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Jason performs his original composition, 'Okedo no fukiyose' (medley of the okedo) at a spring showcase for the Colleges of the Fenway Center of Dance.
Jason Seymore
Jason Seymore
Musician | Educator | Composer | Performer
"Music is an invaluable art. It has the ability to inspire and connect peoples from every corner of the world, transcending spoken language and bridging cultural gaps spanning across vast open waters. As an educator, I am compelled to be an ambassador of music in all forms and to provide opportunities to others to connect, inspire, grow, and write their own story with music as a medium."
From an early age, Jason had always been fond of music. In his childhood, he would first experience music through his father who would play an acoustic guitar from time-to-time; captivating Jason and igniting an ember which would grow over the years. From banging on desks in school (to the lament of his teachers), to putting on imaginary concerts on his grandfathers back porch - it was clear that Jason was born to pursue music and be in front of an audience.
At the age of 10, Jason began studying Western music. His primary instrument was the trumpet. He would continue to play this throughout the remainder of his K-12 education. However, he was also exposed to euphonium and various percussion instruments. At the age of 15, Jason saw a taiko performance during a summer festival at the Florida Nature and Culture Center (FNCC). It was this performance that ignited his fascination for the Japanese drum and inspired him to begin his own taiko journey.
2006-2015
2006-2015
Immediately following high school, Jason was fortunate to have been introduced to master taiko drummer and founder of Matsuriza in Orlando, Florida, sensei ISHIKURA Takemasa. For the next ten years, Jason would cut his teeth and hone his skills on the drum through ISHIKURA-sensei's guidance and methods; learning common styles popular with Sukeroku daiko in Tokyo, Japan. For a decade, Jason would go on to serve as a member of Orlando Taiko Dojo and Matsuriza performing all over Florida and the southeast. To this day, Jason frequently returns to central Florida to perform at multiple events with Orlando Taiko Dojo and Matsuriza as a guest performer.
2015-Present
2015-Present
As Jason approached his tenth year with Orlando Taiko Dojo/Matsuriza, he felt compelled to begin to explore taiko outside of Florida. When visiting New England in 2012, Jason fell in love with the charming towns and breath taking scenary. So much so that he decided that he wanted to call New England his forever home. Specifically, the Granite State - New Hampshire. In 2014 after discovering that no taiko groups existed in the state, Jason decided that his
mission was to bring that drums of Japan to the state. And so, he sought guidance from Shoji Kameda who encouraged him to travel to Japan before attempting to start a group in New Hampshire. In 2015, Jason traveled to Japan spending two weeks immersing himself in the culture from which the drums he was so passionate about came from. His journey included a one week intensive with Art Lee of Wadaiko Tokara in the rural town of Iida, Nagano, Japan. This intensive would open Jason's eyes to different approaches to playing taiko, as well as introductory instruction to koto and shakuhachi. Jason would round out his trip with a short stay with champion shamisen player FUJII Reigen and a shinobue 'fitting' with master craftsmen TANAKA Yasutomo in Tokyo. In addition to his formative trip to Japan, Jason also began branching out and seeking further instruction from established, tenured professionals in the taiko community including intensive workshops with the incredible WATANABE Kaoru.
Front & center in the local Iida newspaper!
Shamisen 101 with the consummate FUJII Reigan!
A brief, but spectacular introductory lesson on koto playing the classic piece, 'Sakura, Sakura'.
Posing with the wonderful and kind TANAKA Yasutomo!
Summer 2015 - KWTC - Brooklyn, NY
Drilling/uchikomi striking. KWTC, Brooklyn, NY
Shishimai workshop with SUZUKI-sensei. Fall 2017. KWTC, Brooklyn, NY
Upon his return to Florida, Jason made the decision that it was time to embark on the next chapter of his taiko journey. This would mean leaving his beloved taiko family in Florida and grow new roots in New Hampshire. After receiving blessings from ISHIKURA-sensei to branch out on his own, Jason relocated to New Hampshire in 2016 with aspirations to bring the thundering sounds of the Japanese drum to the Granite State. In the summer of 2017, Hokuto Taiko Dojo was founded as the first and only school for Japanese taiko drumming in New Hampshire.
In addition to his efforts to bring taiko to New Hampshire, Jason also began collaborating with other taiko artists/groups, organizations, and musicians in the New England area to establish meaningful connections which would prove monumental for creating value in the community across the New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. His collaborations include performances and partnerships with UCONN, Odaiko New England, Wellesley Taiko, House of the Samurai, Shimokita Bam Bam, COF Dance, Sake Bomb, UMASS Boston, Japan Festival Boston, and more.
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