Choose Your Drum Teacher

Dara Adams-Smith earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Performance and Music Production & Engineering from Berklee College of Music in 1993 and a Master of Arts in Teaching Secondary Music Education from the University of New Hampshire in 1999. She is an experienced music educator who teaches Drum Set, Trumpet, Trombone, Clarinet, Beginner Flute, and Music Theory. Dara is passionate about helping students of all ages—from young beginners to adults—develop confidence, creativity, and a lifelong love of music in a fun, encouraging, and supportive learning environment. For more than 21 years, Dara served as Director of Bands and Music Technology at Hampshire Regional Middle and High School in western Massachusetts. She also taught beginning band for grades 4–6, spent 18 years as an adjunct trumpet instructor at Northfield Mount Hermon School, and has taught music theory and percussion to children ages 3–6 through the Animal Adventures in Music program at the Northampton Community Music Center. Dara's lessons combine strong music fundamentals with creativity and enjoyment. Whether introducing a young child to rhythm through play, helping a school-aged student prepare for band, or working with teens and adults exploring rock, jazz, pop, and contemporary styles, she tailors each lesson to the individual student's goals, age, and learning style.

Colin Rosso is a professional drummer, producer, songwriter, and educator based in Los Angeles, where he teaches, performs, and collaborates with artists across a variety of genres. A graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music, Colin specializes in drum set and percussion instruction, with experience spanning jazz, classical percussion, rock, metal, pop, hip-hop, Afro-Cuban music, and electronic and EDM music. As a recording artist, producer, and songwriter, Colin has released music that has earned tens of millions of streams worldwide and has collaborated with artists including Kehlani, Kanye West, OTR, Zerb, Salva, Jesse Noyes, and many others. He has performed throughout the East Coast, Canada, and Central America, appeared at venues such as Symphony Hall in Boston, and has created over 1,700 educational drum videos as a product demonstration artist. Colin is endorsed by Bosphorus Cymbals, 3:14 Drumsmiths, and Fvmly Streetwear. Colin has taught thousands of drum lessons, clinics, and masterclasses to students of all ages and skill levels through both in-person and online instruction. His students have performed in school concert bands, jazz bands, and their own groups, while advanced students have successfully auditioned for and been accepted into programs including The Hartt School of Music, SUNY Purchase, and Loyola School of Music.