Written by Katrina Proctor, content manager at Midnight Music.
If you’re anything like me, you are always looking for ways to simplify your life and make your teaching more efficient. Artificial Intelligence (AI) including ChatGPT and JasperAI can help make your music teaching life even simpler. After all, music can be life-changing for our students, but the day-to-day grind of education, endless emails, and a neverending to-do list can make it a challenge to constantly craft exciting lessons AND maintain the heart you have for the music itself.
By now, you’ve probably heard a lot about ChatGPT and maybe even some other AI writers like JasperAI, and you might naturally feel a little apprehensive about them. If you haven’t, make sure to check out last week’s introductory blog/pep talk about AI in the music classroom.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking ChatGPT and other AI technologies are too complicated for us to use in our teaching. The truth is, these tools can actually be incredibly helpful and easy to incorporate into your life because they act as perfect brainstorming and idea-generating resources. In this blog, I’ll talk about 5 easy ways to simplify your music teaching life with AI and demonstrate some example outputs from different AI writing software.
Hack #1: Use AI like ChatGPT and JasperAI to design music lesson plan ideas
As a music teacher, you know how time-consuming it can be to develop new lesson plan sequences and ideas. AI technology can allow you to create detailed musical lesson ideas in minutes.
I added the same prompt into both ChatGPT and JasperAI, asking, “What are 5 things I could teach about in Eric Whitacre’s “Sleep”?“
ChatGPT said:
- “The text and meaning of the poem
- The style and genre of the choral composition
- The compositional techniques used by Whitacre
- The use of vocal harmony and counterpoint
- The role of silence and pauses in the piece”
JasperAI said:
- “ The importance of rest and relaxation
- The use of specific tones, dynamics and textures to create a soporific atmosphere
- Appreciating how Whitacre builds contrast between more distant moods like sadness and joyfulness in his piece
- Experiencing how Whitacre creates a dream-like quality with subtle changes in texture, dynamics and instrumentation throughout “Sleep”
- Discussing themes related to loss, rebirth and renewal that are evoked by “Sleep” “
Overall, I feel like ChatGPT’s response was too generic for my liking. There are a couple of ideas in there I could work with, but JasperAI’s response was much more intriguing! I loved the idea of discussing themes related to loss, rebirth, and renewal. Many of those topics would make excellent discussion questions!
Hack #2: Brainstorm your music listening lists & vocabulary lists with AI
Creating music listening lists and vocabulary lists for our music classes can be a daunting task! Artificial Intelligence can help music teachers simplify the process by easily brainstorming suggestions. Instead of taking hours to create quality content lists, AI can help us shortcut that process and can even help us introduce new ideas into our instruction.
Here are several examples.
I told ChatGPT:
“Write a list of 10 different words to describe music’s timbre”:
ChatGPT said,
“1. Rich
2. Bright
3. Warm
4. Dark
5. Harsh
6. Smooth
7. Mellow
8. Complex
9. Dull
10. Crisp”
When teaching about genres, something I like to do is create listening playlists for students. I decided to ask JasperAI, “What are 5 essential songs to listen to when learning about Jazz?
JasperAI said,
“When it comes to learning about Jazz, there are certain songs that are essential for any fan or student of the genre. Here are five of the best jazz songs of all time that should be on everyone’s playlist:
1.”Take Five” by Dave Brubeck – This classic tune is one of the most iconic jazz pieces ever recorded and is a great introduction to the genre.
2. “So What” by Miles Davis – Another classic from Davis, this song is an excellent example of his innovative approach to jazz and improvisation.
3. “Mood Indigo” by Duke Ellington – One of Ellington’s most beloved compositions, this song showcases his unique style and skill as a composer.
4. “My Favorite Things” by John Coltrane – This classic ballad has become a staple in the jazz repertoire and is a great way to explore Coltrane’s signature sound.
5. “Round Midnight” by Thelonious Monk – This timeless piece is a great example of Monk’s unique approach to harmony and melody and is an essential listen for any jazz fan.
These five songs are just a few examples of some essential jazz tunes that everyone should listen to when exploring the genre. There are many more out there, so don’t be afraid to explore!
Sources:
- https://jazzfuel.com/best-jazz-songs/
- https://www.npr.org/2011/02/19/133479768/the-mix-the-jazz-100
- https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/best-jazz-songs/ “
One of the things I’m enjoying with JasperAI is the ability to add Google sources for the information it generates. That can give me some great places to look for follow-up information. I’m hopeful that this will be a feature in ChatGPT in the future.
Now, after using AI to help brainstorm vocabulary and listening lists, I can’t imagine doing it all on my own ever again! However, as with all AI-generated resources, always ALWAYS check for factual accuracy before distributing them to your students.
Hack #3: Use AI to Write a Rehearsal or Lesson Plan
Are you someone like me who writes your lesson “plans” on a post-it on your stand or scores? The struggle is real for us Type-B people. Writing rehearsal & lesson plans can be a long and tedious process, but AI can make it much simpler. With AI, writing an effective rehearsal plan is as easy as giving a few instructions and a basic outline. While you’ll definitely need to tweak it to suit your needs, it works great at a jumping-off point.
For example, I asked ChatGPT to write me a lesson plan teaching correct flute embouchure to 5th-grade beginning band students using mirrors.
Here’s what it came up with:
“Lesson Title: Introduction to Flute Embouchure
Grade Level: 5th-grade
Duration: 45 minutes
Objectives:
1.Students will learn the correct posture for playing the flute.
2. Students will understand the basic principles of flute embouchure and how to create a good tone.
3. Students will practice forming the flute embouchure and produce a clear, focused sound.
Materials:
- Flutes
- Mirrors
- Whiteboard
- Markers
Introduction (10 minutes):
1.Greet the students and introduce yourself.
2. Explain the importance of good flute embouchure in creating a beautiful sound.
3. Show the students a flute and demonstrate the correct posture for playing the instrument.
Lecture (10 minutes):
1.Write the key elements of flute embouchure on the whiteboard.
2. Explain how the lips, tongue, and air support work together to produce a good tone.
3. Use the mirrors to demonstrate how to form the flute embouchure.
Guided Practice (15 minutes):
1.Have the students practice forming the embouchure using the mirrors.
2. Walk around the room and observe each student, offering constructive feedback.
3. Encourage students to listen to each other’s sounds and give positive feedback.
Independent Practice (10 minutes):
1.Have the students play a simple exercise or scale, focusing on creating a clear and focused sound.
2. Observe the students and offer feedback as needed.
Conclusion (5 minutes):
1.Review the key elements of flute embouchure and ask students to share what they learned.
2. Encourage students to continue practicing their embouchure at home.
3. Thank the students for their participation and dismiss the class.”
So, is this lesson perfect? No, but it’s a great starting point! If I were to use this lesson, I’d adjust it to have students remove the mouthpiece while they were learning embouchure. Also, would students just learning beginning embouchure be able to play a scale on it right away? Probably not. But, you could easily adjust this lesson to suit your needs and the skills of your students.
One of the biggest tips for using AI in your classroom that I’ll repeat over and over is to NEVER use anything AI-generated without checking it over for errors. AI is definitely not perfect and while facts or suggestions may sound correct, it’s up to you to do your own research.
Hack #4: Create your test or bellringer questions with AI
Are you learning about Beethoven? Need some ideas for ways to test students’ understanding of major vs. minor scales? AI can be a great way to craft unique test and bellringer questions. Having access to hundreds of prompts at your fingertips allows you to create more dynamic assessments tailored specifically to the music topics you cover.
I asked JasperAI, “Write me 10 questions for a middle school music exam about Beethoven’s life. Include questions and answers.”
Jasper said,
“1. Who was Ludwig van Beethoven?
Answer: Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist of the late Classical and early Romantic eras.
2. When did Beethoven live?
Answer: Beethoven lived from 1770 to 1827.
3. What period of Beethoven’s life is referred to as the “Heroic” period?
Answer: The “Heroic” period of Beethoven’s life is generally considered to be between 1803-1812.
4. How many symphonies did Beethoven compose?
Answer: Beethoven composed nine symphonies during his lifetime.
5. What is the title of Beethoven’s seventh symphony?
Answer: The title of Beethoven’s seventh symphony is Symphony No. 7 in A, Op. 92 (1812).
6. Who was Joseph Haydn?
Answer: Joseph Haydn was an Austrian composer who was one of the most prominent composers of the Classical period and a mentor to Ludwig van Beethoven.
7. What gifts did Joseph Haydn reveal at an early age?
Answer: Joseph Haydn revealed unusual musical gifts at an early age, according to his cousin who was a school principal and church organist at the time.
8. What year did Ludwig van Beethoven compose his first published work?
Answer: Ludwig van Beethoven composed his first published work in 1783 when he was 13 years old.
9. What type of music did Ludwig van Beethoven compose during his lifetime?
Answer: During his lifetime, Ludwig van Beethoven composed works for piano, chamber music, vocal music, orchestral works, and operas in various genres including classical, romantic, and modern styles of music composition.
10. How many children did Ludwig van Beethoven have?
Answer: Although there is some debate about this question due to conflicting records from the time period, it is believed that Ludwig van Beethoven had three children with two different women during his lifetime – Karl (born 1806), Johann (born 1807), and Anna Marie (born 1808).”
Most of this looks ok (although Beethoven never composed ‘modern music’), but the last question gave me pause. I knew Beethoven’s nephew was Karl, whom he had custody over, but the other names I didn’t believe to be true. A quick Google showed me that there was no truth in those other two names.
This is just one example of many times AI-generated content has been false for me, and that’s to be expected, especially in AI’s infancy. It’s incredibly easy to miss these things because they look like they could be correct, so please check all of your AI outputs for factual accuracy!
Hack #5: AI can help you write better emails & letters
Writing emails can be time-consuming and, let’s be honest, an often stressful task – especially for music teachers with tight schedules. AI can help take the strain off our plate, allowing us to communicate more efficiently and effectively with our students, admin, and parents. Whether it’s saving time composing housekeeping emails or ensuring that a concerned parent receives a thoughtful response, ChatGPT will keep your heart in the message, but fill in the rest.
Here’s a sample email I asked ChatGPT to write to a parent whose child missed a concert with no communication due to a planned vacation. I wanted ChatGPT to acknowledge that the concert calendar was distributed at the beginning of the year and the parent had signed the agreement that they would give me a notification of planned absences 7-days prior to the concert.
I wrote,
“Write a friendly and polite email to a parent from me, their child’s band director, because their child missed the concert due to a planned absence. In their syllabus, the parent received concert schedules at the beginning of the year, and I have their signature that it was received. Notify the parent that per the syllabus, their student will have the opportunity to make back a max of 75% of their score by completing a playing test and a written assignment. Politely request communication for planned absences next time.”
ChatGPT gave me this output:
“Subject: Important Information Regarding Your Child’s Absence from the Concert
Dear [Parent’s Name],
I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to inform you that your child, [Student’s Name], was absent from the recent concert due to a planned absence. I understand that life can be unpredictable and sometimes conflicts arise, and I wanted to reach out to make sure you have all the information you need.
As stated in the syllabus that was distributed at the beginning of the year, attendance at concerts is a crucial part of the band program and missed performances cannot be made up through regular rehearsals. However, I am happy to offer the opportunity for your child to make up for a portion of their performance grade by completing a playing test and a written assignment. Per the syllabus, the maximum score that can be made up is 75%.
I would greatly appreciate it if you could communicate any future planned absences with me as soon as possible. This will allow me to plan accordingly and make any necessary arrangements to ensure your child’s success in the program.
Thank you for your understanding and support of the band program. I am confident that your child will continue to make great progress and I look forward to working with them in the future.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
Band Director”
As you can see, this is a pretty decent email that isn’t too bad as a template. I’d want to add information about the alternative playing test and writing assignment as well as a deadline for completion. I also would go back and write my own final paragraph and sign-off, but overall, I feel like this is about 95% of the way there. Not too bad for 30 seconds of work!
Conclusion
There are so many different ways that you can use AI like ChatGPT or JasperAI to make your music teacher life easier. I hope that you will explore all of the possibilities and find the hacks that work best for you.
Let us know in the comments below – what are the ways you are using ChatGPT, JasperAI and other AI writers to make your music teaching life easier?
Also, check out:
If you’re interested in learning more about AI in the music classroom, be sure to check out a couple of wonderful blogs by other leaders in the music tech field:
Other Resources You Might Like:
- ChatGPT & AI: An optimistic outlook for music education
- Google Creatability Experiments: Creative Music Sites for Special Needs Students
- 9 Interactive Google Doodles You Can Use In Your Music Classes
- EarSketch, where music tech meets coding
- Composing Music for Video Games: A Project & Guide for Music Teachers
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Looking for More Resources for Music Teachers?
Hello! I’m Katie Argyle – an Australian music technology trainer and consultant with a passion for helping music teachers through my business Midnight Music.
I’m a qualified teacher but no, I don’t currently teach in a school. I help teachers through my online professional development space – the Midnight Music Community– where there are tutorial videos, courses, links and downloadable resources.
I like to focus on easy ways to incorporate technology into what you are already doing in your music curriculum through a range of creative projects. I also run live workshops and have presented at countless conferences and other music education events.
If you want simple, effective ideas for using technology in music education, I would LOVE to help you inside the Midnight Music Community.
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