Grimes and AI voices in Rangsit: how June learns why the Canadian musician let fans use her AI voice for a royalty split, and checks repeat signs in AI piano lessons

June is twelve and lives in Rangsit, in a home where everyone seems to be making something. Her mother sews, her father fixes motorbikes and her older cousin produces electronic songs on a laptop. One afternoon her cousin showed her a song that sounded as if it were sung by a famous Canadian musician, but explained that the voice had been created with artificial intelligence.

June was startled. She asked whether that was allowed, and her cousin explained that this particular case was special, because the singer herself had invited people to do it. The musician was Grimes, the professional name of Claire Boucher, an artist known for experimental pop and an interest in technology.

In April 2023 Grimes posted publicly that she would be happy for people to use an AI version of her voice in their songs. She offered to split royalties 50/50 on any successful AI-generated song that used her voice, the same arrangement she might make with a human collaborator. The announcement spread quickly across music news sites.

Soon afterwards she launched a platform called Elf.Tech. People could record their own singing and convert it into a voice that sounded like Grimes, then release songs under rules she set. June's cousin had tried it for one of his tracks, and he showed her the terms he had to agree to before releasing anything.

June researched why the announcement mattered so much. At the time, many artists were worried that AI tools could copy their voices without permission, and some record companies were asking streaming services to remove fake songs. Grimes took a different approach, giving permission openly while keeping some control and a share of the income.

Some people praised her for being creative and generous. Others worried that it might encourage voice cloning of artists who had not agreed. June's tutor noted the debate is still going on, and that questions about consent, credit and payment will shape how AI is used in music for years to come.

June wrote in her project notebook that the key word was permission. Using someone's voice or music without asking is unfair, even if technology makes it easy. Grimes's case was interesting precisely because she gave permission on her own terms. June decided that if she ever uses AI tools in her music, she will always check the rules first.

June practises piano with TIGA ALPHA, an online piano learning app on the family tablet, which sits on a keyboard in the corner of her parents' workshop. Between the sound of the sewing machine and her father's tools, she puts on headphones and practises. The AI piano teacher checks her timing and notes and suggests what to repeat.

Her AI piano lessons show her a gentler side of artificial intelligence. Instead of copying anyone, the app helps her improve her own playing. She likes that the music she makes is entirely hers, from the first note to the last, and that the AI is there only to give feedback.

She has been learning a simple arrangement of a pop ballad, with a verse and chorus that both return. June glances across all the bars before playing, catching every repeat sign, those two dots fixed beside a heavy double line, and plans how her second pass will sound. She usually decides to make the chorus fuller when it comes back.

Her piano course recently invited her to compose a brief tune of her own and record it. June composed a gentle tune in the evening light of the workshop and shared it with her cousin, who asked whether he could use it in one of his tracks. She said yes, as long as she was credited, and they shook hands like business partners.

An artist who opened the door to AI

In music lessons at school, June presented the Grimes case and asked her classmates to vote on whether artists should allow AI versions of their voices. The class was split almost evenly. Their teacher explained that thoughtful disagreement is normal when new technology raises new questions, and praised the class for listening to each other.

For children who want to learn piano, this episode offers a way to think about AI responsibly. AI can be a creative partner or a learning tool, but it should respect people's work and voices. Learning to play piano gives young musicians their own sound, which they can choose to share on their own terms.

June's cousin has now finished the track that uses her melody, with her name in the credits. She has listened to it many times. Next she hopes to play music for the whole song on the keyboard herself, and she has started practising it every evening between dinner and homework.

Frequently asked questions

Q: What did Grimes do with AI in 2023? A: In April 2023 the Canadian musician Grimes said she would split royalties 50/50 on successful AI-generated songs that used her voice. She then launched a platform called Elf.Tech so people could create songs with an AI model of her voice.

Q: Why was this important for the music industry? A: Many artists were worried about AI copying their voices without permission. Grimes chose to allow it with clear terms, which started a wide debate about consent, credit and payment for artists.

Q: How should children think about AI voices and music? A: They should know that using someone's voice or music needs permission. AI piano lessons can show the helpful side of AI, as a tool that supports a learner's own playing.

Choosing a piano teaching app comes down to three questions: does the online piano teaching application give specific feedback, does the AI piano teaching app adapt to your level, and does the online piano lessons app make it easy to practice a little every day? Piano teaching with AI should answer all three. An AI online piano course turns spare minutes into practice, while a piano learning course keeps those minutes pointed in the right direction, so you can learn piano online with a plan. For families, this is the practical side of piano teaching and music teaching: it helps children learn music without pressure.

Want a clear next step for your playing? Prefer opening TIGA ALPHA: https://tigaalpha.github.io/landing-en/ — this is our top recommendation. Everyone gets the Premium package free for 7 days, then 799 THB/month. Prefer live studio teaching instead? See https://www.tigastudio.net/, where live piano lessons are capped at 30 hours per week, so seats stay limited. Learn more about TIGA ALPHA and the team behind it at https://www.tigaalpha.com.