iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Michelle McQuade Dewhirst @almamauler.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

The biggest swing I've taken (but need another shot at) is Queen's "Somebody to Love". The bigggest swing I haven't taken yet is Blues Traveler's "Hook"...gotta practice that one more!

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Michelle McQuade Dewhirst @almamauler.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

A little summer reading: Jonas Sildre’s Between Two Sounds: Arvo Pärt’s Journey to His Musical Language. A gorgeous book!

An greyscale image from a graphic novel. A bearded man representing the composer Arvo Pärt sits on a sofa. His speech bubble reads: “It’s crucial that one forgets everything before beginning a new piece. If you start from nothing then something can emerge.” Source: Between Two Sounds by Jonas Sildre

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Michelle McQuade Dewhirst @almamauler.bsky.social · 14/06/2025

Yeah, it got a little dusty in the room when I watched this.

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Michelle McQuade Dewhirst @almamauler.bsky.social · 31/05/2025

A little cocktail, a little composing…

A music manuscript notebook lies open on a bar. In the upper right corner, there’s a cocktail…an old fashioned. It’s garnished with bacon because why the hell not?

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Michelle McQuade Dewhirst @almamauler.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

Sometimes the process involves doodling…

Music manuscript paper with some swirly doodles drawn in the margin

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Michelle McQuade Dewhirst @almamauler.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

Semester’s over. Time for some coffee and contemplation…

A coffee mug sits on a table in a coffee shop. The name of the shop, Kompound Cafe, is stamped into the surface of the mug.

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Michelle McQuade Dewhirst @almamauler.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

Sing we now the praises of Peacock for streaming the Eurovision Song Contest!

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Michelle McQuade Dewhirst @almamauler.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

Gig night - Weidner Philharmonic, featuring work by Jennifer Jolley, Jennifer Higdon, Joaquin Rodrigo, and Katahj Copley. I even get to play two instruments! #100daysofpractice Day 52

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Michelle McQuade Dewhirst @almamauler.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

Things are hectic as hell and maybe I'll get some notes down on a page soon but until then I sneak in my project research where I can get it. #100daysofpractice Day 48

youtube.com

Olivia Kieffer - 10 Short Pieces for Solo Vibraphone - IX

YouTube video by Victor Pons

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Michelle McQuade Dewhirst @almamauler.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

Gig weekend threw me off my game but #100daysofpractice makes its triumphant (?) Day 47 return with a bit of research for a new project:

youtube.com

Crazy Jazz Vibraphone Solo Lick by Stefon Harris

YouTube video by Steve Weiss Music

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Michelle McQuade Dewhirst @almamauler.bsky.social · 05/04/2025

Monday night: Jazz gig with horn quartet and rhythm section. Friday night: Orchestra gig playing Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and Brahms. Musical whiplash! 😀 #100daysofpractice Day 46

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Michelle McQuade Dewhirst @almamauler.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

Circling back to the digital side of things… #100daysofpractice Day 42

A display of an electronic music project

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Michelle McQuade Dewhirst @almamauler.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

In theory class this morning, I started talking about pivot chords in terms of innies and outies…#Severance

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Michelle McQuade Dewhirst @almamauler.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

Not much writing for the last 2 days but for the best reasons! Last night, @laurastrickling.bsky.social & @danielschlosberg.bsky.social premiered my new song “The Way I Was” (text by Dorothy Parker). Today was all masterclasses and great conversations. Great to meet composer Mikhail Johnson, too!

Four people stand side by side on a stage. From left to right: composer Mikhail Johnson, soprano Laura Strickling, composer Michelle McQuade Dewhirst, and pianist Daniel Schlosberg

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Michelle McQuade Dewhirst @almamauler.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

Maybe kinda sorta the form of a new piece? #100daysofpractice Day 37

A hand drawn sketch with some wobbly lines followed by more jagged lines.

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Michelle McQuade Dewhirst @almamauler.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

Inspo Playlist for a new project I’m working on includes Shostakovich String Quartet No. 8, Duke Ellington’s “Sugar Rum Cherry” from the Ellington/Strayhorn version of The Nutcracker, and Radiohead’s “We Suck Young Blood” #100daysofpractice Day 35

m.youtube.com

We Suck Young Blood

YouTube video by Radiohead - Topic

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Michelle McQuade Dewhirst @almamauler.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

If you were going to write music that somehow evoked the idea of malicious compliance, what would that sound like? #100daysofpractice Day 33

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Michelle McQuade Dewhirst @almamauler.bsky.social · 23/03/2025

A little bit of score study today…Shostakovich’s 8th string quartet. #100daysofpractice Day 33

Two bars of the viola and cello parts of Shostakovich’s String Quartet No. 8.

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Michelle McQuade Dewhirst @almamauler.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

Two types of Choreography and Merriment today: #Severance finale and this new bit of r & d: #100daysofpractice Day 33

youtube.com

Classical Glover

YouTube video by Skell

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Michelle McQuade Dewhirst @almamauler.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

Had an exciting meeting about a new project today! The little bits of “research” I’ve been posting? They’re gonna pay off! #100daysofpractice Day 32

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Michelle McQuade Dewhirst @almamauler.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

Post a fictional character you think would be an antivaxxer:

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Michelle McQuade Dewhirst @almamauler.bsky.social · 15/03/2025

What’s my dog dreaming about?😀❤️

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Michelle McQuade Dewhirst @almamauler.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

Staggering toward spring break…giving myself the day off from writing and reminding myself that sometimes rest is productive! #100daysofpractice Day 25

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Michelle McQuade Dewhirst @almamauler.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

On day 1 of #100daysofpractice I started this sketch of some hypothetical dance music. Too early for details, but things are moving and the project is a bit less hypothetical now. A win here on Day 23…

Handwritten music with the caption “hypothetical dance music”

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Michelle McQuade Dewhirst @almamauler.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

Fleshing out a sketch and having a little fun with tempo markings… #100daysofpractice Day 21

A closeup of music notation software. The tempo marking is “Slinky”.

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Michelle McQuade Dewhirst @almamauler.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

I sketched some music this morning, but this evening I got to hear my music out in the wild! #100daysoforactice Day 20

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Michelle McQuade Dewhirst @almamauler.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

I'm so excited to hear the premiere of my new piece for the Fox Valley Youth Symphony this afternoon! It's called Futureproof, and the idea behind it is that in an increasingly tech-driven and isolated society, we need to invest in creating fulfilling human connection through live performance.

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