Enhancing Musical Creativity Through AI: A Chain-Mediation Model of Self-Efficacy and Emotional Intelligence

Tingzheng Wang¹Junhan Zhang^2*

• ¹University of Bristol Faculty of Arts, Bristol, United Kingdom
• ²Sejong University, Gwangjin-gu, Republic of Korea

The rapid development of AI technology has given rise to a plethora of innovative interaction methods. The application of AI technologies such as generative melodies, vocal separation, and automatic composition is profoundly transforming traditional music creation models and exerting significant influence on music education and professional development. However, whether the use of AI in the music creation process truly enhances musical creativity and the mechanisms underlying such effects remain issues worthy of further exploration.Based on the "zone of proximal development" theory and social cognitive theory, this study constructs a theoretical model of the impact of AI use on the musical creativity of music majors, introducing "musical self-efficacy" and "musical emotional intelligence" as mediating variables to explore the role of individual psychological factors in this process. The study employs quantitative analysis methods, using questionnaire surveys and structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze how the use of AI music tools affects musical creativity and to verify the moderating role of psychological factors.The results indicate that: (1) the use of AI has a significant positive impact on enhancing musical creativity; (2) musical emotional intelligence mediates the relationship between AI use and musical creativity, meaning that individuals with higher musical emotional intelligence can better leverage AI technology to enhance their creativity; (3) musical self-efficacy also mediates the relationship between AI use and musical creativity,i.e., individuals' beliefs about their own musical abilities influence the effectiveness of AI tool use; (4) Music self-efficacy and music emotional intelligence act as dual mediating variables, exerting a sequential mediating effect on music creativity, indicating that individuals' psychological factors play an important moderating role between technology and creativity.Building on the deepened understanding of the relationship between AI technology and musical creativity, this study provides practical guidance for higher education music programs, emphasizing the importance of cultivating students' self-efficacy and emotional intelligence in AI-assisted creative environments to achieve the synergistic development of technology and creativity.