Date Awarded: August 2009
Awarding Institute: Monash University, Melbourne Campus
Subject areas: English, Media, Music
Experience: K – 12
Qualification: Bachelor of Arts (Philosophy, English and Film Studies)
Date Awarded: December 2005
Awarding Institute: The University of Sydney
Camperdown Campus
Qualification: Masters in Media Arts and Production
Date Awarded: December 2010
Awarding Institute: University of Technology Sydney
As a drum teacher, Kasem routinely prepares students for Rock School and Trinity Guildhall exams as well as tutoring those students to gain and consolidate their musical and percussive skills. As a performer he is currently part of King With No Throne (
www.king-with-no-throne.com), a band that is best described as fusing elements of trance, rock, funk and trip-hop. He records, composes and performs regularly in the UK and Europe.
2010, As a drum teacher Kasem continued to transcribe songs and develop his drum teaching resources and expertise. His students continued to benefit from his development and dedication as a drum teacher. As a performer, his band, King With No Throne played at Das Festival, sharing the stage with luminous figures such as Simple Minds and Super Tramp’s Roger Hodgson. Kasem performed and recorded with the band Jeeps whose sound was reminiscent of Nirvana, punk and folk.
2009 – 2008, Drum teaching highlight was King With No Throne produced, recorded and performed in the UK and continued to define their sound and presence as a band. Kasem completed a Diploma in Secondary Education at Monash University, Australia. Drum teaching continued where Kasem developed rudiment fills, and applying the rudiments in a variety of ways to develop what he calls ‘the grammar of drumming expression.’ His band performed in Leipzig, Germany and London, where they played some solid gigs to the delight of their fans and those who were present.
2007, Drum teaching continued in London and he developed his lessons incorporating jazz and afro-Cuban grooves within a contemporary context. His students continued to flourish and pass exams with excellent results. King With No Throne continued to grow and record, playing gigs in Camden and other venues in London.
2006, Drum teaching was in full swing and during this time Kasem started a Masters. The drum lessons grew and he updated his teaching resources and included a whole list of songs from Led Zeppelin, Hendrix and other classic artists. King With No Throne was born and the important move from Sydney to London came in July where they first played at The Dublin Castle. They recorded, and engineered a new sound and approach from their previous efforts with Topenkin.
2005 – 2002, Drum teaching high lights was the consolidation of drum teaching manual, written and compiled since 1997. Formation of the band Topenkin that played gigs in Sydney. Their sound was described as a hybrid of Pink Floyd, Massive Attack and Prodigy.
1999 – 2001, Drum lessons evolved to a point where Kasem opened up his own drum teaching studio in Randwick, Sydney and continued to recruit, retain and developed drum students of all ages. During this time, he also invested considerably, buying drums, cymbals, and kits to teach more effectively.
1997 – 1998, Kasem started teaching at various schools in Sydney and in this time his success was generally attributed to his knack for teaching and of effectively imbuing enthusiasm and firing up the imagination of his students. As a performer, Kasem started the band Trace Element, a hip-hop band that came second in the Battle of the Bands competition in 1998. They recorded and were part of social causes that included Reclaim the Streets and Wilderness Foundation fund raising. He also joined the band Tantrum, who produced a classical blues, funk and blues sound. They recorded, performed and found success in Sydney.
1995 – 1996, Kasem formed the band Trauma, a university based band from University of New South Wales, and they performed extensively in the university scene. There sound was inspired by U2, and Jimmy Hendrix.
1988 – 1994, As a school student, Kasem began to teach himself drums and later joined the school band where he enjoyed fame and notoriety as the school drummer. His classmates would delight in his ability to play the drum parts from the hit songs of that time.
