“When I took my first piano lesson from Adam, I had three strikes against me: one, as a result of an accident, I only have nine fingers. Two, I’m eighty years old and never played an instrument. Three, I live in an apartment. When Covid didn’t kill me and I was gifted an old upright piano, I found Adam, and he has been amazing. He works out how to play each piece with nine fingers so he can show me the fingering. He’s patient with my glacial progress and my aging mind. He gives me beautiful chord progressions and exciting assignments that I love to practice. After ten months of work with Adam, I have made it through the first book, and Adam brought me a couple of classical pieces I can now play, slowly but with expression and pleasure. Recently I got a digital piano with headphones, so I can practice without driving neighbors nuts; and now practicing is my secret vice. I was a teacher, and I recognize Adam’s informal, encouraging style as excellence in teaching. If playing piano is on your bucket list, he's the man to call." Kathryn Kendall— NW Portland, OR—June, 2024
"Adam has been a steady and welcome influence in our son's development as a learner and music lover. He was our son's piano teacher from about age 9 to age 18. One of Adam's super powers is his ability to connect with his students across a really wide range of ages to create curiosity for learning, encouragement for practice, and desire for mastery. I am amazed at how he managed to keep kindling our son's interest by giving him choice in the pieces they learn, but at the same time, balancing the increase in skill and technique along the way. We are so grateful that our son has gotten to have him as a teacher. I am sure our son will be hitting up Adam when he comes home from college for the holidays!" Padmashree Koneti - NW Portland, OR - August 2023
"We've known Adam for over 2 years now, and it has been a pleasure to watch our son blossom as a piano player with Adam's tutelage. Adam's style is approachable, yet accomplished, and gets to the heart of the melody and technique of a song. Rather than take a strict "you must do it this way", Adam is able to appeal to his students with the original score while showing how to get there and what else is possible. Having seen both my children learn over a 10 year period, I am refreshed to finally see a teacher who can preserve the joy of the music and of playing in his students. Added bonus: he is a joy to listen to! I am confident our 12-year old will stay with the instrument for a while, and will have fond memories of this period of learning from Adam." - Padmashree Koneti - NW Portland, OR - March 2017
“I heard Adam play with his band at a concert in Corvallis, Oregon, and immediately knew I wanted to learn from him. I'm a middle-aged rusty but decent classical pianist, with fair to middlin' rock/blues chops. He was excellent at gauging my abilities and aiming instruction and homework to my level. He knows theory and improvisation that go far deeper than anything I will ever be able to master, but he offers plenty of new ideas and next level approaches that have broadened my playing, melodically and chordally. Thank you, Adam!” - Erica Prince - Corvallis, OR - July 2023
"Adam taught our son and daughter piano for over 10 years with an approach centered on what generated interest and energy for them. While he didn't sacrifice the essential elements of teaching them classical theory, sight reading, rhythm, dynamics, etc., he readily introduced pop, rock and jazz into the mix. We loved hearing them play both the old masters but also working on jazz improvisation or playing songs of their favorite bands. The low key approach to recitals also worked well for our kids. Adam always made it fun and was flexible--we quickly pivoted to zoom during the pandemic and made it work. While Adam was great with kids, he'd be our first choice for adult lessons as well (which may be in our future!)." - Evan & Jenn Reynolds, SW Portland, OR - June, 2023
"Adam King is a gifted music teacher. He connected with our son right away. Adam’s training in classical music was a key element in exposing Brett to something that would become both a passion and a course of study. Our son is now studying away in Europe as a Music Composition major in college. It is accurate to say the approximately two years he studied with Adam have changed the course of his professional life and brought him great fulfillment. Adam knows music and also has a wonderful and easy way with relating to people. I highly recommend him." - Susan Rodriguez - Beaverton, OR - May 2015