The Piano Pantry Podcast is available on these podcast streaming networks:
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Overcast, iHeart Radio, Castbox, Pocket Casts, Radio Public
Episode Summary
Amy had a little fun playing around with Chat GPT to write you a song as you head into Christmas break. Hear a little about the process she went through guiding Chat GPT, receive the special holiday wish, and get a holiday-themed tiny tip (also AI-style!)
Items Mentioned
Share your thoughts with Amy! – Take the Year-End Podcast Survey
Transcript
Let’s be real – it’s now mid to late December, and the only thing most of us have on the brain right now is the upcoming holidays. At this point, I hope most of your holiday recitals are out of the way so you can focus on winding down the semester and turning your eyes away from work for a bit and to those family, friends, and even neighbors around you.
In the last two episodes, we spent a lot of time talking about how to utilize the forScore app for managing digital scores and setlists. As musicians, a lot of us may be winding down our lessons but gearing up to participate in our own holiday services and performances. I hope the past two episodes gave you a few extra tools in your back pocket to make your own holiday performances a little easier.
Since it’s the week before Christmas, I thought it was time to have a little lighthearted fun. Today’s episode is a holiday wish from me to you – AI style. Yes, I had a little fun playing with Chat GPT to write you a song – well, the lyrics only.
I tried asking it to write a poem, but it just didn’t feel right. I’m not into poems very much, so it didn’t feel very authentic coming from me. Next, I tried asking it to write a holiday wishes podcast episode, but it just felt too corny and generic.
My best result was when I asked it to write a song for piano teachers as they go into Christmas break. I was really impressed with the first version it spit out. The first tweak I asked it to do was to include more details about having a break from piano students. It didn’t change much, but it edited enough verses that hit home more than the first version. I ended up taking elements from both versions.
From there, I polished things up by asking Chat GPT to tweak a few things, like to change line 4 of verse 2 to rhyme with a particular phrase, or to rewrite a certain phrase to make it more related to music, or to change the first line so it didn’t talk about snowflakes falling because there might not be snow for some or many of us right now.
As AI is demanding its way into our world, one thing I’ve heard others state – and I agree – is that I can actually see it being really useful as a jump-starting tool – like a friend to brainstorm titles with or help me change direction in words or phrasing.
I know many are understandably worried about it, but I see this as being no different than what we all went through when smartphones started becoming the norm for even kids and teenagers to have. The education world went through a lot to figure out what was appropriate in terms of kids having access during school and such. It’s the same here. We can’t make it go away but we can be conscientious of how we use it in our lives.
Anyway, that’s enough talk on AI, let’s get on with the show!
Welcome to The Piano Pantry Podcast, a podcast for independent music teachers hosted by one of your own (that’s me!) Amy Chaplin, an independent piano teacher who has also been supporting teacher on the Piano Pantry blog since 2016.
Over the past 99 episodes, I hope you have found this space to be a place where you can go each week for support in many areas of your life as an independent teacher. As we round the corner into 2024 and into three-digit episodes I am asking for a little something from you.
Would you please take just 5 minutes to write me a little message and let me know what has resonated with you the most over these past two years? Now is your chance to say, “Hey, Amy – I would love it if you would share more on this topic.”
Thanks to Elizabeth Davis Everhart and others who have already taken the time to share. Your feedback is invaluable. Visit PianoPantry.com/survey.
(Verse 1)
As the holidays near and recitals come to a close
Piano teacher friends, find peace in your well-deserved repose
A semester of music, notes, and keys,
Now it’s time for a pause, a sweet release.
(Chorus)
Oh, piano teachers, you’ve given your all,
Guiding young talents with a passion so tall.
Now it’s your turn to rest and play,
Set aside those lesson plans; for a while, they’ll stay.
(Verse 2)
You’ve sculpted their fingers, taught them to play,
Guided their hands along the way.
But now it’s a break, a time to unwind,
A pause from the keys, a rest well aligned.
(Chorus)
Oh, piano teachers, you’ve given your all,
Guiding young talents, with passion so tall.
Now it’s your turn to rest and play,
Embrace this respite, let tranquility pave the way.
(Verse 3)
Revel in the quiet, embrace the calm,
Away from the hustle, like a soothing balm.
Rediscover your own melodies,
In the quiet moments, let your mind roam free.
(Chorus)
Oh, piano teachers, you’ve given your all,
Guiding young talents, with passion so tall.
Now it’s your turn to rest and to play,
Enjoy this Christmas break in your own special way.
Before we sign off, here’s a holiday hack that can save you time and last-minute stress: create a ‘Gift Toolbox’! Find a spacious clear tub – I personally like clear tubs because you can see what’s in them – and stock it with essentials.
This is the place to stash gift bags you can reuse, gift sticker labels, a good pair of scissors, gift wrap tape, extra holiday cards, bows and string, and even those ‘White Elephant’ gems you’re planning to regift when you have the chance next year.
I’ve had a couple of random White Elephant items saved in my Christmas gift toolbox for a few years. This past weekend we had friends over for a Christmas party and did a White Elephant exchange. I didn’t have to scramble through the house to find items – they were there in my box, ready to be given to the next sucker. LOL
Having this toolbox ready saves you from scavenging through drawers and closets, ensuring you’re armed and ready for any gift-wrapping occasion.
Best wishes to you and those who surround you this season. May you have a very Merry Christmas and I can’t wait to see you next week for episode 100!
