Using AI to make Advising Themed Music - Adventures in Advising

In Ep. 120, host Matt Markin uses the Mozart AI app to generate songs in various music genres and lyrics related to academic advising and higher education. Why? Just to see how fast artificial intelligence is evolving. What unique songs will the AI app create? Will it be creative, cringe, or a little bit of both? You decide!

Songs:

• 4:00 - Theme song for Adventures in Advising Podcast
• 6:37 - Loving What I Do
• 9:08 - Everything Turns Wild Today
• 11:35 - Theme Song for NACADA
• 14:45 - Control the Controllable 
• 17:00 - The Charlie Nutt Song
• 19:30 - In the Halls Where Dreams Aligned
• 21:52 - I Keep Shining
• 23:54 - Theme song for UKAT

*Note: Theme songs are not officially associated with the podcast, NACADA, or UKAT. 

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Transcript

Matt Markin  
Hello. This is Matt Markin, and welcome to the Adventures in Advising podcast. Thanks for being here and checking out this episode. Today is, I guess, a loosely continued topic of artificial intelligence. We've been discussing AI and interacting with AI and some of the most recent episodes from Brody Broshears' very enlightening discussion with Dr. Roy Magnuson, the director of emerging technologies for instruction and research at Illinois State University about the powerful opportunities of AI and what that means for academic advising and institutions. That was episode 112 titled Navigating Curious Minds: Unlocking Opportunities Using AI. And then the next episode, Episode 113 was a short episode interviewing the ChatGPT voice mode version of Santa Claus, which was fun, yet semi weird, because it was asking, you know, we were asking questions and having the voice mode of ChatGPT respond back, and what many of us would probably imagine how a portrayal of Santa would respond with and sound like. And it was all AI generated. And the next episode after that, number 114 titled asking ChatGPT how to leverage AI and academic advising, that was with Ryan Scheckel from Texas Tech University, and myself and we were separately interviewing ChatGPT about how it would answer questions about higher ed and advising. We asked specific questions revolving around how AI helps improve the student experience in studying concerns from faculty ethical challenges, as well as how chatgpt defines academic advising and the role of human advisors in a world where AI can provide data driven recommendations, it was eye opening, interesting, head scratching of where various AI platforms are and how fast it's developing. It's a very unique time. So to go along with AI and testing out different AI modes, instead of this time chatting with ChatGPT, we're going to be using an AI app called the Mozart AI app. And this is in no way a promotion of this app, nor a product review. This is merely a curiosity. I have to test out different types of AI and somehow relate it back to higher ed and academic advising. So what is Mozart AI? Well, they describe it as a way to make your own music. The Mozart AI app generates songs and lyrics from images and photos you can upload to it or inputting your own prompts for a song. You could also pick the music genres and even the style, such as, do you want it to be funny or energetic or calming or dark? So basically, there's a lot of choices you could do with this. And the app takes a few minutes. I think its message says about five to seven minutes to create a song. So why am I talking about this? Well, randomly, I thought the other day, why don't we test this app and make some academic advising themed type songs and see what it creates. I'll admit, some of these songs, maybe you'll find catchy, maybe you'll find amusing, maybe some of them you'll find a little cringe, I don't know. Look think of this episode as a streaming music station episode playing some higher ed theme songs, fully created by AI with a simple prompt that I'll tell it based off situations we've probably all been in, working in advising, and maybe I'll throw in some Nakata stuff too. The first song, let's see, with this being the adventures in advising podcast, let's make this first song be about the podcast and sharing stories. So we'll tell Mozart AI that we want it to be an alternative music genre and make the style energetic. Okay, let's play it...

Mozart AI App  
Lyrics: Stories whispered in the wind, guiding the lost sea begin. In a world where dreams ignite, share your light, make it bright. Adventures calling, take the stride. In our hearts. The truth resides with each tale, we're lifted high, together, we'll reach the sky. From the silence wisdom springs, echoes of the past they sing. Every journey paves the way, knowledge shared Come What may. Through the valleys over peaks, every voice the story speaks. Join the chorus loud and clear, find your purpose, never fea. Adventures calling, ake the stride in our hearts, the truth resides. With each tale, we're lifted high together, we'll reach the sky, step by step, we'll pave the road with the tales of those who showed. Guided by the stars above, adventures bound by love. 

Matt Markin  
Oh, that's so interesting. That's everything from the music, the voice and lyrics, it was all AI generated. That's kind of scary. The song definitely hit on what the podcast is about. The one thing is, although it had the word adventures in the song, it didn't have adventures in advising together as like part of the course or the like theme of the song. So maybe that's something I would have to specifically state in the prompt if I were to do another version of it. All right, let's move on now. Working in higher ed can be exhausting. Let's do a prompt how loving what you do, but maybe you're losing motivation and determination day by day, and we're trying to regain that drive necessary to achieve and here it is...

Mozart AI App  
Loving what I do, But losing the flame, motivation slipping. It's never the same. Every day, a fight, walking this line, thoughts in my head, a battle can find. I'm riding hard the street's my stage, trying to reignite the fire, break the cage, determined to rise and conquer the night. In this world of shadows, I'm ready to fly. Searching for that drive deep inside dreams in my heart, nowhere to hide the grinds relentless, but I won't fold. In the city's hustle, stories untold. I'm running hard the streets my stage. Trying to reignite the fire, break the cage, Determined to rise and conquer the night. In this world of shadows.

Matt Markin  
All right, so just with that prompt, AI generated lyrics around dreams in my heart reignite the fire every day is a fight. Motivation slipping. I really like the flow of that song. Maybe with the next song, we take another situation we've been in at work. You know, the day that everything just happens to go wrong? We'll make this prompt a random day where everything goes wrong, like being late to work, spilling coffee, too many emails, other advisors on your team calling out and let's make this let's go at country on this one...

Mozart AI App  
Woke up late. Alarm Clock kept on buzzing. No time for coffee, no time for smilin'. Spilled down my shirt and hide it. No bluffin. Phones buzzin', e-mail stackin, chaos arising. All the other folks called and left me swimming. Feels like the storm won't be subsidin'. and Oh, it feels like everything's turning wild a day. But I'll keep laughing through the madness, holding on anyway. Rushing in work, piled high to the ceiling. Advisors out, students waiting, I'm reeling. Smiles and jokes help me keep on believing. Random day, but I keep dreaming. Little silver lining keeps me smiling. Thinking of you, my heart keeps on flying. It feels like everything's turning wild today, but I'll keep laughing through the madness, holding on anyway. Sometimes life gets so crazy, so wild, but just remember, keep your smile. Through the chaos, we'll make it through with laughter, love and a heart so true. You know, it feels like everything's turning wild today, but I'll be lifting through the madness, holding on anyway on anyway. 

Matt Markin  
Heck yeah, that was a fun song. Everything turned wild today. Yep, I have definitely been there more than once. Maybe we'll go with another theme song. We did the podcast theme song. Let's do one for NACADA, the global community for academic advising. We'll make this another alternative genre, and I'll just go ahead and copy and paste what's on the NACADA website in the prompt...

Mozart AI App  
In halls of wisdom. We unite guiding dreams in the night NACADA light a guiding star for student dreams, near and far. With passion, we lift up every soul. In our hands, rutures unfold. Together, we stand, never below. NACADA our academic home. Through winding paths, side by side, we chase dreams, nothing to hide. In every challenge, strength we find NACADA, the heart of...And we lifted every soul in our hands, futures unfold. Together, we stand never together, we stand never alone. NACADA, our academic home, voices rise, anthems of hope. In advising, we find the scope Connecting Hearts, igniting minds. NACADA, where success aligns. With passion, we lift upevery soul. In our hands, futures unfold. Together, we stand never alone. NACADA, our academic home in every heart we light the flame through knowledge we share the same, NACADA's torch forever, bright guiding stars through endless night.

Matt Markin  
That was interesting. It was upbeat, alternative style song about NACADA. Yeah, this AI is doing a very decent job with these songs. The one thing on this particular song was in the course it's saying NACADA, but it sounded like it was adding an extra syllable in there. But otherwise, I thought it touched on everything NACADA is and stands for. You know, one of my favorite quotes I've heard from an actor and professional wrestler is from John Cena, and he said, you have to control the controllable, essentially meaning that focus on you and what you can do, and don't spend time focusing on things you can't control. You know, we stress ourselves out on things that may never happen, and when things do happen to us, instead of letting it bring us down, we should say, Okay, what control do? I have to do something about it and make it a positive. So we'll prompt AI to use the words control, the controllable, and make this in the form of a rap song.

Mozart AI App  
While they judging from the sidelines, I'm paving the land. Not here to hold back. I'm just taking my stand. Control the thing, troll the ball, elevate my game. Ain't making noise around, all the noise the same. Study my empire, stacking up the fan. Master my fate. I'm the one to play. I'm moving with the focus. Got my eyes on the prize. They talk behind my back, but can't meet my eyes elevate above the channel, leave them all hypnotized. I'm controlling my narrative. The words paralyzed. My grind takes me further. Yeah, I'm cutting all ties, but it washed from a distance. I grabbed the skies control the controllable, elevate my game, ignore the noise around all the noise the same thing my empire, stacking up the fame master on my fate, I'm the one to play. Riseup, stand tall. Never take the fall. I'm creating my legacy. Hear thecall. Your love came back. I'm breaking the wall. Focus on me. I'll see it all. Control the controllable, elevate my game, and know the noise of...all in all is the same, filling my empire, stacking up the fame, master of my faith, I'm the one to blame.

Matt Markin  
Okay, that's that one's got to be my favorite so far. Moving on, on the same note as the NACADA theme song a couple songs ago. Maybe our next song will be about Dr. Charlie Nutt. Charlie is known by so many in advising, and for those of you being longtime listeners of the podcast, you know Charlie has been a multi time guest, as well as reference numerous times by my, by me, and also a number of guests. Charlie is also the one who greenlit doing this podcast five years ago. So I want to honor Charlie with an AI generated song. The prompt will be, maybe we'll make a song about how great Charlie is. We'll also include that Charlie is retired, and also that Charlie has two cats.

Mozart AI App  
Once led, the NACADA. With such grace, Charlie made the world a better place. With wisdom, he cast a spell, a legacy he left, all can tell. Charlie Nutt, oh, what a name. In our hearts revevered the same. With every love, makes our spirits compile. Two cats by his side, silent and sly. In his life, they found a soft lullaby, his love for them, a gentle song. Together they belong, where memory trong, oh. Every smile makes our spirits complie. 

Matt Markin  
Yeah, that was hilarious. Well, Charlie, if you're listening, hope you got a laugh out of that and enjoyed it. This next song represents why we do what we do. We're here for our students. So this prompt will be your student you've worked with over the years. They are finally graduating. All that hard work has paid off. This will be, you know what? Let's make this in the genre of ska. 

Mozart AI App  
In the halls where dreams align. You've walked the path of future signs, four years of rising high and true we see the world inside of you. Oh grad, you've reached the sky with wings on fire. You'll always fly from every class and every tear. Your journey's bright. Have. No fear. Through the storms you held your stride. Worlds await you step with pride, every lesson, every friend, this chapter is close, but dreams won't end. Oh grad you reach the sky with wings of fire. You'll always fly from every class and every tear your journey's bright. Have no fear. In life's rhythm, you'll find your groove with every beat, with each new move, celebrate your eyes so bold in your heart, you'll find the gold.

Matt Markin  
Now sometimes we get those wins when our students succeed and graduate, but maybe there are those times that we try to stay positive, but the work environment just is not the best, and it wears down on you. How would AI generate a blues song for that.

Mozart AI App  
Every day I show up with pride in a world that's trying to get me down. Bosses glare cuts deep inside, but I refuse to wear a frown in this place where shadows fall. I'm standing my ground, standing tall. Their words are like a bit of rain, but I'll keep smiling through the pain. Though whispers grow in corridors. I'll hold my dreams. I'll fight my wars. Their doubt will not define my way. I'll keep shining come what may. In place where shadow fall. I'm standing my ground, standing tall. Their words are like a bit of rain, but I'll keep smiling through the pain with hope as my guiding flame. I'll rise above the endless blame this heart refuses to lose its beat in a world where cold and warmth meet.

Matt Markin  
Okay, one more song. We did a theme song for NACADA. Let's do a theme song for our friends over in UKAT, the United Kingdom, advising and tutoring association for practitioners and researchers interested in advancing the scholarship and practice of student advising and personal tutoring in higher education in the UK.

Unknown Speaker  
In halls for dreams united. Light the path for dreams, United voices, love, advising future gleams. True, workshops and more we stand for forever. When advisors line we stand, UKAT takes a stand. A hand in every student's tribe. Our wisdom stands as guide. Research that breaks the norm. Our passion. Stories of worlds unfold. With hearts in line we stand as UKAT takes a stand in unity. We plan to lend to hand.

Matt Markin  
Well, I had a blast using this AI music app and making advising and higher ed theme songs were where most of these cheesy Yes, were some borderline cringe, maybe. But was it fascinating how fast AI evolves and you can create songs without having to play instruments or sing Absolutely. So check out some previous episodes that have had to do with AI. And you know, AI is here to stay, so how do we proactively and ethically utilize AI? Chat with you next time?