Music In Progress

By Michael Cooke

Uncovering the depths of the creative processes of composing music. Gain valuable insights with practical tips and techniques. Whether you’re a fellow musician, an enthusiast, or just curious about t... more

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FAQs about Music In Progress:

How many episodes does Music In Progress have?

The podcast currently has 43 episodes available.

Music In Progress episodes:

July 06, 2026 I Hate the Music I Wrote, Now What?
I hate the Music I Wrote, Disliking a first draft does not mean the idea failed. Sometimes the music needs a new structure before the real piece starts to speak.
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11min
June 15, 2026 Forging a Fearless Solo Violin Piece Through Collaboration
A look inside the collaborative process of shaping a new solo violin piece through performer feedback, extended techniques, and shared experimentation.
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9min
May 25, 2026 A Milestone Month of Multiphonics, New Music, & Creative Momentum
A month of composing new music: finishing Riding the Dragon, notating clarinet multiphonics in Dorico, and preparing new solo works.
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6min
April 21, 2026 A Breakthrough: From Fragments to a Real Draft
Progress on a woodwind quintet: overcoming setbacks, rewriting lost material, and shaping fragments into form using circle-music and rhythmic ideas.
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8min
March 09, 2026 Taiwan, Beethoven, and a New Quintet
Taiwan, Beethoven, and a New Quintet
Early sketches for a woodwind quintet inspired by Chinese & Taiwanese folk music, hocketing rhythms, and an altered folk melody—while the piece’s structure is still forming.
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6min
January 30, 2026 How Dorico 6 Finally Unblocked My Creative Workflow
How Dorico 6 Unblocked My Creative Workflow
Porting an old orchestra-and-choir score into Dorico 6 forced me to confront box notation, cutaways, and long-avoided workflow problems. What started as a technical challenge ended up clearing mental space—and opening a path forward.
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10min
January 05, 2026 Closing 2025, Looking to 2026: A New Year’s Reflection
Closing 2025, Looking to 2026: A New Year’s Reflection
A candid look back at missed goals, unexpected progress, and the realities that shaped my composing year. Reflecting on 2025 helps me reset expectations, carry projects forward, and plan a more honest, sustainable path into 2026.
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7min
December 01, 2025 Masterpiece Syndrome
A simple woodwind-quintet idea spiraled into a battle with “Masterpiece Syndrome.” Here’s how perfection pressure quietly kills creativity—and why even Beethoven’s so-called masterpieces weren’t perfect. A reminder that your music deserves to exist long before it becomes great.
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7min
November 07, 2025 Post-Concert Reflections
Post-Concert Reflections
After a thrilling premiere filled with last-minute drama (including an injured oboist!), I swapped the concert hall for a paint-splattered ladder. Now, post-symphony and post-vacation, I’m recharged, reflective, and ready to dive into new musical adventures once again.
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4min
October 10, 2025 The Work After “The Work”
The Work After “The Work”
Finishing the symphony didn’t mean the work was done. From printing scores and preparing parts to writing for the American Beethoven Society and adjusting tempos after feedback, every step reminded me that composition thrives through collaboration, community, and constant refinement.
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6min

FAQs about Music In Progress:

How many episodes does Music In Progress have?

The podcast currently has 43 episodes available.