View in EDS PDF Full Text

Pedagogy of the Prompt: Music Education, Artificial Intelligence, and Big Tech Magic

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Pedagogy of the Prompt: Music Education, Artificial Intelligence, and Big Tech Magic
Language: English
Authors: adam patrick bell
Source: Action, Criticism, and Theory for Music Education. 2025 24(3):202-245.
Availability: MayDay Group. Brandon University School of Music, 270 18th Street, Brandon, Manitoba R7A 6A9, Canada. Tel: 204-571-8990; Fax: 204-727-7318; Web site: http://act.maydaygroup.org
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 44
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Evaluative
Descriptors: Music Education, Artificial Intelligence, Technology Uses in Education, Educational Technology, Music Activities, Algorithms, Music Teachers, Neoliberalism, Search Engines, Internet
ISSN: 1545-4517
Abstract: In this article I examine the generative AI music-making applications of Google called MusicFX DJ and Music AI Sandbox, as well as Udio, an end-to-end generative AI music system created by ex-Google employees. I frame these generative AI music systems designed by Big Tech as part of their neoliberal agenda, which involves influencing music education. Drawing on critical media theorists, I suggest that Big Tech, and in the context of this article, Google, present their generative AI music systems as "magic." I describe how these systems work by examining how algorithmic systems, such as search engines, operate more generally, and then, more specifically, how generative AI music systems function. I aim to make legible the "magic" of generative AI music systems and explain that Google's music-making tools, by design, appear to be agenda-less, but music educators should be wary of this illusion. I forward that Google's "pedagogy of the prompt" may not be explicit to users of their AI music-making applications, but nevertheless it is embedded into them because they are algorithmic systems, and more specifically, generative AI/machine learning-based systems. I suggest that in this present period in which music teachers and learners are using generative AI music systems, knowing how a musical output results from an input, musical or otherwise (e.g., text), is needed. [Note: The page range (202-244) shown in the citation is incorrect. The correct page range is 202-245.]
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Access URL: https://act.maydaygroup.org/pedagogy-of-the-prompt-music-education-artificial-intelligence-and-big-tech-magic/
Accession Number: EJ1476312
Database: ERIC
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
    Url: https://content.ebscohost.com/cds/retrieve?content=AQICAHj0k_4E0hTGH8RJwT4gCJyBsGNe_WN95AvKlDbXJGqwxwEYje406aJx4TI9I-_0U4qvAAAA4zCB4AYJKoZIhvcNAQcGoIHSMIHPAgEAMIHJBgkqhkiG9w0BBwEwHgYJYIZIAWUDBAEuMBEEDM7GkeEtClM-UdDsnQIBEICBm3Lnh-izSYPc2w1dNej9t_kTjKSgEsiFijzjjcPUsbNnsQpEwYbo_LOy8shGcwXQz4EZIqj4yZReDYGeDMGk9owtb-BnBEhY85hXGoO9N5NUTjIEGDCm6pXK7TZcF2WeQlrUUdiwdNXlgJvkgSeyuvPK3ndVKaTlSkAsRxXdsjYloKqZupaP_ZiHJMj24nUot-PHEuAbs_HBDGVp
Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1476312
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Pedagogy of the Prompt: Music Education, Artificial Intelligence, and Big Tech Magic
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22adam+patrick+bell%22">adam patrick bell</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Action%2C+Criticism%2C+and+Theory+for+Music+Education%22"><i>Action, Criticism, and Theory for Music Education</i></searchLink>. 2025 24(3):202-245.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: MayDay Group. Brandon University School of Music, 270 18th Street, Brandon, Manitoba R7A 6A9, Canada. Tel: 204-571-8990; Fax: 204-727-7318; Web site: http://act.maydaygroup.org
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 44
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2025
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Evaluative
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Music+Education%22">Music Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Artificial+Intelligence%22">Artificial Intelligence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Technology+Uses+in+Education%22">Technology Uses in Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Technology%22">Educational Technology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Music+Activities%22">Music Activities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Algorithms%22">Algorithms</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Music+Teachers%22">Music Teachers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Neoliberalism%22">Neoliberalism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Search+Engines%22">Search Engines</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Internet%22">Internet</searchLink>
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 1545-4517
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: In this article I examine the generative AI music-making applications of Google called MusicFX DJ and Music AI Sandbox, as well as Udio, an end-to-end generative AI music system created by ex-Google employees. I frame these generative AI music systems designed by Big Tech as part of their neoliberal agenda, which involves influencing music education. Drawing on critical media theorists, I suggest that Big Tech, and in the context of this article, Google, present their generative AI music systems as "magic." I describe how these systems work by examining how algorithmic systems, such as search engines, operate more generally, and then, more specifically, how generative AI music systems function. I aim to make legible the "magic" of generative AI music systems and explain that Google's music-making tools, by design, appear to be agenda-less, but music educators should be wary of this illusion. I forward that Google's "pedagogy of the prompt" may not be explicit to users of their AI music-making applications, but nevertheless it is embedded into them because they are algorithmic systems, and more specifically, generative AI/machine learning-based systems. I suggest that in this present period in which music teachers and learners are using generative AI music systems, knowing how a musical output results from an input, musical or otherwise (e.g., text), is needed. [Note: The page range (202-244) shown in the citation is incorrect. The correct page range is 202-245.]
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2025
– Name: URL
  Label: Access URL
  Group: URL
  Data: <link linkTarget="URL" linkTerm="https://act.maydaygroup.org/pedagogy-of-the-prompt-music-education-artificial-intelligence-and-big-tech-magic/" linkWindow="_blank">https://act.maydaygroup.org/pedagogy-of-the-prompt-music-education-artificial-intelligence-and-big-tech-magic/</link>
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1476312
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1476312
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 44
        StartPage: 202
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Music Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Artificial Intelligence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Technology Uses in Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Technology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Music Activities
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Algorithms
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Music Teachers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Neoliberalism
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Search Engines
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Internet
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Pedagogy of the Prompt: Music Education, Artificial Intelligence, and Big Tech Magic
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: adam patrick bell
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 1545-4517
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 24
            – Type: issue
              Value: 3
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Action, Criticism, and Theory for Music Education
              Type: main
ResultId 1