Program Notes

Graduation

Lyrics

This is the final song of my senior recital
It’s all coming to an end and I don’t know what to do
I’m the first recital this year
Which filled me up with panic and fear
I had less time to prepare
Which felt surprising and unfair
But then I realized that is not the truth

I’m not graduating today
The ceremony is four weeks away
So why do they say it’s always the worst
To be the one who is going first?

I’m still in four more performances
So this is not the end.
Why would I thank everybody who’s here
If I’m still at school till the end of the year

This is the part of the show where composers typically make an Academy Award thank you speech. But. I’m not going to do that because:

“Why would I thank everybody who’s here
If I’m still at school till the end of the year”

So here’s a list of people I don’t want to thank:

I don’t want to thank my composition teachers
Dr. Lee, Marti, Tim, and Victoria Cheah
Or the AV Department for setting this up
And concert services for always saying this stuff:

“Welcome to Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Please take a moment to silence all cell phones, other electronic devices, and to locate the exit nearest to you. In addition to the main doors, there’s an emergency exit located across the stage. Please note that flash photography and unauthorized recordings are strictly prohibited. Thank you for your cooperation, and we hope you enjoy the show.”

Why would I thank the musicians
If I’ll still see them in my classes
Of course I won’t be thanking my family
Because the only person here that I want to thank is ME!!!

All of you composers are way too humble. You should give yourselves some of the credit.

I’m not graduating, not graduating today
I’m not graduating, not graduating today
So why should I get all sentimental
And write a piece that is only instrumental

If I’m not graduating, not graduating today
The harmonies I’m using might seem a little bit cliche

So you might be wondering why I wrote this song

It’s because my recital needs to be forty minutes long

I write short pieces

Except for my thesis

My anxiety decreases

When I have the realization that

I’M NOT GRADUATING TODAY!