A high school graduation ceremony is a once in a lifetime event. A great graduation song can make the day even more special than it already is. Use this guide to learn how to choose a high school graduation song that will make your graduation day more memorable and special than it already is.

A high school graduation ceremony is a once in a lifetime event. A great graduation song can make the day even more special than it already is. Use this guide to learn how to choose a high school graduation song that will make your graduation day more memorable and special than it already is.

• High school graduation is both an ending and a beginning. A graduation song is one of the best ways to capture the emotions of the moment. You will want to be sure to find a song that resonates for all students as they close their high school careers.

• Because a graduation song belongs to all graduating students, the selection process must be thorough and fair. Some suggested selection methods include:

1. Have the entire senior class submit suggestions and then vote on a list of the most popular and event appropriate songs (chosen by class officers, a selection committee or the Administration).
2. Have class officers select the song they feel is most appropriate and representative of the students who elected them.
3. Have class officers select the song from a list of songs created by the senior class.
4. Have the music department decide.
5. Have a special selection committee, open to any interested student, nominate and choose.

(Photo by Sara Haj-Hassan)

• Whatever your selection process, finding a good high school graduation song requires an extensive list of music to choose from. Creating your list can be easily done with the following steps.

1. Determine if the song chosen will need to be played by your high school's band or orchestra as that will limit you to music that has easy to obtain orchestral and/or choral arrangements.
2. Depending on the process you chose, begin to collect lists of suggested songs from designated people.
3. Review the lists received for any songs with foul language or suggestive lyrics and remove those songs from consideration.
4. Determine which songs received the most nominations
5. Narrow the list down to the best 4-6 songs. Remember that a good graduation song needs to be recognizable as well as reflective of either the closure brought by graduation day or hope for the future.
6. Choose your high school gradaution song through the selection process you previously chose

• There are several songs that have proven to be popular high school graduation songs in recent years. These include:

1. Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) by Green Day
2. So Hard to Say Good-bye by Boyz II Men
3. Graduation (Friends Forever) by Vitamin C
4. Today by Smashing Pumpkins
5. Perfect Day by Hoku
6. Graduate by Third Eye Blind
7. I Will Remember You by Sarah McLachlan
8. A Moment Like This by Kelly Clarkson
9. I Believe I Can Fly by R. Kelly

By following this guide, you should be able to choose a high school graduation song that will perfectly symbolize what graduation means to your senior class. Now, enjoy your graduation!

• Introduction
• Step 1: Determine Selection Process
• Step 2: Gather Song Suggestions
• Step 3: Jumpstart Your Song List
• Conclusion