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In April, our students showcased months of brainstorming, research and teamwork at our annual STEAM Fair held on campus at Collège Champittet. “Designing musical solutions with AI” was the theme set by MIT this year. Our students truly rose to the challenge, from remixing songs with AI to designing their own instruments!
Over four months, our primary students in Grades 6 to 8 and secondary students in Grades 9 and 10 worked in teams to explore innovative uses of AI in the context of music. To begin, each team focused on researching a particular musician, music group or era. Our primary students chose artists from a particular period – Baroque, Classical, Romantic – while our secondary students picked contemporary artists ranging from rock to electronic.
Our learners then harnessed their STEAM skills to consider ways to enhance various aspects of musical performance. What instruments did their artist use, and how can we redesign those instruments to be more eco-friendly? What would it sound like if we used AI to remix existing songs or to compose original music inspired by a particular artist or style? From stage costumes to transportation for music tours, how can we make the music industry more sustainable?
At our secondary and primary STEAM Fair on 10 and 12 April, our students presented their original answers to these questions and more. Each team showcased their artistic and musical solutions at a booth developed with creativity and flair – one team built a simulated nightclub to highlight the group Daft Punk, while another recreated an Irish bar to introduce guests to U2. Many innovations were on display, including instruments made with recycled materials, AI-powered song remixes, and sustainable costume and stage ideas.
The STEAM Fair was a wonderful learning experience for all – as our student Giulia said, “With simple materials like cardboard, you can create so much – I never realised that before. Working as a team taught me a lot, and I now better understand how important AI is today and how to use it wisely.” On the other hand, as our student Clara pointed out, some aspects of human creativity simply can’t be replaced: “The music created by AI isn't filled with emotions, unlike the music created by real composers.”
Well done to all our participants, and congratulations to our Interclass Competition winners: Class 6C (Haydn) and Class 10C (U2)!