Music Lessons
Piano / Drum Set, Tabla, and Percussion / Guitar and Bass / Theory and Improvisation
Dustin Adams Music Studio
Denver, CO
My mission as an independent music teacher is to inspire and inform. I provide unique, high quality personalized private and group musical education services for people seeking beginning to advanced music instruction.
I enjoy sharing music through teaching and my style of instruction is rooted in a love of creating music, thousands of hours on the bandstand, even more in the practice room, musical training by many incredibly gifted music teachers and mentors, and years of teaching private music lessons.
The First Lesson is Free!
Lessons are $20 per half-hour session at my home studio centrally located in the Santa Fe Art District near downtown Denver, CO. Lesson fees are paid on the first lesson of every month, i.e. $80 per month (4 weeks) or $100 per month (5 weeks).
It's not uncommon to find me playing piano or guitar along with my drum students to give them the feel of what it's like to actually play music with other people!
Update: As of January 2013 I have started teaching music lessons several days a week at Avanti Music Academy in Highlands Ranch, CO.
It's not uncommon to find me playing piano or guitar along with my drum students to give them the feel of what it's like to actually play music with other people!
Update: As of January 2013 I have started teaching music lessons several days a week at Avanti Music Academy in Highlands Ranch, CO.
Piano Lessons
I teach piano lessons to people of all ages and abilities and my teaching style combines elements from traditional lessons like reading piano music, technical studies, music theory and ear training with learning how to play music by ear and what I consider most important, playing music with and for other people.
Lessons are customized to match each student's personal music goals and stylistic preferences. I help beginning pianists obtain a solid foundation in and appreciation for music as well as assist more experienced pianists with advanced topics such as improvisation and composition.
Fill out the form below if you are interested in piano lessons. The introductory lesson is always free so we can meet and I guarantee that you will learn something so contact me today!
Fill out the form below if you are interested in piano lessons. The introductory lesson is always free so we can meet and I guarantee that you will learn something so contact me today!
Drum Set and Percussion Lessons
Drum lessons are fun, you will learn a lot, and taking lessons will make you a better drummer and musician. I have been teaching drum lessons since 2006 and have taught hundreds of music lessons to people of all ages.
People taking drum lessons with me will develop the ability to read rhythmic music notation and gain stick control and technique on the snare drum, which is the centerpiece and arguably the most important component of the modern drum set. If a student has aspirations to play the drum set at an advanced level development of snare technique and rudiments should be a priority. A drum set is mostly a collection of drums and cymbals. The more control a person has when playing one drum, the more control he or she will have while playing a collection of multiple instruments.
Drum students develop duple and triplet based coordination between the hands and feet, as well learn economic principles of motion around the various components of the drum set. The core of the modern drum set is the snare drum, bass drum, hi-hats and ride cymbal. Having a solid foundation with respect to coordination is as essential to modern drum set playing as learning scales is to a melodic instrumentalist.
A variety of drum grooves and styles of playing will be developed. Students will gain exposure to and cultivate an appreciation for a variety of musical styles. Having an understanding of the role of the drum set in different genres will enable the musician to develop his or her unique style of playing. Students will play along to music, learn how to read drum set charts, learn about musical form, and develop active listening, critical, and analytical thinking skills.
Take your drumming to the next level with some lessons! Contact me for a free introductory lesson today!
Guitar and Bass Lessons
- Learn how to read, write, and play guitar and bass music tabulature and standard music notation. It's not as difficult as you may think although like any skill it does take practice!
- Learn your Scales and Chords!
- Learn Picking and Finger-style techniques.
- Learn how to read and interpret lead sheets. This skill is useful for performing with jazz, rock, pop, church, country groups, etc.
- Learn improvisation skills in a variety of musical styles. (Jazz, Rock, Blues, R&B, etc.)
Miscellaneous Topics
- Music Composition
- Recording Techniques
- Jazz and Classical Music Theory
- Music Business and Marketing
- Music History
- Transcription
Testimonials
"I kid you not when I say that I have said (to myself and others) time and time again, “I would take lessons again if someone like Dustin Adams was teaching them”. I know I only did a handful of lessons with you, but I was learning so much, and you really worked to meet me at my level, and where I’m coming from as a musician, giving me the freedom to learn in the way that best suits me (visually, practically and by ear rather than just reading or learning songs)." – Blake (piano)
“Dustin has an enormous amount of musical talent and experience, which is present in the lessons. I believe this led to a deeper understanding of music.” - Adam (drum set)
“My daughter took piano lessons from Dustin. Her appreciation of music blossomed. She learned rhythm and continues to grow musically.” - The Boswells (piano)
“Dustin took a personal interest in me, showed great passion for music and I could tell he loved sharing that with me. I also really liked that he had two drum sets.” -Rufina (drum set)
"I just finished my first music video for one of the songs off my demo. I wish you lived in Austin so we could continue working. I love songwriting and you gave me some techniques that helped me think outside the box." -Andrew (drum set)
"We had him in (guitar) lessons before and he was not really into it. But now he is loving it, and has even joined "a band" at school :) He thinks you are a great teacher and talks about how great you guys play together." -Eli's mother (guitar)
"I just finished my first music video for one of the songs off my demo. I wish you lived in Austin so we could continue working. I love songwriting and you gave me some techniques that helped me think outside the box." -Andrew (drum set)
"We had him in (guitar) lessons before and he was not really into it. But now he is loving it, and has even joined "a band" at school :) He thinks you are a great teacher and talks about how great you guys play together." -Eli's mother (guitar)
Denver, Colorado, CO, music lessons, piano lessons, drum lessons, drum set lessons, guitar lessons, jazz piano, music teacher, music instructor, tabla, Santa Fe Art District
