Dan Adams received his Master of Music degree from the University of Washington and his Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Idaho. His principal teachers have been Howard Robbins, Joe Morello, Babatunde Olatunji, Adebisi Adeleke, Tom Collier and Jim Chapin.

Professor Adams has over 25 years teaching experience as a private percussion instructor and has served two years as the District Music Supervisor for the Rainier School District. Since 1978 he has served as a special percussion consultant to the Olympia School District and has been the Director of Percussion Studies at Seattle Pacific University since 1988.

Adams has performed with the Ashi Opera of Japan, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Allegro Dance Series, the Pacific Northwest Chamber Chorus, Orchestra Seattle, the Olympic Brass Ensemble and the Seattle Pro Musica among others. His musical theater credits include the Civic Light Opera, Tacoma Actors Guild, Washington Center for the Performing Arts and the Village Theatre. He has opened concerts for Johnny Cash, Ricky Skaggs, Pam Tillis, Delbert McClinton, Hal Ketchum, Chaka Khan, and Etta James. His recording credits include the Soni Venturm, the Diamonds, Nokie Edwards, Primo Kim, the Mazeltones, Gene Nygaard, Greg Adams, and Orchestra Seattle.