Nowadays, artificial intelligence (AI) has become prominent in our daily lives and has advanced to develop generative skills such as songwriting. Many music therapists remain skeptical about the use of AI in sessions, not only concerned about privacy, confidentiality, rules and regulations, but also questioning, “What is the role of music therapists if AI can perform our tasks?”

Songwriting with GenAI demonstrates its value over conventional songwriting methods, particularly in one-off sessions with mental health consumers. Songwriting with GenAI lowers consumers' expectations to engage in songwriting activities. It is more welcoming for consumers without a music background to create lines and melodies that match their ideas. It enhances autonomy and control in the songwriting process, allowing more creative inspiration in musical expressions and promoting successful experiences within a limited timeframe. Most importantly, it empowered consumers with the ability to perform songwriting after the one-off session and utilize songwriting as part of their coping resources. Consumers may decide to write songs about their authentic experience at home, where they feel more comfortable expressing their inner emotions compared to a therapeutic space in a one-off session. The ripple effect continues as consumers are more willing to share their original songs, given that their stories were presented narratively.

As music therapists, our role is to purposefully facilitate people in writing a song that is meaningful for them. We contribute our musical knowledge by offering music vocabulary, hence accurately reflecting the ideas of consumers and actualizing them in the song. We provide a therapeutic space for consumers to share their stories, unpack their feelings, crystallize their thoughts and encourage healthy reflections. We educate them on the safety of using GenAI, and we are planting a seed for consumers to strive for more creative use of music in the future.