What happens when a choir director with thirty years in the classroom builds an AI app trained on his experience? His own teachers’ Facebook group turns on him for it. Does he deserve it?
Every time I open Facebook lately, some music teacher has a brand-new AI app to sell me. Dale Duncan is no exception, except his actually caught fire: hostile comments, people getting removed from his group, the whole thing. Now, I want to be clear about something before we start: I am not endorsing Dale’s line in the sand on AI. Mine is drawn in a different place, and you’ll hear that in this conversation. But I wanted to hear him out — really hear him out — and I think you should too, because the questions his critics are asking are questions every one of us has to answer.
In this conversation, Dale and I get into what the coach actually does and where it stops, why he used AI-generated promo art knowing it would draw fire, and the criticisms straight from his Facebook group. He responds so we can truly listen. He answers all of it, and I push back where my own line differs from his. And he admits something I didn’t expect: building the app never gave him the feels.
If you’ve already drawn your line in the sand on AI — or you’re still figuring out where it goes — this is the conversation you’ve been waiting for. Tune in now on YouTube or your favorite podcast app. Then bring your ideas and reactions to the episode over to the Choralosophers Facebook page or the FREE Substack comment sections.
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In 2022, Dale Duncan retired from teaching public school after teaching middle school in North Carolina, New Jersey, and Georgia for 30 years. Dale is known by the choral music educator community worldwide as the creator of the S-Cubed Sight Singing Program for Beginners. Since leaving the classroom, Dale has conducted the Allstate Choirs and regional choirs and has given professional development to teachers all over the country both virtually and in person. During his career, he was honored as a Grammy Music Educator Semi-Finalist. One of Dale’s most important life missions is and always will be to help middle school chorus teachers. Dale loves his crazy cat, Odie, and sweet doggie Beaux…and he’s currently a Pickleball pro and Personal Trainer at Lifetime!
Creator of the S-Cubed Middle School Sight Singing Program offered on TPT
My S-Cubed AI Coach on Studio.com
@choralosophypodca