John Caserta

Teaches Drums, Guitar, Bass, Piano, Ukulele, Songwriting, & Production

About John

My name is John Caserta, I have been playing music for over 20 years and recently graduated from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia for Music Performance, with a minor in Music Business Entrepreneurship & Technology. I have taught privately for 10 years and believe that the best way to teach a student is to find their interests and build upon them. I believe that every musician/person has their own sound/voice and that finding that voice can be a very exciting and fruitful adventure. I teach bass, guitar, piano, and ukulele but specialize in drums and percussion. While I mainly play drum set, I can also teach students a variety of world/orchestral percussion such as congas, bongos, djembe, marimba, timpani, etc. Please feel free to ask about lessons on any percussive instrument.

"I believe that every musician/person has their own sound/voice and that finding that voice can be a very exciting and fruitful adventure."

When did you start playing music, what brought you to it?

I have always played the drums since I was born, maybe because my dad played as a kid.

What are some musical goals you hope to achieve in the future?

No goals, just get closer and closer to having my own voice and serving the music as best I can.

What other instruments, aside from the ones you teach, have you played before?

Assorted Brazilian/Cuban percussion, middle eastern percussion/stringed instruments... a lot

What style(s) of music do you like to play the most? Why?

If it is good music, and makes people feel something, I like to play it. If it is overly complex and people don't feel anything for it, I don't enjoy playing it.

What advice could you give to someone who has just begun learning music?

Play what you feel and what you hear. Have fun at the instrument always.

What are some of your favorite teaching moments?

One of my favorite things a teacher said to me was 'you only need enough technical ability to express yourself'.

What is a musical obstacle that you remember overcoming? How did you overcome it?

In school, I was not coming from a jazz background and was being surrounded by jazz players. I overcame it by realizing that there is a million things that I can do that they can't and vice versa, so we all can bring unique sounds/perspectives to the table which is beautiful.

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