17 independent music instructors currently teach at the Music Machine - more bios will be added soon!

Mike Casano, Drum Instructor Mike Casano has been playing drums since the age of three. The son of professional trumpeter Joe Casano, Mike was surrounded by great music both live and on record throughout his early years growing up in suburban Boston, MA. After gaining experience playing in his high school jazz, concert and marching bands, he was also performing with jazz ensembles at the New England Conservatory. Mike attended Berklee College of Music from 1996-2000. His four years there proved to be fertile period during which Mike met and played with many great teachers and fellow students. As a professional drummer, Mike’s versatile style and reliable groove allows him to work throughout the New England area in a broad range of musical situations, including R&B, rock, jazz, hip-hop, pop, funk, blues, jam band, latin, big band jazz, classical and musical theater. He’s performed with the legendary R&B/soul group The Drifters and appears on their 2005 live album Charlie Thomas’ Drifters Live! He has also played numerous shows with R&B great Ellis Hall, Boston jazz legend George Garzone and the renowned John Allmark Jazz Orchestra. Mike has also been making a name for himself playing often with Brass Force, the East Side Horns and Soul Kitchen and many others. Mike is also the leader of his own jazz projects, The Mike Casano Quartet featuring George Garzone and the Mike Casano Collective, a group of top New England area jazz musicians. In addition to live performances, Mike appears on numerous recordings, including singer/songwriter Katrin’s forthcoming album Soul Wide Open, jazz/rock guitarist Adam Douglass’ latest release Seersucker and recordings with Christine Fawson, Ethan Gutzeit Trio and the original hip-hop group Mike co-founded, The True Monks. His television and radio credits include an appearance on WBZ-TV channel 4 in Boston on the Liz Walker Show with jazz/funk saxophonist Myanna. He has also played live on WERS 88.9 FM radio in Boston numerous times with various groups, including his own jazz group. Mike also has vast experience playing in musical theater, including the show Dessa Rose at the New Repertory Theater in Watertown, MA. He has also played the shows West Side Story, Crazy For You, Gypsy, The King & I, Once On This Island, Fiddler on the Roof, Guys & Dolls, Pajama Game, Godspell, Secret Garden and others. Mike is also a freelance writer, with several articles scheduled to be published in upcoming issues of Modern Drummer magazine in 2008. Mike’s Policies Mike is available to teach Thu 3:00-8:00 and Fri 3:00-6:30. His rate is currently $23/half hour. Each student is allowed to reschedule up to four lessons per year beginning each September provided they inform the store ahead of time of the cancellation . (Make-up lessons must be scheduled by Aug 31st). Refer to the website for availability of times for make-up lessons. If Mike is absent, he will attempt to reschedule your lesson or may provide a substitute instructor.

Gary Johnson, Drum Instructor coming soon

John DiSanto, Drum Instructor coming soon