In recent years, the rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with various industries has led to an intelligent transformation in people’s learning and working patterns. In the field of higher vocational public music course teaching, AI provides intelligent teaching tools and learning platforms, while offering students timely and scientific support and companionship, enabling them to complete learning tasks more efficiently. How to explore the transformation path of teaching modes for higher vocational public music courses in the AI context has become a key consideration for frontline teachers. Based on this, this paper first analyzes the significance of teaching higher vocational public music courses in the AI context, and then proposes feasible transformation paths for teaching modes in combination with course characteristics for reference.