Artisan
The Gift
Bringing happiness to people through music
By Jennifer Mellace
Photography by Dick Bloom
When you look at an instrument, do you ever wonder how it came to be? When you listen to the music it renders, have you ever considered the effort behind its creation? For many, it’s not about how the instrument was made or even how it works, it’s simply the sweet music it delivers. But, for some, learning how an instrument works and then learning how to create that instrument is a talent. Sharing this talent? Well, that’s a gift.
One man able to share such a gift is Thomas Jolin. Jolin—a very unassuming musician, instrument builder and teacher—is a self-taught artist who, in 1965, embarked on a musical journey. This journey led him to embrace his passion for traditional American music, to combine his vocals with the eclectic mix of the hammer dulcimer, banjo, button accordion and harmonica, and to ultimately learn and share the wonderful art of instrument building.
Today—more than 40 years later—Jolin bestows his passion and knowledge as a rostered artist for the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a Pennsylvania Humanities Council Commonwealth speaker/performer and a sought after Artist in Residence by Pennsylvania schools. In fact, Jolin has completed extended periods as a visiting artist in residence for more than 30 school programs, leading students in the building of musical instruments, traditional dance, folksong writing and musical instruction.
Artist in training
Born and raised in Wisconsin, Jolin was a musical hobbyist who happened to have an incredible melodic aptitude. “I never really took lessons,” says Jolin. “My uncle passed away and in the attic was his baritone horn. So I started playing and, over time, I was able to generalize that knowledge into vocal and other instruments.”
Growing up, Jolin was drawn to classical and folk music. “In the 1950s and ’60s there was a folk music revival. That appealed to me. I also liked rock because my friends liked it,” he laughs. “But I always went back—I identified with it.”
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