Compose a Theme Song for a Literary Character

Foster creative expression by connecting music composition to character development.

Teaching Context:
Perfect for Year 7 to Year 9 Music or cross-curricular English-Music projects.

Basic AI Prompt:
Write a theme song for Sherlock Holmes.

Enhanced AI Prompt:
You are learning to express ideas through music. Ask AI to help you compose a short theme song for a character from a book, film, or play. Ask AI to describe what the melody, tempo, and instruments should sound like to match the character’s personality. Then, ask it to write simple lyrics or a musical motif that reflects the character’s main conflict or traits. Finally, ask AI to explain how music shapes the way we understand a character.

Spice it Up (Optional Extension):
Ask AI to suggest a choreographed dance that fits the theme song’s mood.

Lesson Implementation:
Start with examples of famous character theme songs (e.g. Darth Vader, Harry Potter). Students select a character, ask AI for a musical description, and compose a short melody using a digital platform like GarageBand.

They present their theme song, explaining how the musical choices reflect the character’s story arc. Wrap up with a reflection: “If your life had a theme song, what would it sound like?” This integrates creative arts with narrative understanding.

Got ideas on different ways to use this prompt? Share them with the class in the comments below!

Also, if you liked this, you'll love the thousands of subject-specific AI prompts in our books section!