Jane Firmunn Hollander is a cellist who divides her time performing, teaching and adding awareness, fun and edification to cellists’ repertoire.  She has performed as soloist in recital and with orchestra throughout the U.S.  Maintaining a full teaching studio for private students and chamber music coaching, she regularly invites her students to perform much of the music she transcribes.  One such performance involved a 140 piece orchestra of cellists performing the Bach Double Concerto at the world’s largest summer music festival, Summerfest in Milwaukee, WI.  Her background includes scholarships and awards from her studies at the University of Michigan, the Juilliard School, and Interlochen Music Center for the Arts.  In addition to her advanced degrees in music, she holds a degree from the Medical College of WI in bioethics and regularly mediates medical disputes for the Supreme Court of WI. 

Ms. Hollander is the inventor of the internationally best selling “Mouse-tro” mute.  Her book entitled Preparing the Performer: Secrets for String Players from Primary to Professional is published by Alfred Music Publishers and is due for publication November 2006.

Personal Teaching Statement

Students receive 'custom' instruction suited to their individual style of learning and their personal goals. Recognizing that playing a stringed instrument is a process rather than a goal, emphasis is on learning the art of analysis as opposed to criticism. Master Classes are offered on a monthly basis and two recitals (a chamber music recital where students are encouraged to find friends or family to join them, and a traditional solo recital) occur each year. Social activities including picnics, concerts and celebrations offer opportunities to interact with students from other districts. Ms. Hollander is a seasoned performer, having performed throughout the country, and with Itzhak Perlman and other Juilliard students, has authored a book entitled "Preparing the Performer", and has recently made a CD. She is also the inventor of the famous "Mouse-tro" mute, and has published many transcriptions for cello and piano.