About
OVERVIEW
Founder's story
"This is my 13th year in business after leaving the corporate world! Basically, I am an adventure traveller who loves to make music. My first product was the Jamtown Rhythm Pak - a multicultural set of carefully chosen sounds to help people have fun making music. I work directly with small producer groups and extended families throughout the world. The goal is to have friends and sustain long-term trading relationships to create economic stability. With your help, we provide critical support to these low-income families through fair wages in the local context and other valuable assistance.
Jamtown is a proud trade member of the Fair Trade Federation (FTF) since 1999
~John Hayden, Founder
Our mission
Once upon a time, a traveler set out to find his purpose in the world. By plane and train, bus and foot, he asked friends and strangers for directions. Most of all, he listened to his heart, which whispered, 'allow your adventure to unfold.'
At every turn and crossing he found musical instruments. In distant villages, men and women poured their thearts into making the instruments. As he traveled, he added one from each place. When his bag was full, he headed home. On the final stretch, with his homeland nearly in sight, he realized that the bag of insturments represented something all people share in common ~ a love for music.
And at that moment, his mission came into clear focus. To share instruments from around the world in the hope that people would re-discover for themselves the joy that comes with making rhythm and music.
~John Hayden, Founder
Our philosophy
The types of products we sell
Jamtown is all about music fun with friends. We offer great looking, sweet sounding, percussion and wind instruments from around the world.
Where the producers live and work
At Jamtown, our research found there were five unique sounds that are found in most indigenous cultures, so we travel to Africa, Asia, and South America to illustrate music really does make the world go 'round! Can you name the 5 sounds? (Bells, Scrapers, Rhtyhm Sticks or wood-on-wood, Shakers and Drums!)
Projects we support
How we select what we sell
We select instruments based on sound, looks and value. How do you think we are doing?
What makes us unique
We play what we sell during our hands-on rhythm programs with schools, kids & parents, communities, and adult team-building.
More information about us
What began as a passion for adventure travel and music has blossomed into a business that connects people around the globe in a special way. After 13 years, our respect for and understanding of other cultures has grown and deepened.
At home, we still love music and play our stuff all the time at rhythm events; for Communities, Schools & Business settings.
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