A letter to the coaches who changed my life.
The best coaches don't just teach you how to be good at the game but also a good person. Some athletes may come across a dedicated coach but I got lucky and received three. Three generous, passionate, forgiving coaches. Not only did they help me fall in love with the game but they saved my life. No amount of thank yous will show my gratitude and love for them. I'd been playing tennis for five years when I met them, I liked it enough to keep playing but I wasn't anything special, I was thinking of giving up tennis. How lucky was I to have them put in my life at the right time. The first day I walked in I had no idea that my life would be changed forever.
Teza: You were the heart. You always made me feel like I could reach higher in life and that I was capable of more. You consistently pushed me to play harder, run faster, and to fight for every point which carried over to my personality; giving up isn't an option. As I started to grow you encouraged me to consider playing college tennis, I thought it was impossible. Years later here I am playing college tennis like you said I could. Nothing I say can show how much you mean to me. Thank you for pushing me, seeing my potential, and sticking with me no matter how stubborn I was.
Jb: You were the mind. I have learned a lot of from you, things that you had to spell out and others that I observed. Besides the sarcasm of course, one of the most important things you taught me was that being a good person starts with me and I can’t make the change for someone else, I had to do it for me. You always knew when to give me space and when to show tough love. I don’t think I’ll be capable to explain how much those talks were needed, when you’d pull me to the side and just ask if I was okay. You made me realize that I can’t play tennis if I wasn’t 100% there, which meant mentally and physically. Thank you for lending a ear when I needed it, thank you for believing in me when I didn’t believe in myself, and for having hope for me when I was hopeless.
Kela: You were the soul. I know for sure I will never meet someone who works harder than you, who is kinder than you, and who is more optimistic than you. When I joined your club that wasn’t really a spot for me, you took the time to try and create a group so that I could play, I have never nor will I ever forget that. Everything you did and still do seems so selfless, and I carry that with me in hopes that I can be the ‘Kela’ in someone else's life.I wasn’t too happy with myself or life and you noticed that, you could’ve ignored it, instead you gave me work to do. You taught me valuable life lessons. You gave me a thirst to try new things and to look at the world differently. Thank you helping me reach a place in my life where I am happy, satisfied, and content.
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The Illusion of Creativity
AI-generated music is often marketed as “artistic” or “educational.” But what does it really teach?
- That style can be replicated without understanding.
- That emotion can be simulated without feeling.
- That effort can be bypassed with a prompt.
For young creators, this sets a dangerous precedent. Why learn to play guitar when an algorithm can do it faster? Why study harmony when AI can generate chord progressions in seconds? The risk isn’t just laziness — it’s the loss of depth, discipline, and the tactile joy of creation.
I have listened to several AI-generated music covers. My initial reaction was one of considerable impressiveness, particularly regarding the reimagining of classic pop hits in diverse genres with novel arrangements. Here is one good example a-ha — Take On Me
However, after engaging with several such Ai generated song covers, a sense of emotional detachment emerged, attributable to the perceived absence of human artistry and genuine sentiment, resulting in a technically flawless yet ultimately soulless auditory experience.
Copyright in Crisis
What does the copyright law say about AI generated music, especially in field of music covers. Who is liable for copyright in this case, AI developers, people who used AI to generate music or people who published it on music platforms?
Recent lawsuits show that the music industry is pushing back hard:
- Universal, Sony, and Warner sued AI music platforms Suno and Udio in 2024 for allegedly training their models on copyrighted songs without permission Ars Technica The Lyon Firm.
- They’re seeking up to $150,000 per infringed song, arguing that the AI outputs resemble famous tracks and voices (e.g., Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson).
- These lawsuits target the developers of the AI tools — but they raise broader questions:The legal gray area is training data. Courts haven’t yet ruled definitively on whether using copyrighted songs to train AI counts as infringement or fair use Sites at USC.
But who’s liable?
Role | Legal Risk | Why |
AI Developers | ✅ High | For training on copyrighted material without licenses. |
Users | ⚠️ Moderate | If they intentionally recreate protected works. |
Publishers/Platforms | ✅ High | For distributing infringing content. |
The grey area lies in training data. Courts haven’t yet ruled definitively on whether using copyrighted songs to train AI counts as infringement or fair use. Meanwhile, AI-generated works themselves aren’t eligible for copyright unless a human provides substantial creative input — leaving them in legal limbo.
The Educational Mirage
Some argue that AI music helps people learn genres, production styles, or vocal techniques. But this “education” often lacks context. It’s like learning to paint by watching a printer — technically impressive, but creatively hollow.
True musical education involves:
- Struggle and iteration: Learning through mistakes.
- Emotional connection: Expressing what words can’t.
- Cultural lineage: Understanding the roots of sound.
AI shortcuts bypass all of this. And in doing so, they risk flattening the rich terrain of human creativity into a sterile landscape of algorithmic mimicry.
Why This Fight Matters
This isn’t just about music. It’s about the future of art, storytelling, and human expression. If we allow machines to dominate creative spaces, we risk turning culture into content — optimized, monetized, and devoid of soul.
We must ask: Do we want a world where art is made by machines, or one where machines help humans make better art?
5 Key Takeaways
- AI-generated music blurs the line between innovation and erosion in the creative arts
- AI-generated music raises questions about copyright, culture, education, and artistic expression
- AI-generated music can replicate style without understanding, simulate emotion without feeling, and bypass effort with a prompt
- AI-generated music sets a dangerous precedent for young creators by potentially leading to a loss of depth, discipline, and joy of creation
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