Music and AI

Subject and Curriculum Area:

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) – Music

Class Size:

23 students

Duration:

50 Minutes

Focus Themes:

The Future of Music with AI, Music Technology, Collaborative Work

---

Objectives:

By the end of the session, students will:

1. Understand the fundamental role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in contemporary music creation and production.
2. Gain familiarity with the application of AI tools in musical composition.
3. Experiment with AI to create hybrid compositions incorporating their unique creative input.
4. Debate the ethical considerations and societal impact of AI in the music industry, including questions of ownership and authenticity.

---

Materials Required:

• Computers or tablets (1 per group)
• Earphones (optional but recommended)
• Pre-loaded AI music generation tools available on Google Classroom
• Printed visual prompts (images and short video stills for composition activity)
• PowerPoint presentation (preloaded with short explanations, diagrams, and discussion prompts)
• Whiteboard and marker pens for tracking ideas during collaborative discussion

---

Lesson Breakdown:

---

1. Warm-Up: AI vs. Human Composition (15 Minutes)

Task: Exploring the differences and similarities between AI-generated and human-composed music.

1. Listening Segment

   • Play 3 contrasting excerpts:
     a) AI-generated Bach Chorale
     b) Hans Zimmer-inspired AI soundtrack
     c) AI-created electronic violin pop

2. Discussion/Game (Small Group Discussions)

   • After each example, ask students in pairs or triads to guess:
     • Which piece(s) do they believe was composed by AI?
     • What clues led to their decision? Was it too “perfect,” repetitive, or lacking emotion?
   • Once each student pair votes, tally their guesses via an online classroom poll (e.g., Google Forms).

3. Debrief: Reveal which compositions were AI-created and discuss the results.

   • Were they surprised?
   • How close do they feel AI is to replicating human creativity?

Final Note: Inform students that these technologies, while currently impressive, are still in early stages.

---

2. Mini-Lecture: Demystifying AI in Music (5 Minutes)

Focus: Simplifying the science behind AI and its use in musical composition.

• Use a visual aid (presentation slide) to break down the following process:

  1. Input: AI “learns” by analysing thousands of existing compositions.
  2. Analysis: AI identifies patterns, such as chord progressions, rhythm structures, and melodic phrasing.
  3. Output: The AI generates new music either through prompts or autonomous experimentation.

• Briefly explain AI tools revolutionising music, including their use in lyric generation, orchestration, and genre-bending styles.

Live Demo:

• Showcase AI Duet to illustrate an interactive composition, where students can “play” melodies on a digital piano and see how AI improvises in response.
• Use Bach Doodle to demonstrate how AI mimics classical styles.

---

3. Hands-On Activity: Co-Creating with AI (15 Minutes)

Group Task: Hybrid Music Creation

• Divide the class into 5 groups of 4-5 students. Assign each group a thematic prompt (e.g., “city at midnight,” “a hero’s journey,” or “stormy seas”). Prompts could be abstract images, video stills, or evocative one-word themes.
• Students use the available AI tools (e.g., Soundraw, AIVA, or Beatoven) to generate a base composition inspired by their prompt.

Guidelines:

1. Step 1: Upload the thematic prompt into the AI software (if applicable).
2. Step 2: Select one or more generated “drafts” and modify:
   • Experiment with mood, styles, instrumentation, or tempo.
3. Step 3: Add a layer of human creativity by integrating their ideas. For example:
   • Perform a live melody on top of the AI-created base.
   • Write and record a simple vocal melody or accompanying text-based lyrics.

Encourage risk-taking in genre exploration and multi-layered styles (e.g., orchestral blends with electronic beats).

---

4. Sharing and Reflection (10 Minutes)

1. Presentations

   • Each group plays their AI-inspired creation for the class.
   • Other groups briefly respond to the pieces. What emotions did they evoke? How “human” did the music feel?

2. Reflection Questions (Pose to the presenting group):

   • How did the AI tool influence your creative choices?
   • Were there elements that surprised or frustrated you about the AI’s suggestions?
   • When combining your creativity with AI’s, did it enhance or disrupt your vision?

Encourage open discussion and viewpoints.

---

5. Summary and Exit Ticket (5 Minutes)

Wrap-Up Discussion

• Discuss the future of AI in music and its implications for musicians today:
  • Assistive creativity (AI as a collaborator or coach)
  • Democratisation of production (empowering more people to create music)
  • Challenges (authorship, lack of emotional nuance, potential loss of human craft)

Exit Ticket (Written): Prompt students to write 30 words on this question:

• “Will AI kill creativity, or will it redefine human artistry? Support your response with one example from today’s lesson.”

Students submit their exit notes electronically or on paper before leaving.

---

Extensions and Further Questions for Engagement

If time allows, or for homework/independent work:

• Ethical Exploration: Who owns music generated by AI? Should AI-generated works be treated as art?

• Expansion Exercise: Ask students to create a full-length piece at home using one of the AI platforms, incorporating live recordings from their instrument or voice.

• Pose Advanced Questions:

  1. Could AI replace composers entirely?
  2. Is AI democratising art, or diluting its quality by removing the human element?
  3. How might AI be used in non-traditional musical projects (e.g., video games, immersive theatre)?

---

Additional Notes for Teachers

If some teachers are unfamiliar with AI tools, include a simplified worksheet with key instructions for accessing and operating each platform. Encourage them to engage with AI compositions prior to the lesson to gain a sense of its creative capacity and limitations.

This lesson introduces students not only to groundbreaking technology, but also critical and creative reflections on how music might evolve, giving them a forward-thinking perspective as young musicians.