Melodious Murdoch

• Grade Level: 5 – 9
• Duration: 6+ Class Periods
• Subjects: Language Arts/English, Media Literacy, Social Studies/History

Composers use specific musical elements to communicate emotions and enhance the narrative, influencing how viewers interpret the actions and words on screen.

In this lesson, students will explore the importance of musical scores in visual storytelling. They’ll analyze how music changes the tone of the words and actions on screen and how music communicates to the viewer. This lesson encourages creative thinking and curiosity as students consider what music to add (and the message it sends) to a short unscored Murdoch scene.

Students learn from an expert, Robert Carli, the composer for Murdoch Mysteries, who shares how he scores an episode and sets the mood of each scene. Students will then analyze a short scene and identify the musical components and the emotions evoked before they “score” their own Murdoch Mysteries scene.

Note: Murdoch Mysteries is considered a family show; however, it deals with murder as do some of the lesson activities. This episode, The Great Wall, also includes a reference to sexual assault. The event is not depicted on screen, but it is mentioned in the dialogue. Consider previewing episodes to ensure you are able to address any questions or concerns.

In Murdoch Air — Season 6, Episode 1, Murdoch investigates after a flying machine crashes over Toronto, killing a man and a pig, and traces the device back to inventor James Pendrick involved in a secret competition. He uncovers sabotage and hidden motives in the race to be the first to fly.

Learn more about episode characters James Pendrick and Alan Clegg.

• Episode takes place in Toronto in 1900, about 3 years before the Wright brothers flew at Kitty Hawk.
• Mentions in the episode:
• Otto Lilienthal (1848–1896), a German pioneer of aviation known as the “Glider King,” the first to make well-documented, repeated, successful gliding flights.
• Alludes to the Avro Arrow; controversy remains around the cancellation and destruction of this aircraft.
• Alludes to the Canadian Arrow, part of an X-Prize contest to create private space flight.
• This editorial from The Canadian Encyclopedia discusses the Silver Dart (1909), Canada’s first flight, including Alexander Graham Bell and Douglas McCurdy.

• Story Arc — Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, Resolution/Denouement
• Self-Reflection Journals — process, product, transitional skills
• Music/Audio/Video Tools — allow time for exploration; watch how-to videos; integrate into music class

Consider introducing students to the World of Murdoch Mysteries to familiarize them with the show and characters before the lesson.

“How does a music soundtrack shape our understanding of a story, guide our emotions and bring characters and scenes to life?”

1. How does music change the feeling of a scene?
Consider how an upbeat or happy song or a sinister tune might make you feel differently about what’s happening on screen.

2. What kind of music would match the emotions of the characters or actions in the scene?
Are the characters scared, excited, or sad? What music could make that feeling stronger?

3. How does music help tell the story without words?
Imagine the scene without music and with it—what does the music “say” that words can’t?

4. If you were the composer, how would you pick music to fit the mood?
What would you do to make each scene feel just right—e.g., making a calm scene sound peaceful or a mystery sound tense?

• Music as Storytelling: Analyze how music and sound design shape the viewer’s emotional experience, reflect characters’ motivations and actions, and direct audience responses.
• Emotional Influence: Examine how music can subtly guide or even “trick” emotions, influencing perception of mood, tension and pacing.
• Critical Listening & Analysis: Deconstruct a Murdoch scene to identify how specific musical choices set tone, build suspense or convey character.
• Creative Composition: Create a short musical soundtrack for a selected scene, explaining how the composition supports the story’s atmosphere and emotional arc.
• Comparative Reflection: Compare your soundtrack with a peer’s, discussing how each approach affects the scene’s meaning and impact.

• Communication — digital tools; written, verbal and musical expression; give/receive feedback
• Teamwork — collaboration; authentic group work
• Executive Function — time management; organization; perseverance
• Self-Awareness — purposeful reflection; growth mindset
• Innovation — creativity; risk-taking; experimentation; brainstorming
• Decision Making — consider different perspectives; problem solving
• Empathy — emotional intelligence; curiosity

Performance Task: For the final assessment, students will demonstrate their understanding of how music influences storytelling by selecting, adapting or creating 2–4 pieces of music to accompany a short (3–6 min) Murdoch Mysteries scene. They will present their “score” and explain how their music choices enhance the emotions and storytelling, reflecting their grasp of music’s role in visual media.