Making music is hard, so why bother? [Instant gratification from AI music generation platforms]

[zerocrossing]

I did read it, and it’s not a blog article, nor is it an enlightened discussion of the threat of AI. It’s a not-so-cleverly disguised ad for his online apprenticeship course.

Follow the money.

[jancivil]

I presume folks did not actually read the linked blog article?

I didn't, and won't, because you have no comment, a plain link lacking any context, just a youtube link. The title engenders no interest in me.

I presume folks did not actually read the linked blog article?

Correct. It offers nothing.

People cannot be bothered to read a blog article...

Specifically this subforum didn't respond as you must've hoped; now a generalization is formed, "people won't..."
What blog article? There's a youtube link. Now an analogy, blog post/art of music creation.

Soon enough the reveal is this isn't going to be any kind of conversation.

[CrystalWizard]

I read it. It's basically an ad. Interesting that they didn't reference the absolute bottom feeder Mikey Shulman and his insane/inane comment seen here:

23:24

Vurt- 2hrs is just enough time to get in the groove of ambient spacey music, although in live jams i was never able to pass the 1hr mark.

[ghettosynth]

A ChatGPT summary for those who don't want to read the article.

ChatGPT said:
Ray Harmony expresses concern that AI-generated music is discouraging people from learning how to make music themselves.

He believes the process of music-making is valuable, offering emotional, mental, and social benefits beyond just the final product.

Beginners often find music frustrating, and AI offers an easy escape from that frustration.

He fears the skill of songwriting could be lost within a generation if people stop learning it.

He compares learning music to exercise, where early discomfort eventually gives way to enjoyment.

He offers resources for those who want to commit to learning music deeply.

I agree that it reads like an ad. I use ChatGPT to summarize articles from people I don't know who are not represented by resources that I know. It prevents a lot of wasted time reading ads dressed up in opinion and bad argumentation.

Making music has never been easier. Making music that you can sell, well, that might be a different story.

[BertKoor]

Making music for me has always been about having fun, never to sell out.

[tonedef71]

Finally, some genuine discourse.

AI will make the majority even lazier. Only a savvy minority will be able to do anything meaningful with it. 'Oh, I wrote a song!' No, you fed prompts into an algorithm. It's the next step of someone throwing a few loops together and thinking they're bloody Mozart.
I, in my curmudeonly (sic) dotage, eschew such delusions.

With respect to generative A.I. producing a complete piece of music in under a minute in exchange for a well worded request from someone who wants to join the ranks of music creators without putting in much effort, bombadil's sentiment resonates with me.

[tonedef71]

Why is it not a blog article? The URL (https://hackmusictheory.com/home/blog/...) indicates that the post is part of a blog.

[tonedef71]

I presume folks did not actually read the linked blog article?

I didn't, and won't, because you have no comment, a plain link lacking any context, just a youtube link.

It wasn't a YouTube link I shared.

The title engenders no interest in me.

Well, at the very least, it engendered enough interest for you to open the thread and respond. That's got to count for something.

People cannot be bothered to read a blog article...

Specifically this subforum didn't respond as you must've hoped;

I guess not. You can bring a horse to water...

What blog article? There's a youtube link.

What YouTube link? I shared a link to a blog article. It does contain a link to a recording of a podcast for the benefit of those types of folks who prefer or need to listen instead of reading.

Soon enough the reveal is this isn't going to be any kind of conversation.

Unlike a book club moderator, I'm not skilled at fostering provocative discussions (at least not with neurotypicals, it would seem).

[tonedef71]

I read it. It's basically an ad.

Ray and his wife Kate are instructors as well as professional musicians. They have helped many beginning composers to become better and more creative with the craft of making music. He has continually offered a free PDF book that has helped to make music theory click with a lot of beginners.

I have no problem with him taking the opportunity to introduce a program that he sells which instructs-by-example the process of creating a full piece of music.

The points he makes about people wanting to simply create music without putting effort into learning the craft are credible. I don't feel his pitch at the end detracts from the points he makes in the article.

Not everyone on the internet is a snake oil salesman, and Ray certainly is not.

Interesting that they didn't reference the absolute bottom feeder Mikey Shulman and his insane/inane comment seen here:

Ray Harmony is a really nice guy; calling out individuals like that CEO, is not his style.

Being an over an hour-long podcast, I appreciate that you shared a link with a timestamp right to those rather disrespectful sounding comments. Also, that cringey comment he made near the beginning: "We're not making music, we're making musicians."

[VOODOO U]

Learning to create music via theory is flat out boring as f**k. It's why the new generation turns to gaming over learning how to play an instrument.
Plus the new generation don't have anything enticing to tempt them to create music the old fashioned way.
MTV and rock stardom died long ago.
It's all about computing and full on wankery.
A.I. doesn't make music and it doesn't make musicians; it feeds wankery because wankery sells.
Even utilizing DAWs puts music secondary and messing with features being more important in regards to where one should invest their time

[tonedef71]

Learning to create music via theory is flat out boring as f**k. It's why the new generation turns to gaming over learning how to play an instrument.
Plus the new generation don't have anything enticing to tempt them to create music the old fashioned way.
MTV and rock stardom died long ago.
It's all about computing and full on wankery.
A.I. doesn't make music and it doesn't make musicians; it feeds wankery because wankery sells.
Even utilizing DAWs puts music secondary and messing with features being more important in regards to where one should invest their time

I can relate to your sentiment, except for your first statement; as a member of Generation X, I personally find music theory such as counterpoint and partimenti fascinating to learn. I don't know what to make of the younger generations. Gen Z are a bit of an enigma to me.

[Bombadil]

My father taught me basic music theory when I was around 6-7. Same time as 'Fun With Dick And Jane.' It was enough for me to be able to suss out simple songs on his accordion, which was bigger than I was. Moving the bellows was a workout, lol.
After that, I absorbed not quite passively, but I didn't go down the theory rabbithole. It was more like a multitude of 'Lightbulb' moments when a concept would just hit me. My Missus says my ability with harmony is excellent, and she has a degree in music. I got the organ for my 9th Christmas, which came with a few EZ songbooks. My brother gave me an 'EZ Piano Beatles songbook, and then I was completely hooked.
I bought my first guitar on my 14th birthday from my brother. My BFF played lead, I, rhythm. It was about when I was 16 that I started to improvise. I was about 17 when I learned my first Hendrix songs. Due to my friend's slowly deteriorating strength, he stopped progressing, and I took over lead guitar duties. We'd also written our first couple of songs by then.
I'd never, ever give up these experiences in favour of what anyone with a computer can now do.
I think it is part of a larger issue with young people (subjective, but I'll go with <40). They are a generation that has experienced 'free' music, and are, in general, less passionate about it.
I come from a family with musicians down the line for a number of generations. I have 3 nieces who are the first generation in memory to break that tradition. Not one musician or music lover among them.
I gave a guitar to a young son of a family friend. He was chuffed! Until he realized it would take effort. Then he gave it up. Music has zero importance to him. I gave him the guitar when he was 10. He's 23, now.
This is tangential to the topic, but it seems to me later generations generally don't want to put in the effort. While playing music via theory may be boring, there is no getting around the fact that anyone has to put in the time to learn an instrument. It is unavoidable. But now, instant gratification has been taken to new levels, first with loops and now with ChatGPT.
If there's no good music for a given generation, then there is little incentive to learn an instrument to emulate it. And music these days is dire, at least the crap the industry spits out.
I'm just an old man yelling at clouds, lol.

[VOODOO U]

I can relate to your sentiment, except for your first statement; as a member of Generation X, I personally find music theory such as counterpoint and partimenti fascinating to learn.

That stuff may be interesting on a personal challenge level IE attempting to play counterpoint on piano. Or if you're a Steve Vai, get a guitar with 2 necks and play both melodies one on each neck. But it's not anything that invokes excitment at a level gaming can. Both are challenging but for the majority, gaming is way more fun.
Add to this the end result of counterpoint, if I had a choice to drive while listening to some beach boys counterpoint versus judas priest I'll go full on leather hands down. Theory restricts the mind whereas someone like me who free flows, it opens the gateway for spirits to speak through. That's where the juice is. There's no juice in beach boys counterpoint like there is in beach boys surfin safari (as an example. I don't listen to the beach boys so going with what i heard here and there).

While playing music via theory may be boring, there is no getting around the fact that anyone has to put in the time to learn an instrument

One doesn't need theory to write music. Theory is mainly for jammers and visual communication. I've learned tunes on the piano solely by ear. Zero lessons and zero theory knowledge.

[seangm]

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[seangm]

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