Abstract:

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are enabling many advances in the area of music. Three computer music problems are described in which Machine Learning promises to solve problems and advance the state of the art. These are: computer accompaniment, music understanding in interactive compositions, and music synthesis. Machine Learning plays an important role in dealing with poorly defined problems where data is subject to noise and other variation, and where complexity rules out direct, handcrafted solutions. These characteristics are typical in sophisticated computer music systems. Machine learning promises to enable more natural communication between machines and musicians.