Violin & Viola Lessons
MICHAEL MULLEN
Violin / Beginning Viola
Michael Mullen is excited to bring his skill and wealth of expertise of violin to JAMS Music. Trained as a classical violinist since he was five years old, Michael has performed and recorded many styles of music for decades. He has more than than 25 years for private violin and fiddle teaching experience. For the past few years, Michael has taught violin at various charter schools in the Oakland School District.
Though he is a fiddler by trade, Michael teaches his beginner and intermediate students violin technique from a violin method that yields results — good technique is good technique regardless of what kind of music you play. As a student, you’ll straighten your fundamentals in sight reading, theory, and composition to become a confident player. Whether you’re just starting out in your school orchestra, preparing to study classical violin in college, interested in Celtic music, or traditional Americana fiddle, Michael will give you the tools you need to grow.
Learning to play a musical instrument can be both fun and fulfilling, and the violin is one of the most expressive of musical instruments. Give it a try today!
Michael Mullen is available on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Charlie Thollander
Violin
Charlie Thollander is a Bay-Area raised Swedish-Filipino violinist. He has completed his masters degree in violin performance at Boston University, and his undergraduate degree at UCLA. Charlie is an active performer and is a member of a professional musician network named Viva Virtuoso, a Los Angeles based group who invited Charlie to perform in their Classical Music variety show. Charlie is also a winning actor in the UCLA Campus MovieFest, in a short film on his life as a musician.
Charlie studied with three previous violin teachers who are alumni of the Moscow Conservatory and the Saint Petersburg Conservatory influencing Charlie with the Russian style, known for its emphasis on pathos. As a violin teacher Charlie takes a holistic approach to learning through teaching healthy habits and sustainable goals, encouraging the role of the violin as a companion rather than a tool. Charlie hopes that his students, of all levels, are able to experience the greatest reward of being a musician: building and being part of a community.
Loi Vo
Violin
Loi Vo received his Bachelor of Music (B.M.) from the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor and studied under Aaron Berofsky as a recipient of the Maurice H. and Evangeline L. Dumesnil Scholarship. Born and raised in Minnesota, he began learning the violin at the age of five, receiving private lessons from Eri Lee (Southwestern University) and world-renowned pedagogue Sally O'Reilly (University of Minnesota).
As an avid classically-trained musician, Loi has a special interest in solo repertoire and chamber music, having performed across the United States. Loi has garnered many prizes in competitions such as the Thursday Musical Young Artist Competition, Bruce P. Carson Student Scholarship Competition, Young People's Symphony Concert Association Concerto Competition, and finalist for the University of Michigan Concerto Competition.
He has over eight years of experience teaching students of all ages and abilities and is passionate about guiding students to reach their highest potential. He believes that learning music should be an enjoyable endeavor for students, parents, and teachers!