Creating with AI

Curriculum Area

Subject: Music
Grade Level: 12th Grade
Curriculum Standards (aligned with US education standards):

• MU:Cr1.1.T.: Generate melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic ideas for a specific purpose.
• MU:Cr2.1.T.: Select and develop musical ideas for various purposes using technology and traditional tools.
• MU:Cn11.0.T.: Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding.

---

Lesson Objective

Students will explore the intersection of music and artificial intelligence (AI), compose a collaborative musical idea, and modify AI-generated musical outputs to combine human creativity with technological tools.

---

Materials Needed

1. Laptops/Chromebooks (one per pair, with internet access).
2. Headphones (one per student for individual listening).
3. Preloaded or easily accessible platforms/tools:
   • Google Doodle celebrating Johann Sebastian Bach.
   • Google AI Duet.
   • DAW tools like GarageBand, BandLab, or Soundtrap for editing.

---

Lesson Schedule

This 50-minute lesson is divided into three main parts:

1. Introduction and Demonstration (10 minutes)
2. Hands-On Activity: Co-Creating with AI (30 minutes)
3. Reflection and Playback (10 minutes)

---

Step-by-Step Facilitation

Part 1: Introduction and Demonstration (10 Minutes)

Objective:

Introduce students to AI music tools, their potential for creative assistance, and how they integrate with human creativity.

Steps:

1. Set the Scene:

   • Begin with a question to engage students:
     “How do you think AI is shaping the future of music production and composition?”
   • Share brief examples of hit songs and soundscapes created with AI tools.

2. Demo the Platforms:

   • Quickly showcase two tools students will use, focusing on how accessible and fun they are to leverage technology in composing.
     • Google Doodle (Bach): Demonstrate how students can input notes and get harmonized output in a Baroque style.
     • Google AI Duet: Show the creative possibilities of “jamming” with AI by playing simple melodies and letting the AI improvise.

3. Prep Students:

   • List key features of these tools (e.g., style selection, generating suggestions, and customisation options).
   • Emphasize the goal of their exploration: to co-create original music combining their own ideas with the AI’s suggestions.

Tools Used:

• Preload websites or tools on the laptops beforehand.
• Use a projector or smartboard to demonstrate the platforms live.

---

Part 2: Hands-On Activity: Co-Creating with AI (30 Minutes)

Objective:

Students will pair up and create 16-bar melodies using AI tools, incorporating their personal creativity to enrich the music.

Setup (First 5 Minutes):

1. Pair Students:
   Divide students into groups of two. If enough laptops are available, students may also work independently.

2. Open Tools:
   Ensure all students log into their platforms (Google Doodle or AI Duet). Adjust the room setup to provide enough headphone access for focused work.

3. Provide Instructions:

   • Challenge students to generate a 16-bar musical idea using one (or both) tools.
   • Encourage experimentation with:
     • Mood and styles (jazz, classical, ambient).
     • Melodic accompaniment and harmonisation.

---

Activity (Next 20 Minutes):

1. Core Task:

   • Pairs explore the platforms, inputting short melodic or rhythmic ideas and refining the AI's suggestions.
   • Once they generate an AI-assisted composition, students should personalise it using their own creativity.

2. Differentiated Teaching:

   • For students needing extra support:
     • Guide them in saving and exporting their AI output to their DAW (e.g., GarageBand).
     • Help them understand basic manipulation like tempo adjustment, instrument volume, or layering.
   • For advanced students:
     • Encourage fine-tuning the AI outputs.
     • Suggest exploring parameter customisation on the AI platforms.
     • Push them to craft complex edits in their DAWs (e.g., modifying dynamics, adding new instruments).

3. Walk Around:

   • Act as a facilitator, checking on progress, resolving technical issues, and encouraging students to combine their own musical voice with AI's assistance.

Tools Used:

• Google Doodle "Bach".
• Google AI Duet.
• Headphones (for individualized sound exploration).

---

Part 3: Reflection and Playback (10 Minutes)

Objective:

Encourage discussion about the creative process and showcase students’ co-created compositions.

1. Playback Session (6 Minutes):

   • Groups share their favourite creations with the class by playing the 16-bar musical idea through the classroom speakers.
   • Ask each group to briefly explain:
     • How they used the AI tool.
     • Where they added their personal creative touch.

2. Class Discussion (4 Minutes):

   • Prompt reflection with open-ended questions:
     • “Was the AI a collaborator or just a tool?”
     • “What surprised you most about using AI in music?”
     • “Does this technology change how we think about creativity and originality in music?”

3. Highlight Key Takeaways:

   • Reinforce that AI is not a replacement for human creativity, but rather a bridge to expand creative possibilities.

---

Teacher Tips

• Technology Prep: Ensure all tools are accessible and pre-tested. In case of limited internet access, download offline resources like MIDI files generated by AI tools.
• Scaffolding for Newcomers: Provide clear tutorials or printed guides for the platforms.
• Engaging Advanced Learners: Suggest students focus on the interplay between harmony, texture, and rhythm while manipulating AI suggestions.

---

Assessment

• Informal observation during the activity:
  • Are students engaged in exploring the tools?
  • Are they able to integrate their unique ideas with AI’s outputs?
• Use the playback session to assess each group's compositional skills, creativity, and ability to explain their process.

---

Extending the Lesson

1. Homework Assignment:
   Have students complete their 16-bar composition by refining it in a DAW and bring it back for a future class project or reflection.

2. Cross-Curricular Connection:
   Discuss broader implications of AI in other subject areas (e.g., ethics in technology, economics of AI in the music industry).

3. Composer Case Study:
   Assign research on contemporary musicians and producers using AI tools in their music-making process.

---

By seamlessly combining technology, creativity, and collaboration, this lesson will not only wow teachers but will also inspire students to see AI as a dynamic force in modern music composition.