Category: Artificial Intelligence

Discover the best AI tools for music teachers with time-saving benefits for the teacher and broader curriculum choices for students. AI offers a powerful ally for music teachers, freeing up valuable time by-

• streamlining administrative tasks
• creating and personalizing instruction
• providing time-consuming research

Explore how AI empowers music educators to focus on what truly matters – nurturing musical talents and fostering creativity.

Let’s look into the time-saving and (hopefully) stress-reducing efficiency unlocked by AI and the many sites that will be available to us over the next few years.

Reminder: AI is ONLY a tool. Teachers should vet all generated information very carefully.

Generating Written & Digital Assignments

Music educators don’t deal with written assignments and assessments often. Our classes are mainly hands-on, action-based learning. When we need a written/digital assignment that aligns with our curriculum, it often becomes a huge time suck.

Why use written/digital assignments in the music room?

What are some of the reasons music teachers need written/digital assignments? Let’s take a ukulele unit as the example.

• We need a sub plan and want to continue with learning about the ukulele but know that we absolutely don’t want a sub using the instruments.
• A student has lost playing privileges because of unsafe use of the ukulele and needs to continue to learn about the instrument in a different format.
• An entire class has been off-task and needs a reset.
• We only have enough instruments for half a class and want students without instruments to have a quality assignment rather than “waiting their turn.”

Types of Assignments

Multiple Choice

For guided reading or general information activities and assessments, use a multiple-choice format.

These can be used:

• in hard-copy print
• with devices using Google Forms, Kahoot!, Quizizz, Gimkit, Canvas, Blooket, moodle, and more!

Printed Copies

Write this prompt. “Use the following article about Mozart to generate 10 multiple-choice questions. Give two printable copies, one with the correct answers annotated by placing a check mark (√) at the beginning of each correct response and one without. Add a list of the 10 correct responses for easy grading.” (add Mozart biography here)

This will work well in ChatGPT.

Video Assessment Creation

Type in a video URL and some AI models can generate questions. One example is the beta app twee. (see video and table below for more info)

Here is a multiple-choice example using a Ted-Ed video on brass instruments.

Fill-in-the-Blank

twee also lets you type in (or have it generate) text and create a fill-in-the-blank assessment.

Video Reviews | AI Tools for Music Teachers

Diffit

twee

How to Generate the Best AI Responses

How to Use Effective AI Prompts

Examples-

• What do you need to know to provide me with…
• What information do you need to write a thorough lesson on…
• Give your request and add, “What else do you need to know?”

Concert Song Prompt

Here’s an example using ChatGPT: “I need a list of songs for an elementary music concert. What do you need to know to help with this list?”

Here’s Chat GPT’s answer (abridged to save space):

1. Theme or purpose of the concert.
2. Age or grade level of the students.
3. Time duration of the concert.
4. Musical style or genre preference.
5. Performance format.
6. Any specific songs already considered?
7. Technical considerations: accompaniment, sheet music, or audio resources?
8. Cultural or sensitivity considerations.

Edited AI Prompt

Here’s my new query using the bot’s suggestions.

I’d like a list of songs for an elementary music concert with a winter theme. The performers are in grades 1, 2, and 3. The concert will be 45 minutes in length. The music should be secular with a mix of upbeat and ballad styles. The students will be singing in large groups and mp3 accompaniments will need to be used. A couple of the songs should be very upbeat. I’d like the song titles, composers, and possible mp3 links.

Here’s the answer I received! (The links are only placeholders. DANG!)

1. “Winter Wonderland” – Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith
   • MP3 Accompaniment: Link
2. “Frosty the Snowman” – Steve Nelson and Jack Rollins
   • MP3 Accompaniment: Link
3. “Jingle Bell Rock” – Joe Beal and Jim Boothe
   • MP3 Accompaniment: Link
4. “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” – Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn
   • MP3 Accompaniment: Link
5. “Snowflakes” – Teresa Jennings
   • MP3 Accompaniment: Link
6. “Winter, Winter” – Linda Spevacek
   • MP3 Accompaniment: Link
7. “Winter Sleigh Ride” – John Jacobson and Mac Huff
   • MP3 Accompaniment: Link
8. “Chilly Winds” – Teresa Jennings
   • MP3 Accompaniment: Link
9. “Snow Is Falling” – John Riggio
   • MP3 Accompaniment: Link
10. “Winter Lullaby” – Mary Donnelly and George L.O. Strid
    • MP3 Accompaniment: Link

I then asked:

That’s a great list. Can you give me ten more songs that would fit with my parameters?

Certainly! Here are ten more songs that fit the parameters of your elementary music concert about winter:

1. “Jingle Bells” – James Lord Pierpont
2. “Up on the Housetop” – Benjamin Hanby
3. “The Snow Is Dancing” – Claude Debussy
4. “Winter Fantasy” – John Higgins
5. “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm” – Irving Berlin
6. “Snow Day” – Justin Roberts
7. “Winter’s Waking” – Amy F. Bernon
8. “Sleigh Ride” – Leroy Anderson and Mitchell Parish
9. “The Winter Song” – Sarah Quartel
10. “Winterlude” – Neil Young

Growing List of AI Sites for Teachers

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