PIXEL is the pen name of composer and educator Evan Combs. This playfully academic newsletter offers a behind-the-scenes look at designing and shaping learning experiences and culture. Supported by practical insights and actionable strategies, it’s perfect for teachers, leaders, and anyone curious about the art and science of learning through the lens of music.
The Muse is a Machine
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Hey everyone,
I love when technology disrupts society. Think about the introduction of the internet, cell phones, social media, etc. Each shook the foundation and redefined how we connect, create, and learn. So… Is AI dismantling art and education, or redefining it? I live at the intersection of creativity, education, and tech, and there is serious friction. In this issue, I’m unpacking that tension, reflecting on how we view AI in art and education, and offering ways to stay grounded (and hopefully inspired) while AI becomes more cemented in our human-centered culture. New Tools, New Rules 1. Modern band is already vintage The Modern Band is the ‘new ensemble’ in music education. It aims to meet the students where they are, focusing on performing/composing Rock, Pop, and Hip-hop. NO! It’s not fresh. What would be current is synthesizing prompt engineering into music curriculum, using generative AI as an extension of the creative process, and helping students explore the relationship with this technology. We need to better prepare students for jobs that don’t exist yet with the tools that already do. We can do it with music! YOU can create higher quality learning experiences collaborating with generative AI (designing stronger objectives, assessments, and instruction). I don’t need to list all of the ways you can use it here, go ask ChatGPT to do that! If you do want to synthesize AI into your music class, please reach out. Even if you just need a sounding board, I’m here. 2. A new lens Tools don’t define the art, intention does. I’ve always had a deep appreciation for dadaism and abstract expressionism. These movements taught us that a piece of art can be more about the creation, process, or impact than the “finished art” itself.
I’ve got a few prompt-engineered albums on YouTube (4th one dropping very soon). I use Suno, feed it themes with a few lyric ideas, musical parameters (style, tempo, basic form, etc.), and let it go to town. I then generate art with AI and smatter effects in post production. What happens when I hand the brush to the machine and claim the canvas? Am I still a composer? Am I still an artist? When I shared the first album with my high school students and explained the process, their reactions were visceral. Most were skeptical. “AI is doing 95% of the work,” one said. “It’s not art if there’s no human making the decisions.” I scoffed, then one student spoke up, “This is giving me a new lens on art.” Not angry, not scared, no immediate convictions. I slow-clapped that kid for a solid 60 seconds. Is this a more curated extension of aleatoric/chance music? Am I finding new ways to collage art from human history? Does AI kick-start innovation as a collaborator in the creative process? If you answered “NO!” to any of these, fight me bro. Strategies for Navigating Disruption There’s no clear path forward, and that’s both exciting and uncomfortable. If you're feeling overwhelmed or skeptical, here are a few ways to handle it: 🧠 Explore, Don’t Endorse Hint: A great music lesson 😉 📚 Stay Curious, Not Cynical 💬 Talk About It With Your People I’m squeezing a new easy string orchestra piece into the publisher review cycle before summer hits. It will have a narration line for students and tells a story while the ensemble does a ton of word painting. It will tie to ELA common core/state standards REALLY well (character analysis, intent, and more). It’s still new music season! 🎤 My first published choral work for elementary groups! Bonus: it has the most adorable cover art — Bailey the Ghost
Your Thoughts How are you leveraging AI in the classroom, planning, or other areas? Share your thoughts here. Get inspired, Evan Previous Issue: Keeping the Spark Alive |
PIXEL
PIXEL is the pen name of composer and educator Evan Combs. This playfully academic newsletter offers a behind-the-scenes look at designing and shaping learning experiences and culture. Supported by practical insights and actionable strategies, it’s perfect for teachers, leaders, and anyone curious about the art and science of learning through the lens of music.
Hey everyone, Imagine every learner left your classroom with perfect scores and flawless performances. They demonstrated every objective you slapped down. BUT, they still… Struggle to collaborate. Panic when plans change. Can't communicate ideas clearly. Don't know how to learn something new without you. Did you succeed? According to "the book," yes! However, it begs a much bigger question: What the heck is education for?! (pause for your passionate response) If you answered, “To learn about...
Hey everyone, ⚠️ Warning: This issue leans heavily into music education. BUT, I promise the learning design underneath applies to any educational experience. ⚠️ Musical performances go like this: Lights dim Audience quiets Conductor steps on the podium like they’re summoning ancient magic (Fig. 1A) The learners (our performers) think: If I crack that note, civilization collapses. Figure 1A: Nézet-Séguin summoning demons conducting. All that pressure makes sense. Performances, final exams,...
Hey everyone, I’m celebrating 1 year 🎉 of writing these newsletters by revisiting one of the very first topics I covered: AI in education. A year ago, most conversations sounded like this: “AI is cheating.”“AI will replace teachers.”“AI is a terrible amalgamation of human history and now society is collapsing.” Well, the sky is still here, and AI hasn’t gone anywhere. So, I don’t want to talk about whether AI belongs in education anymore. It’s here. Your learners are using it. The better...