 As an adolescent, he lived in Woodstock, Vermont for five years before moving to East Concord, New Hampshire.In the third grade, Adams took up the clarinet, initially taking lessons from his father, Carl Adams, and later with Boston Symphony Orchestra bass clarinetist Felix Viscuglia, as well as playing in various local orchestras and concert bands while a student.Adams began composing at the age of ten and first heard his music performed around the age of 13 or 14.