I guess it was 5th grade (about 1974-5) that I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Carasea, as I had decided to take up the trombone. I remember the lessons we got in the basement of Oakdale elementary school, in the room that once served as the cafeteria. There were several of us (brass took lessons at once). As I recall there was me, Tom Carrel (french horn), Jan Koster, Demayne Murphy (coronet) and a couple others. This one time we were learning to play the tune, "Joshua Fit the Battle of Jerico". It was an old time jazz piece, and I thought to spice it up with some syncopation (before I really knew what that was). Mr. Carasea stopped me mid-recital and asked, "What the heck is THAT, Koski?" I explained my intention and he gave that twisted smile, shook his head and retorted, "Your'e not good enough for that....yet!". At U.L. Light Junior high school, when contest approached, he used to write up a kind of prep guide telling us what to expect. He sprinkled in call-outs to various students (mostly the first chairs of their section) usually admonishing them to their best performance while poking polite fun at their eccentricities. They were a riot. I had saved one for many years, but sadly lost it. Mr. Carasea also once told me that one of his favorite compositions was Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. I am listening to it now as I type this. Thank you Mr. Carasea, for the gift of music. You will not be forgotten.