For Mimi & Bucky

The girls recently started working on learning a song for you guys.   It's not perfectly polished, but you'll get the idea:

And now that I am trying to put everything in one place, here is the video of Moo's audition piece:

SSI Day at Vanderbilt, October 2014

On Monday, Moo participated in a lab day at the Vanderbilt School of Engineering.  The STEM Summer Institute participants were guided through the electrocardiogram, mechanobiology and biomaterials labs and then given a tour of campus (with a special emphasis on the sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics).

The girls learned about electrospinning--the synthesizing of microfibers, and their subsequent uses. 

This is said "electrospinner".  :)  Though Moo believes it had "a more scientific name".  For my purposes, it shall be called an electrospinner.

This was created by the process mentioned above.

This was in the biomaterials lab.  The girls worked with their own DNA; watching it separate out in the test tube.

This is Moo and Samayah, working in the electrocardiogram lab.  Here,  Moo is hooked up to the machine...and based on the results below, I'm trusting that they were correct to not admit her to the hospital.

The girls were then tried to troubleshoot the seeming problems with the machine's read out.

This is a controlled experiment meant to simulate conditions that would cause a heart attack.  The white objects in the tank are meant to act as heart valves.

This is the magnified surface of a mammal cell. 

This was some interesting artwork seen while on the tour through the Vanderbilt campus.

A view from the heights of campus.

Bottom line: she had a good time, and was able to confirm the sorts of things that she really has interest in for the future study.  For instance: atomic force microscopy, which measures force on the atomic level in order to determine the rigidity of a material.  (say whaa?)

Also, in the course of the tour of the science-y portions of the campus, Vandy won her over.  (Well, it was their impressive facilities AND the student testimonials about the great, all-you-can-eat student meal passes).  Now that's where she wants to go to school. 

Must go buy a lottery ticket now...

THRIVE TOUR 2014: Casting Crowns, Mandisa, Sidewalk Prophets

For being so into all things musical, I can't believe this was the girls' first big concert.  We've been to the symphony bunches...seen oodles of musicals and plays...enjoyed a good amount of recitals and small-venue performances...and the girls even performed at a couple large concert events, including the CMA Country Christmas bash at Bridgestone...but just never as a ticketed audience member.  Well, that's enough of that!  This past weekend was the Casting Crowns concert at Bridgestone Arena, with special guests Sidewalk Prophets and Mandisa.

They were really excited.

What could add to the fun?  Running into their friend Addie during intermission.

In the Studio with Chris Stapleton

Last week, the girls had another opportunity to provide background vocals in-studio, this time with Chris Stapleton at Blackbird Studios, Nashville. 

 

The waiting room was adorned with oodles of Beatles posters and featured the presence of an antique console radio similar to the one my grandmother had in her home during my childhood.  A couple of the technicians came out and spoke with the receptionist...revealing that they both had thick british accents.  Yes!

Since most of my friends and family will not know much about this musician, I lifted the following from Wikipedia (what did we do before Google and Wikipedia??): 

 "Stapleton is an American country, bluegrass, and rock musician signed to Universal Music Group Nashville. He is an established songwriter with four number one songs including the five-week number one "Never Wanted Nothing More" recorded by Kenny Chesney, “Love's Gonna Make It Alright” recorded by George Strait and "Come Back Song" recorded by Darius Rucker. As a writer for Sea Gayle Music, over 150 of Stapleton's songs have appeared on albums by such artists as Adele, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley and Dierks Bentley, and he has several notable co-writers including Vince Gill, Peter Frampton and Sheryl Crow." 

In studio.  Before and after the recording, there was a photo/videographer present.  This seems to be a "thing" (not sure if they're always from the studio or part of the artist's staff)...can't ever seem to find the pics and video online, but I try. :)

Myself and a couple of other moms hung out in the control room during recording. Seriously, the volume is always cranked up so high in these control rooms that I wonder if these guys don't have to retire way early due to serious hearing loss. Man, I sound old and crotchety...

Listening to the rough cut.

Posing with Chris Stapleton after recording.  He seemed like a nice, gentle man.  :)