
Seasonal · Graduation
Graduation production music. Proud, nostalgic, and ready for the next chapter.
Instrumental graduation and commencement music for ceremony livestreams, senior tribute and slideshow videos, university marketing, and grad party content. From a dignified processional to a celebratory send-off, the sound of commencement season is already in the library.
Graduation at a glance
- Commencement season
- May through June, with some December ceremonies
- Campaigns air
- Late April through June
- Start your music search
- March to April
Networks and brands that license our music.
How licensing works
Three steps. Clean, clear and simple.
- Step —01
Browse
Search the catalog by style, mood, use, instrumentation, tempo and duration or use Jessica, our AI music supervisor for assistance. Preview the results in seconds.
- Step —02
License
Direct purchase and download include nearly all licensing you will need, with the exception being in-theatre film release. Subscription-based licensing is covered by an annual blanket license.
- Step —03
Use
After payment is received for direct purchase or subscription purchase, you will have the appropriate licensing documentation in hand. You are clear to sync the music with your production.
How the library works for you
Nearly every title, ready for the scene.
Nearly every title in the catalog works the same way, built so the version you need already exists.
- 01
The full theme, plus alternates
Each title includes a theme version with all the instrumentation, and usually alternate versions with less instrumentation for quieter moments in the scene.
- 02
Broadcast lengths, included
Most titles include edits at common broadcast lengths of 60, 30, 15, and stingers, plus versions separated by sections or parts.
- 03
One standard license
The standard license covers nearly every use. The only exception is theatrical release, which requires an additional license. Contact us with a request for quote and we will respond quickly with a license that meets your requirements.
The graduation production calendar
One ceremony, months of production work.
Commencement is a single afternoon, but the videos around it start months earlier. Here is how a typical season unfolds.
March
Plan the season
School media teams and university marketing departments set direction for the ceremony livestream, senior tribute videos, and alumni content. A good moment to decide how formal, or how celebratory, the season should sound.
Early April
Search the catalog
Search by style, mood, use, tempo, and duration, or ask Jessica, our AI music supervisor, for help. Preview the results in seconds.
Late April
License and edit
Most titles include edits at 60, 30, 15, and stingers, so one track can score a slideshow open, a full tribute video, and a short social cutdown.
May through June
Ceremonies and send-offs
Livestreams, slideshows, and grad party video run through the season, with a smaller wave of ceremonies again in December.
The sound of graduation
From the processional to the after-party.
Commencement covers a wide range, from formal ceremony to backyard celebration. Six places to start your music search.
- 01
Dignified processional
Stately orchestral music in a generic processional style, built for ceremony walk-ins, diploma sequences, and livestream opens.
- French horn
- Timpani
- Full orchestra
Explore Orchestral
- 02
Next-chapter build
A hopeful build from a single instrument to a full arrangement, for the moment a speech turns toward the future.
- Piano
- Strings
- French horn
Explore Inspirational
- 03
Nostalgic memories piano
Quiet, reflective piano for senior slideshow videos, yearbook montages, and looking back on four years in a few frames.
- Piano
- Soft strings
- Light pads
Explore Sad
- 04
Celebratory send-off pop
Bright, upbeat energy for the diploma toss, the recessional, and gift and retail spots built around the big day.
- Acoustic guitar
- Claps
- Bright keys
Explore Happy
- 05
Cinematic milestone
Widescreen, emotional underscore for university marketing films and alumni video that frame graduation as a turning point.
- Strings
- Piano
- Low brass
Explore Cinematic
- 06
Confident grad party hip-hop
Laid-back, confident hip-hop for grad party video, campus recap reels, and social content shot by videographers on the day.
- 808s
- Vinyl-style keys
- Light percussion
Explore Hip-Hop
Where graduation music shows up
Commencement season, one production at a time.
Graduation music works across school media, university marketing, retail, and independent video production.
Commencement Livestreams & Ceremony Video
Processional and recessional cues for high school and university ceremonies streamed to remote family and friends.
Senior Tribute & Slideshow Videos
Yearbook and school media programs building senior send-off videos and class slideshows from years of photos.
University Marketing & Alumni Video
Admissions films, commencement recaps, and alumni outreach video built around the milestone of the degree.
Grad Party Video & Retail Campaigns
Videographers filming grad party celebrations, and gift, card, and retail spots timed to commencement season.
FAQ for graduation music
Common questions
Ceremony video usually calls for a dignified, generic processional style for the diploma walk and a warmer, inspirational build for the speeches. GMP Music does not license any specific traditional march or anthem, only original orchestral music written in that stately, formal style.
Yes. Nostalgic piano tracks and cinematic milestone cues are built for slideshow and tribute videos that look back on years of photos, while celebratory pop and confident hip-hop cover the send-off and grad party side of the season.
Most senior tribute videos and ceremony plans come together in March and April, ahead of ceremonies in May and June and a smaller wave in December. Starting the music search in March gives a media program time to compare options before editing begins.
Yes. The standard license covers almost everything, including livestreams, in-person screenings, and social video for schools, universities, and independent productions. The only exception is theatrical release, which requires an additional license. Contact us with a request for quote and we will respond quickly with a license that meets your requirements.
Nearly all of our titles have a few things in common: a theme version with full instrumentation, alternate versions with less instrumentation, edits at common broadcast lengths of 60, 30, 15, and stingers, and versions separated by sections or parts.
About graduation production music
A milestone that asks for both formality and warmth.
Graduation music has to do two jobs in the same ceremony. A stately processional in French horn and timpani sets the formal tone as names are called, while a strings build that opens up into a fuller arrangement carries the emotional turn toward what comes next. GMP Music licenses graduation and commencement production music across that range, produced and recorded by accomplished composers in recording studios specifically for GMP Music.
Producers use it as commencement music for ceremony livestreams at high schools and universities, graduation slideshow music for senior tribute and yearbook videos, graduation video music for university marketing and alumni film, and graduation background music for gift, card, and retail campaigns timed to the season. Nearly all of our titles include a theme version with full instrumentation, alternate versions with less instrumentation, edits at common broadcast lengths of 60, 30, 15, and stingers, and versions separated by sections or parts.
Licensing is clean and simple. The standard license covers almost everything, so the same track can run across a ceremony livestream, an in-person slideshow screening, and social video for schools, universities, and independent videographers. The only exception is theatrical release, which requires an additional license. Every license includes master and publishing rights for the GMP-owned catalog, with clear documentation for your production.
Whether a project calls for a formal processional or a celebratory send-off, we are eager to assist you in your music search, to find just the right track that will represent your brand and vision for your media project.
More from the seasonal calendar
The rest of the milestone season.
Apr–May
Mother's Day
Heartfelt, uplifting music for gift campaigns and family stories.
Open the page
May–Jun
Father's Day
Warm acoustic, Americana, and feel-good rock for Father's Day gifts and family stories.
Open the page
Mar–May
Spring
Fresh, light, optimistic music for seasonal launches, gardening, and renewal.
Open the page
Jun–Aug
Summer
Sunny, upbeat music for summer campaigns, travel, and outdoor living.
Open the page
May–Oct
Wedding Season
Romantic, elegant music for wedding films, bridal campaigns, and venue promos.
Open the page
Related
Adjacent pages worth a read.
Music for Education
Licensing music for school media programs, admissions film, and campus video.
Read
Music for Videographers
Licensing music for independent video production, from grad parties to weddings.
Read
Orchestral Genre Catalog
French horn, timpani, and full orchestra for processionals and ceremony video.
Read
Inspirational Music
Hopeful builds for commencement speeches and next-chapter storytelling.
Read
Cinematic Genre Catalog
Widescreen, emotional underscore for university marketing and alumni film.
Read
Pricing & Licensing Models
How GMP licensing works: subscriptions, per-track purchases, and blanket licensing.
Read
Ready to license