Prompts

Semester recap montage music prompts

These prompts set the music for a semester recap montage (the song that was stuck in your head all semester), how loud it sits, and how the cuts follow it.

By Sulan Zhang, co-founder of Vyra · Updated 2026-09-24

Format: Semester recap montage
Step: Music
Length: 20-45s
Aspect: 9:16
Platforms: TikTok, Reels, Shorts, YouTube

Real examples from @sulansart

At a glance


Music	The song that was stuck in your head all semester
Pacing	One piece per beat in the verse, one per half-beat in the chorus, one hold before the drop
Volume	Full, there's little speech to duck under
Length	20-45s

Prompt it in Vyra

Minimal:

Add music to my semester recap montage.

Standard:

Add music to my semester recap montage.
Music: the song that was stuck in your head all semester.
Pacing: one piece per beat in the verse, one per half-beat in the chorus, one hold before the drop.
Cut on the beat where the clips change.

Full:

Add music to my semester recap montage.
Music: the song that was stuck in your head all semester.
Pacing: one piece per beat in the verse, one per half-beat in the chorus, one hold before the drop.
Cut on the beat where the clips change.
Put the biggest change in the footage on the biggest change in the track.
Use the track I uploaded called "[file name]".
Fade out over the last 2 seconds. No sound effects.

Why these settings

The track direction comes from our semester recap montage page.
With no speech to duck under, the track sets the pace, so the prompt ties the cuts to the beat.
Naming a file you uploaded stops it from picking from the library.
"No sound effects" keeps it from adding extras you didn't ask for.

Fixes

Cuts land off the beat. "Move every cut onto the nearest beat."
Wrong mood. "Something slower, around 80 BPM, piano, no drums."
Track starts mid-phrase. "Start the track from its beginning and trim the end."

FAQ

What music fits a semester recap montage? The song that was stuck in your head all semester. Describe the mood in the prompt or upload the exact track.

Can I use my own song? Yes. Upload it and name the file in the prompt. Licensing is on you.