AI and the Arts: Finding Creativity in a Digital World
- Kayla Collingwood
- Jun 24
- 7 min read
One of the questions that continues to surface with the rise of AI (and many technologies before it) is where the boundaries lie between human creativity and digital tools. What should we be using technology for? At what point does something stop being "art" or "creative"? And how can we ensure that we (and future generations) continue to nurture true creative potential?
This is something which concerns all human beings: artists and educators, parents, young people, and anyone who is currently alive or will be born. Creativity is not a luxury or a niche pursuit. It’s a fundamental part of what makes us human, and has a direct impact on our wellbeing and on our future as individuals and as a collective. The arts, particularly music, are one of the most powerful ways to connect with that.
I founded Sound Garden in order to promote classical music (and the arts more broadly, as there is a lot of crossover!) through content and resources which are interesting, inclusive and accessible. In this post, I’ll explore a few points I believe are important to consider regarding how we interact with the digital world, and especially AI, and how we can encourage creativity and creative pursuits.
I'll keep this post as evergreen as possible; in an era where technological shifts happen at breakneck speed, it’s more important than ever to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with what matters most.
About Me
Who am I? Hi! I’m Kayla Collingwood, founder of Sound Garden and a passionate classical singer, educator, and creator. I didn't grow up around classical music myself, so I understand that it can seem overwhelming and unfamiliar at first!
Why trust me? Because as well as my work singing and teaching, I’ve spent years helping others discover the richness and joy of classical music. I’m committed to breaking down the barriers that can make this genre feel inaccessible. I’m here to help people connect with music in a meaningful way - as human beings, regardless of whether we are casual listeners or professionals in the music world.
I’m also deeply interested in the bigger questions surrounding the arts:
How do we use digital tools ethically?
What role do the arts play in wellbeing?
How might creativity change (or stay the same) in a fast-moving digital world?
Whether you’re here as a musician/artist, a curious and concerned parent, an educator, or someone looking to reconnect with your own creativity: welcome! I’m so glad you’re here. Take a look around the rest of the site after you finish reading this post!
1. Technology as a Creative Tool, Not a Replacement
Our creative development begins with imitation. Babies mimic the sounds around them. Musicians study the scores and recordings of past masters. Artists copy styles and techniques before finding their own voice. Over time, as our skills grow, we begin to shape our own unique voices, drawing from what we’ve learned while finding our own unique ways to express who we are.
Technology can support this process as a creative tool. It cannot learn on our behalf - our minds and bodies must do that work. Nor can it truly create for us; when we hand over the full journey from spark to final product, we lose the heart of what it means to create, and neither the idea nor the result is ours. In music, technology can help us organise our thoughts, spark inspiration and even assist in realising our ideas physically (for example, by using notation software, recording an idea before we forget it, or being used as an "instrument" or sound modifier). It can even "perform", and will only get better at this.
However, it’s vital to remember that creativity is a deeply human act. Others engage with it as such, and often appreciate the very imperfections that reveal our humanity. They want to see what other humans are capable of, with human limitations - not what machines have been built and programmed to do. Just like most people wouldn't go to watch an Olympic event between robots, they also would not attend a live performance where the work is not being performed by human artists.
2. Why Human Expression Still Matters
While technology can imitate or even evoke emotion by replicating patterns, only sentient beings are capable of truly feeling it. Joy, grief, rage, heartbreak, and every other emotion are lived experiences, shaped by memory (mental, physical, etc.), identity, and the complexities of being human. Because of this, our ability to express and communicate emotion is both limitless and deeply nuanced.
Technology may produce polished work using techniques designed to elicit a psychological response, but it cannot experience emotion itself, nor can it share those experiences in the way humans do. A computer may be able to generate a beautifully orchestrated piece of music which makes a listener feel something, but it can’t know itself what it’s like to grieve, to fall in love, or to wonder about the meaning of life. It can’t cry during rehearsal, or find catharsis through the creative process. It cannot grow through vulnerability, or extend empathy by revealing its imperfections. It cannot make us truly understand on a profound level that we are living through something together, or offer the comfort of knowing that someone else has felt what we feel.
That is the power of human expression, and why it continues to matter, perhaps now more than ever. In a time where loneliness and digital fatigue are growing problems, people are yearning for and actively seeking out opportunities for connection, empathy, and shared experience with other humans.
Sound Garden : classical music immersion
Just a short word about Sound Garden! Founded by classical singer Kayla Collingwood, Sound Garden is an online hub to engage with classical music, no matter your age or level of knowledge or experience! Through online content, digital products, and more, Sound Garden's aim is to provide resources for discovering classical music in all its forms.
3. Moving from Passive to Active Engagement
Creativity has, in many cases, been stifled by over-commercialism, where quick, surface-level output is valued more than deep, thoughtful exploration. It is designed to be consumed quickly and passively. We’re often left with social media content, ads, products we can purchase, articles and websites (hopefully not this one!), games and apps, etc. that provide a momentary dopamine hit, but lack substance and lasting impact (and often quality). Constant consumption can also lead to us only receiving art rather than creating it.
A genuine creative practice is active, and involves trial and error, frustration, failure, problem-solving, and perseverance. It involves developing craftsmanship and skill by training ourselves in various areas in order to improve. In music, it's listening to something which challenges us or connects with us on some level (or multiple!), it’s the frustration of practicing a difficult phrase, the satisfaction of a breakthrough, the courage to perform even when you are so nervous that you want to vomit.
The arts teach patience, grit, and emotional regulation. These are life skills. And when adults, children, or teens engage in this kind of process (whether through an instrument, dance, storytelling, painting, or design), they’re developing more than just artistic ability. They’re developing character. It's the process which is important, not the final product.
4. Nurturing Creativity Through Sound Garden and My Offerings
At the heart of my work is a belief that everyone is creative, and that music and the arts are uniquely powerful ways to explore that creativity. You don’t have to be a prodigy. You don’t need to know all the theory or history. You don't even need to be a musician or performer or "artist" at all. You just need curiosity, and a little support and guidance.
Here are some of the ways I help people of all ages and experience levels connect with their creativity:
Voice Lessons – Individualised sessions that focus on vocal technique, expression and repertoire, with a nurturing and holistic approach.
Voice/Stagecraft for Wellbeing – Lessons that use voice and movement as tools for self-expression, confidence-building and personal empowerment.
Classical Music Immersion / Éveil Musical – Innovative ways to explore classical music through storytelling, listening, movement and play - suitable for children and adults alike.
Interactive Workshops – Group experiences that bring people together through collaborative music-making, reflection and discovery.
Digital Resources – A growing range of materials (including printables, creative prompts and teaching tools) to support both educators and learners in their own musical and creative journeys.
Each of these offerings is designed not just to teach, but to invite exploration, curiosity and joy. You can engage with my offerings both online and in-person (Paris, France).
Browse the Sound Garden site once you finish this post or check out my personal site www.kaylacollingwood.com to find out more!
5. Looking Ahead: Ethical Co-Creation with Technology
Whether we welcome it or not, technology will continue to evolve. Rather than retreating or blindly embracing every new tool, we need to make conscious choices:
Where can tech enhance our creative lives?
Where does it distance us from our humanity or directly threaten our humanity?
How do we use it with care – for ourselves, our communities, and our world?
Some simple things we can do:
Actively supporting human creators.
Choosing handmade over mass-produced.
Investing in small businesses.
Teaching children to value the story and process behind the things they consume.
Grounding ourselves with real-life, transformative experiences both alone and with other people.
Taking up hobbies and passions and allowing ourselves permission to not do them well!
Getting offline from time to time.
Technology is already part of the creative world, and it will only continue to develop, in both positive and negative ways. The question isn’t whether we use it, but how we use it, and whether our values are leading the way.
Creativity has always made us better humans and helped us to progress. Let’s use it to impact how tech develops, so we build a sustainable, safe, and thriving world, supported (but not replaced) by the tools we’ve made.
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