Adam Robinson is a shakuhachi player based in New York City. He has studied the iconic Japanese flute with Ralph Samuelson continuously since 2012 and has taken lessons in Japan with Tokumaru Jumei and Yamato Shudo. To supplement his shakuhachi life he studies Japanese ensemble music with acclaimed koto and shamisen players Sumie Kaneko (Yamada School) and Yoko Hiraoka (Ikuta School). 
Adam attended The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music where he studied improvisation and tenor saxophone. Post-grad experience in Conceptual Harmony was undertaken from 2013-2020 with La Monte Young, Marian Zazeela and Jung Hee Choi. He was a an original member of Gamin’s Unforgotten Song project in 2019. He currently performs with the Columbia University Gagaku Ensemble, The Hudson Valley Shakuhachi Choir, leads the Brooklyn Shakuhachi Club, and gives performances in the New York metropolitan area. 

Adam sends a monthly email report with updates about shakuhachi performances and writings about the study of traditional Japanese culture. You can sign up at www.adamrobinsonmusic.com 

What is a shakuhachi?

It is an end-blown flute developed in Japan to it’s current iteration in the 17th century. It was played by Buddhist monks as part of their meditation practice. The shakuhachi was adapted by exceptional musicians later on as part of the classical musical tradition of Japan.