In this episode of Music Ed Tech Talk, Robby sits down with Theresa Hoover to discuss AI guidance in music education, creativity in the classroom, task management for educators, and what's new in their professional lives. Topics include NAfME guidance on AI, next-gen Siri, automation workflows, and listener questions about sustaining creativity in a distracted world.

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Show Notes & Links

Intro & Community

• 00:00:00 – Hello and welcome

• 00:00:30 – Thanks to new Patreon supporter, Drew Ross

News, Blogs, and AI Updates

• 00:01:23 – Theresa's newest blog on COPPA and FERPA** - https://offthebeatenpathinmusic.com/play-it-safe/

• Affinity creative apps

• 00:10:30 – What's New in AI

• Next-gen Siri (expected 2026)

  • Tim Cook provides update on next-gen Siri development

• Sky AI and the impact of OpenAI acquiring Sky

AI Guidance in Music Education

• 00:16:15 – Released guidance in the music education world

• Yamaha: AI in the Music Classroom

• NAfME: Guiding Principles, Frameworks, and Applications for AI in Music Education

  • Classroom policy framing

  • Alignment language for administrators

  • Practical classroom use cases

• Moises AI Studio — AI-generated, tempo- and harmony-aware accompaniment stems for student compositions and arranging

Higher Ed & Classroom Practice

• 00:24:15 – What is emerging from Theresa's undergraduate classes?

Automation Station

• 00:26:34 – Automation Station & task management

• Concert planning task templates

• Things 3: Organize Your Life

Ask METT

• 00:32:21 – Listener question from Kate Bateman

• How do you manage teaching creativity and having opinions about music in a world where kids won't concentrate on anything for longer than a minute?

• Reference: Drive by Daniel Pink

• 00:41:51 – What is music for for kids?

What's Up With Theresa

• 00:45:18 – New job update

• Wrapping up the doctorate

• 00:52:08 – Is it finally time for forScore and an Apple Pencil?

What's Up With Robby

• 01:00:14 – New OS and first impressions of Apple Vision Pro

• The "wow factor" is actually wow

Music Picks

• 01:13:38

• Robby: The New Tango – Gary Burton & Astor Piazzolla

• Theresa: Afterglow – Saint Motel (Oct. 2025)

Wrap-Up

• 01:17:39 – Where to find Theresa

• TheresaHoover.com

• Pass the Baton - https://passthebatonbook.com/pass-the-baton-podcast/

• Book: Empowering Ensembles with Technology

• 01:20:20 – Farewell… plus Q&A on Theresa's dissertation on music teachers and educational podcasts

Chapters

• 00:00:00 – Welcome & Intro

• 00:00:30 – Patreon Shout-Out

• 00:01:23 – COPPA, FERPA, and Blogs

• 00:10:30 – What's New in AI

• 00:16:15 – AI Guidance in Music Education

• 00:24:15 – Undergraduate Teaching Insights

• 00:26:34 – Automation Station

• 00:32:21 – Ask METT

• 00:41:51 – What Is Music For?

• 00:45:18 – What's Up With Theresa

• 00:52:08 – forScore & Apple Pencil

• 01:00:14 – What's Up With Robby

• 01:13:38 – Music Picks

• 01:20:20 – Final Q&A & Farewell

Where to Find Us

• Robby: robbyburns.com

• Theresa: theresahoover.com