As I reflect on my two decades of teaching music, I’m struck by how much has changed. I remember when my shelves were lined with MusicPlay binders and countless music books filled with songs and games my students loved. Now, I have access to endless resources online. Platforms like Beth’s Notes, Musicplay Online, Musescore and YouTube make it simple to find new songs and dances.
And then there’s artificial intelligence (AI). My realization of how I can maximize my use of existing and emerging technology came at an ATA session with Chris Gonsalves, a PD staff officer, who shared how AI can lighten teachers’ workloads. Now AI is transforming how I plan concerts, create songs and even draft emails.
While planning concerts and assemblies, I use AI to generate ideas. Music teachers often work in isolation, and collaboration can be scarce. That’s where AI comes in. When I’m brainstorming a concert theme, I input my thoughts into an AI tool, which suggests songs and concepts I might not have considered.
Original songs in seconds
One of my favourite resources is Suno.com. It enables my students and me to input keywords and generate original songs in seconds. When we needed a song about walking quietly in the hallway, Suno created one in minutes. My students love collaborating and enjoy hearing the unique compositions AI produces. These experiences have sparked excellent discussions about song styles, and many students have explored this tool at home.
Another gem is vocalremover.org, which lets me upload songs and remove vocals, turning them into karaoke tracks. We recently used it for our school’s Diwali celebration, allowing students to sing along with authentic music while showcasing their voices. AI helps us adapt resources to meet our school and student needs.
ChatGPT is a useful tool for writing scripts and programs for assemblies and concerts. Last year, I requested a script focused on songs and poems about immigrant experiences in Canada. AI not only generated a script but also wrote poems and lyrics to songs that would create a complete show. Sadly, none of these poems and songs could be attributed to a human author, so I chose to feature public works from Canadian poets and musicians instead. This query reminded me that while AI can be helpful, teachers must still judge the quality and authenticity of what we share with our students. I continue to cautiously approach ChatGPT and always double-check the content I use. It’s essential to ensure everything I share is accurate and reflects the message that I am trying to convey.
Twenty years ago, I never could have imagined having access to such powerful AI tools. Now, when asked to write a school song, I can confidently respond, “Of course! What do you have in mind?” With AI as my ally, the creative process feels more exciting and inspiring.
Becki Leipert is a music specialist at Monterey Park School in Calgary.
