aka my artist roster. Along with that, the business students carry the responsibility of planning and promoting a weeklong tour of CCCU schools where the artists perform their original works and the tech students take care of audio, lights, etc. Our tour begins Thursday night in Indiana, from there we will travel to a few IL schools (Trinity was booked, but it would have been great to bring CMC to everyone there).

(team heather--ladies first! meet kamber :))

(photo credit-warren pettit)

(reppin' minnesota for team heather is gene! :))

(photo credit-me)

(aaand here's tom! he started the whole "team heather" thing :))

(photo credit-warren pettit)

Through this experience, I have not only learned an incredible amount about the industry but also so much about myself. I praise God for this amazing opportunity each day, and for those at Trinity & in my family who made it logistically possible.

As I was warned, I’ve certainly become attached to this place… Do I really have to come home for one last year of normal school??