Have you thought about using AI music in your classroom? This summer, I spent time with teachers in all corners of the country. In my workshops and conference sessions that explore the role of AI in education, one of the most popular topics is how to make music with the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Whether you’re looking to spark creativity, enhance traditional learning experiences, or simply introduce new media to your lessons, AI-generated music might have a place in your teaching toolkit. Similar to a chatbot like ChatGPT, you can add a prompt or description to an AI music tool to generate a short piece of music to share with students.
Today on the blog, I’ll share some practical ways to incorporate AI music into your classroom. And as you dive into the list, I’m sure your wheels will start spinning with all of the ways this technology can connect to teaching and learning.
How to Make AI Music
AI music tools are more accessible than ever, opening up a world of possibilities for educators in every subject area. From creating unique soundtracks for literary works to understanding historical eras through musical moods, these tools not only enrich the educational experience but also help students develop a deeper connection to the material.
What AI music tools should you try? I’ve shared a few of the AI tools on the list below in my workshops and webinars this past year. They aren’t perfect, and some have a free trial or paid model. However, I think these are worthy of your consideration:
MusicFX: This tool from Google’s AI Test Kitchen is a favorite. You can type in a prompt and even add a few instrument suggestions. The output is two 30-second clips you can play, download, or share.
Suno AI: After you sign up for a free account, you can describe the song you would like to generate. New users get a few credits to try so you can craft a song right away.
Loudly: This tool also gives you a free version to try. You can write a prompt up to 250 characters and it will give you three options based on your description.
Not all AI music generators are student-friendly tools and in the examples below, you might take the lead and have students work “offline” to create a prompt you can use to create an AI music clip.
Why Use Music in the Classroom?
Music has the power to transform a traditional learning experience. A lot has changed since I was a student – when a teacher might use a cassette tape to play a clip for our class. And it’s now easier than ever to “cue the music” and press play on a smartphone, computer, interactive whiteboard, or tablet.
Playing music can help set the tone, improve concentration, and make the learning process more enjoyable. With short AI-generated music clips, you can also make specific curriculum connections.
In a science classroom, teachers might use music to complement the explanation of complex theories. Social studies teachers can enhance their lessons on historical periods by integrating music that reflects those times or regions. For math, rhythm and beats can help illustrate patterns and sequences and make abstract concepts more tangible. In an English Language Arts classroom, music can serve as a backdrop for creative writing or help analyze the emotional subtext of a piece of literature. The possibilities are endless!
Ways to Use AI Music in Your Classroom
Let’s take a look at a handful of ways you can use AI music in your classroom this year. And if you have an idea I left off the list, reach out to me on Instagram or reply to my Monday email newsletter to tell me all about it.
Practice Writing Prompts
Challenge students to create descriptive writing prompts and use AI to generate music based on their descriptions. This exercise can help enhance descriptive writing skills and connect to any subject area.
Explore Different AI
If you are modeling AI use for students, show them how you can experiment with AI tools to see how they can produce not just text but music, sound effects, and more. This will help them understand the variety of AI outputs and their potential applications across different media.
Music Inspired By Literature
Ask students to write a prompt to describe a scene from a story. Then you can use that prompt to create a clip using AI music tools. This task can deepen their interpretative skills and help them express their understanding of the narrative through music. In the Suno example on this page, I share a prompt that describes the beginning of Charlotte’s Web.
Describe a Historical Event
Use AI music tools to spark a conversation about a historical event. Have students describe a historical event and generate music that reflects its mood or tone, facilitating a deeper emotional and intellectual engagement with the subject. In the Loudly example on this page, I share a prompt that describes the Boston Tea Party.
Create Background Music
Students can write a prompt or select AI-generated music to kick off a live presentation. They can use this to set the tone as they share information on any subject area.
Make a STEM Connection
Earlier this year, I chatted with Dr. Jacie Maslyk on “Unexpected Ways to Connect Literacy and STEM” for an episode of the Easy EdTech Podcast. You might use AI to make a musical connection to coding. MusicFX turns the words in your prompt into individual elements that mirror a drag-and-drop coding platform.
Music as a Reflection
We often ask students to reflect on their learning experiences and share how they feel after a lesson. You might take a spin on this and have students write a prompt to create a short AI music-generated clip that relates to how they feel.
As I mentioned earlier in the post, this use of AI as an instructional planning tool is something I’m very passionate about. And if you’ve heard me speak about AI in education this year, you know how excited I am about the possibilities. Bringing customized musical clips into your classroom is easier than I ever imagined it could be.
If you’re looking to dive even deeper into the integration of AI in education, my new book, EdTech Essentials: 12 Strategies for Every Classroom in the Age of AI, 2nd Edition, includes AI connections alongside a variety of prompts to try with a chatbot. Whether you’re a novice or seasoned educator, this book is packed with actionable strategies that can be implemented immediately. This page on the blog gives you more details about the new edition. Already have a copy? Download the free study guide right here.
