AI Assignment Music Composition Assignments William Wieland
Background

With Advancements in Technology, is AI Really a Threat to Human Composers? from I CARE IF YOU LISTEN, a program of American Composers Forum

Generative AI Applications: Tod Machover (Tod Machover is a professor at the MIT Media Lab and director of the MIT Opera of the Future group.)
Research Component — How can composers use AI?
Large Language Models are perhaps the most well-known types of AI. As the name implies, the interface is language. Words may be somewhat useful for composers (Note my possible prompts.) but in my experience, LLMs do not create music very well. (I “conversed” with ChatGPT to create a lead sheet. It was bad.) LLMs remind me of the maxim, “Writing about music is like dancing about architecture.”
Large Language Models (LLM) Possible prompts (with any LLM)
  • Describe effective AI prompt writing.
  • How can I be more creative?
  • List 21st century techniques for composing concert music.
  • List ten music compositions that are utterly different from one another and explain how they are different.
In my attempts, music generation models were good at composing repetitive popular styles and atmospheric background sound.

AI for Songwriters: How Ben Camp is Helping Songwriters Get Creative with Artificial Intelligence (Ben Camp is a Berklee Online instructor.)
Music Generation Models Simple Operation — I created a free account for each. I login using Google.

Describe a song, click create, and wait a few moments. When it’s finished, press play.
If you like it, you can download it by clicking on the 3 dots to the right of the play button.

In Udio, you can also upload your own audio clip to get started.
Reviews and Examples
Listening Component — Find and listen to compositions that were created entirely or in part with AI. Share at least one piece with the class.

Composition Component — Compose a piece using AI in some way. (See “Research Component” above.)

Share your music and your creative process with the class.