As the back-to-school season unfolds, discussions are buzzing around institutions like London’s David Game College, which is piloting ‘teacherless’ classrooms powered solely by AI. Initially focused on subjects such as English, mathematics, biology, chemistry, and computer science, the program still employs human ‘learning coaches’ in arts and sex education—for now. However, it may not be long before cost-cutting measures lead schools to rely on AI instructors in underfunded areas like the arts and music education.
Here’s why this trend poses risks to education and why AI-only classrooms are not the future, especially in fields like music.
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Music Is Fundamentally Human
Music creation is deeply tied to human creativity and emotional expression. While AI can assist in music production, it is a supplement, not a replacement. As listeners, we seek connection through music—enjoying, sharing, and understanding the artistry behind it. A recent study by SoundOut and Stephen Arnold Music found that humans still create more emotionally resonant music than AI-generated compositions.
The act of learning music is driven by this connection. Aspiring musicians are inspired by the passion and emotion behind the works they admire. An AI-driven classroom lacks this crucial element of human connection. There’s no emotional interplay between student and teacher, no spark of inspiration that comes from witnessing a musician’s live performance. Without this, motivation falters, and so does the desire to learn.
Learning Music Is Rooted in Observation
Research has consistently shown the importance of observational learning—learning by watching others—in music education. A 2017 study at Queen’s University in Belfast highlighted the value of imitation in learning piano, as students improved by closely observing their teacher’s actions, such as wrist movements and note duration.
We often decide to learn an instrument after watching a live performance or seeing an artist masterfully execute a solo. AI can replay videos or offer tutorials, but it doesn’t offer the real-time human connection that sparks inspiration and provides nuanced feedback. Teachers demonstrate techniques in ways AI simply cannot, bringing human context to key features of musical performance.
Mentorship Matters
There’s a key difference between instruction and mentorship. While instruction focuses on delivering technical skills, mentorship fosters inspiration and personal growth. Teachers, as mentors, provide ongoing guidance tailored to individual students. They address performance anxiety, suggest alternative techniques, and adapt their teaching methods based on each student’s needs.
In contrast, AI instruction is purely transactional, focusing on delivering information without the ability to form a relationship. Classroom dynamics—peer feedback, group learning, and collaborative performance—are critical in the arts. There’s even some neuroscience behind the idea of jam bands and learning collaboratively. These interactions foster social bonding, empathy, and joy triggered by increased dopamine levels. AI cannot replicate the nurturing environment that live teachers and collaborative learning provide, stripping the experience down to mere information transfer.
Going Beyond Algorithms
AI operates within preset algorithms and data-driven frameworks. While it can generate compositions or suggest chord progressions, it relies on pre-existing data. Moreover, AI tools today still suffer from issues like hallucinations and inaccuracies. Teachers, with their years of expertise, provide the credibility and guidance students need to explore new ideas and develop their unique artistic voices.
Music education is about more than learning notes and rhythms; it’s about fostering creativity and helping students find their individual styles. AI, with its algorithmic limitations, fails to nurture these crucial aspects of artistic growth.
While AI may prove useful for certain subjects or technical skills, music and the arts thrive on emotional connection, mentorship, and creativity. AI-only classrooms might seem like a cost-effective way to expand music programs, but they come at the expense of rich, meaningful learning experiences. The role of a teacher goes beyond instruction; they ignite passion and creativity that can last a lifetime.
AI might play a role in the future of education, but it should never replace the human elements that are essential to sparking a lifelong love for music.
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