AI in the Music Classroom

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform the K-12 music classroom by offering new opportunities for personalized learning and creative exploration. The public release of Open AI’s ChatGPT 3.5 in November 2022 proved to be a game changer in AI capability.

Many of us are familiar with AI assistants like Apple’s Siri and Amazon’s Alexa, but the conversational nature and depth of ChatGPT’s responses (when accurate) are different and truly uncanny. ChatGPT, and the many AI chatbots that have come after, continue to blur the lines between human and machine. As such, AI will become more integrated into the field of education in general and music teaching and learning specifically.

AI introduces exciting possibilities for enhancing how students learn music, providing highly personalized educational experiences and fostering innovative ways of creating, performing, responding and connecting through music. However, these advancements come with significant challenges. Music educators must decide how — not if — to integrate AI into their classrooms in safe, thoughtful and interactive ways. To fully harness the potential of AI in music education, educators must carefully consider issues related to equity, bias and the potential overreliance on AI.

A Tutor for Every Student

One of the key benefits of using generative AI in the classroom is its ability to personalize learning. In my general music methods classes at Tennessee State University, we have been experimenting with various AI systems such as Klangio, Poe and Magic School AI to create sheet music, build music theory AI tutors, and develop lessons. Through prompting and feedback, I have shown my students how we can better curate learning experiences to cater to each student’s unique skill level and interests.

This personalized approach directly addresses the varying needs of students, making music education more accessible and engaging. When students receive instruction that is specifically designed to align with their abilities and interests, they are more likely to stay engaged and deepen their musical understanding. A bonus to this approach can also be seen in how students develop at their own pace. This can promote a more inclusive and supportive classroom environment for all students.

A Gateway to Unlocking Creativity

Generative AI also opens up new avenues for creative exploration. In June 2024, my institution’s AI For All Research Center hosted the inaugural AI for All Summit, which aimed to unite K-12 schools and higher education with AI industry leaders to discuss ways of leveraging AI in the most accessible and inclusive way possible. Many leaders across these areas showcased the potential of AI tools in multiple forms, and attendees were even able to receive group and individual trainings on several AI protoypes that were still in development. At this event, I learned about text-to-music AI apps like Udio and MusicLM, and I experimented with generating completely new musicals based solely on a text prompt. My mind was blown!

The capability, accuracy and creative authenticity of these tools helped me reflect on my own creative practice and expand what is musically possible with AI. The ability to instantly generate and manipulate musical ideas can allow our students to explore a wide range of musical styles and genres, pushing the boundaries of what they can achieve in the classroom. I am a strong believer that AI will be a companion to, and not a replacement for, our own creative processes.

Potential Challenges

Despite these benefits, there are considerable challenges to consider, particularly when it comes to equity and access. Not all students have equal access to the technology or the digital literacy skills needed to effectively use generative AI tools. This disparity could worsen existing inequalities in education, as students from under-resourced communities may be left behind. Furthermore, AI systems are trained on existing datasets, which inherently contain human biases. If these biases are not carefully addressed, they can be reflected in content generated by AI, potentially perpetuating stereotypes and limiting the possibilities of creative expression.

Another concern is the risk of overreliance on AI for music teaching and learning. While AI can be a valuable tool for generating ideas, it is essential that students also develop traditional musicianship skills, such as critical thinking, problem-solving and independent learning. It is also critical that educators not lean on AI to think for us in an effort to streamline processes and increase efficiency. The overdependence on AI could have a reverse effect on the profession and lead to more and more “human-centered” academic tasks begin shifted to AI responsibility.

These initiatives are already being piloted on a small scale in places like the Alpha School. If effective, this could jeopardize numerous teachers’ livelihoods and effectively limit the potential growth needed for a thriving and diverse music teacher workforce. Also, a push for more AI interaction may actually stifle the development of students’ communicative and creative skills, as students may become accustomed to relying on technology rather than their own creativity and musical abilities. Striking a balance between leveraging AI as a tool and fostering independent musicianship will be critical for maintaining a well-rounded music education.

As music educators consider integrating generative AI into their classrooms, they must also navigate challenges related to teacher training, data privacy and ethical considerations. I know that no one wants another mandatory training, but teachers at all levels will need specialized training on how to effectively use these tools to enhance their pedagogy while ensuring that confidential student data is collected and used with fidelity. Moreover, questions regarding the ethical implications of using AI in areas such as ownership, creativity, composition, reproduction and distribution will need to be addressed.

We Can Do This

In support of this movement toward integrating generative AI in education, institutions like the Tennessee State University SMART Innovation Center play a critical role. It is our goal to bridge access and equity gaps by providing training and hands-on learning experiences in AI for faculty, staff and students. It is my hope that all our communities will look for ways to collaborate with key stakeholders as we make strides in preparing future generations to navigate the quickly evolving landscape of AI-driven education.

While there are many more considerations we could delve into that go beyond the scope of what can be covered here, if we continue to carefully consider the pros, cons, opportunities and challenges of AI use in the music classroom, we can use AI to create a more inclusive, engaging and empowering music learning experience for all students.