January Students of the Month

The Van Cleave Family

In the early afternoon on Mondays, there’s an influx of piano students at Harris, all from the same family. One, two, three, four…in walks the Van Cleaves! These energetic kiddos take piano lessons with Cristina Vlad and Heera Jang. Help us congratulate Gable (14), Dane (12), Elise (9) and Petra (6) as our January Students of the Month!

Four students in piano lessons is a lot to handle but, as Cristina shares, “their parents do a great job in keeping them on track with practice and preparation.” Having their siblings in lessons also creates a challenge for each one to learn and improve. Cristina says she especially appreciates the Van Cleave’s drive to perfect their pieces close to recital time so that they are sure to perform well.

This month, we’ll step aside and let these students tell you a little about themselves.

More about the Van Cleaves:
How long have you taken lessons?
Gable: 5 ½ years
Dane: 5 years
Elise: 3 years
Petra: 5 months

What are your favorite pieces to play?
Gable: Allegro Grazioso
Dane: The Fly’s Adventure
Elise: Morning Has Broken
Petra: Dancing with Frankenstein; Hey, Hey Look at Me; My Invention

What is something new and exciting you have learned in lessons lately?
Gable: I learned about ostinatos (I think that’s what they are called)
Elise: A song gets more fun if you practice

What is one of your favorite recital or performance memories?
Gable: There was that time we had our apologetics tournament before the recital on the same day, and I was really tired. Then when I got up on stage to introduce myself, I ALMOST went into my illustrated oratory!
Elise: My first [recital]
Petra: I’ve only had one recital and I yelled into the microphone

What other hobbies do you have besides music?
Gable: Hunting, trapping, guitar building
Dane: Farming
Elise: Knitting, Crocheting, Playing Legos, Playing dolls
Petra: Puzzles, Games, Legos, Dolls

What is your favorite food?
Gable: Bread
Dane: Meat
Elise: Whatever mom makes me or oatmeal
Petra: Cheeseburger soup, potato soup, chicken and wild rice soup

What are your favorite classes in school?
Gable: Playing guitar
Dane: None
Elise: Piano
Petra: Math

What do you think is the best movie of all time?
Gable: The Hobbit
 Dane: The Avengers
Elise: Kit Kittredge
Petra: Curious George 2

What is a book everyone should read?
Gable: Cronk’s Scientific Coon Trapping
Dane: The Land Time Forgot
Elise: Fancy Nancy Super Sleuth
Petra: Curious George, Fancy Nancy, Encyclopedia Brown

What is a little known fact about you?
Dane: Like farming
Elise: I love horses
Petra: I’m the only one in my family that has curly hair. My mommy has never cut my hair!

Do you know any good jokes? (Share one with us!)
Gable: Okay, there are a bunch of snakes all tangled up on the floor in a huge knot, and no matter how hard they try, they can’t untangle themselves. And then one of them says. “Okay, so whose idea was it to play twister?!”
Dane:
Q: Why did the raccoon cross the road?
A: To show the chicken it could be done
Elise: Want to hear a dirty joke? A pig fell into the mud.

What is your favorite quote?
Gable: Lazy is as good as dead
Dane: Give me liberty or give me death.
Elise: I love my mommy and my daddy.