Violet Rivers, a second grader at Eagle Rock Elementary, has won a national Award of Excellence in Music Composition for a song she wrote, arranged and recorded, entitled Transformation, about a caterpillar and butterfly who long to be friends. The award was granted in May by the National Parent Teacher Association, which holds an annual contest involving thousands of students from preschool through high school who compete within their age groups in various artistic categories.
To reach the national level, Violet first won a music competition for Transformation at the school level, then at school-district level and then at the state level, where Transformation surpassed more than 1,000 entries to win the Outstanding Interpretation Award in Musical Composition – the top honor in its category across all age groups in California. At the state competition, Violet also performed Transformation with heart and poise before an audience of 2,000 people.
For the national Award of Excellence in Music Competition, Violet was one of three state winners in her group of four- to seven-year olds.
“Violet has been singing her own songs since she learned to talk,” said her mother, Kristen Rivers. “Her preschool teacher at Eagle Rock Montessori used to tell us that her constant music-making was unusual, but to us, it’s just normal, it’s Violet.”
When Violet brought home the flyer announcing the competition, it was all she could talk about, said Ms. Rivers. She sat down at the piano and started to work on Transformation. Ms. Rivers credits the faculty, staff and strong arts program at Eagle Rock Elementary with fueling Violet’s musical enthusiasm. She also credits the school’s diversity and kindness with inspiring a song about overcoming differences to be friends.
Hearing is believing: You can listen to Transformation at boulevardsentinel.com or on the Boulevard Sentinel Facebook post for June 1.
Transformation by Violet Rivers
Transformation by Violet Rivers
The Inspiration:
“Within Reach” was the theme of the National PTA arts competition this year. On her entry form, Violet wrote that her song, Transformation, related to the theme “because it’s within reach to be friends with somebody even if you think you’re really different.”
The Lyrics:
Caterpillar:
I wish I knew the secret to friendship
I wish I could fly away
Butterfly:
Now that I can spread my own wings
I wish I could be on solid ground
Caterpillar:
Now me I’m just lonely I’m just going
Up this stem again
Butterfly:
Lonely as I fly all around looking for
Somebody to play with
Duet:
You never know cause things are always changing
Be patient cause, things are rearranging
One day you’re sad, the next day it’s over
Transformation
Caterpillar:
Squirming in this tight space on this small stem
Turning into nothing
Butterfly:
What is that green thing dangling down from the stem
It is wiggling
Caterpillar:
Oh my I am different now I have wings
I’m a butterfly
Butterfly:
Now that you can fly like me we can be friends
Finally
Duet:
Now that we’re free now we can be part of a
Friend family
Duet:
You never know cause things are always changing
Be patient cause, things are rearranging
One day you’re sad, the next day it’s over
Transformation
