Adam works with the student to assess their needs so he can foster their musicianship while helping the student to enjoy the process of making music. Getting to know the student and what they want out of music is key to this approach, as is the use of discussion, questioning, and critical thinking. He believes that the goal of private lessons is to advance the student to the point where they shouldn't have to spend the majority of their practice time working on their ensemble music outside of band. This allows them to focus on being a more holistic musicians by focusing on pedagogy that is better suited to their instrument and playing style.
Having taught in the public school system, Adam understands gaps and areas that are difficult to cover in the traditional classroom setting. Music theory and ear training are both incredibly valuable skills for young musicians to develop, but they are often minimally addressed in a traditional band setting due to time. Music theory is a passion of Adam's and he takes great joy in sharing it with his students.