Celebrating Jim Cauter - Music Teacher - Alumni Appreciation Page

12/11/2025

Hi eveyone! I have heard that people cannot make a separate post by themselves here. Not sure why as the settings all say "public" so not sure what is going on. Please post under one of the existing posts with your messages, photos, etc. or pm me w your post and I can post for you here! He will not see any new messages through messenger. Thank you!

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11/02/2025

Cal High 1983 Jazz Band Before and After Photos! What a great memory! And too many others to count. “Liner man” - the original band super hero w Paul Schuto! Link, the wild drummer!  We laughed, God how we laughed!

We all changed so much in high school. We got that freedom away from our parents and the taste of learning new things that end up staying with you for a lifetime. All the music classes that I took with you created so many memories. As many people have mentioned below, we hung out in that music room before during an after class. You created a space for all of us, from different groups as far as popularity, and as far as introverts versus extroverts. We all got along and all had the common thread of our love of music and our love of you. You created a family. You created memories that we hold and have held as the best memories of our high school years.

Some of your students have gone on to be professional musicians because you believed in them. I could not, and still cannot read music and relied on my partner in crime, Terina Reynolds,  to play the piano and have me listen until I learned each song. You had so much patience with me and taught the band to also be patient while I learned. You had enough faith in me to eventually be the drill team, captain, which in true Capricorn style I took way too seriously.

Our trip to Europe is one I will never forget. To experience travel with anyone, much less your teacher is always life-changing. Experiencing the Berlin wall while it was still there, listening to the waltz in Austria, you made sure we experience the music as much as we experienced each country’s food and traditions we visited.

I second the comment from John Link below where he stated that you were there for us not only as a teacher, but a confidant and counselor when we needed it.

One of the best things about social media is that it has allowed us to keep up with Sylvia, who has always kept us up-to-date on your ongoing career and retirement now.

This page is just a small fraction of those who you have affected in ways that have carried on. I wish you the happiest of birthdays and here is to many more! We Love you yah yah yah JC - Cara xo

11/02/2025

11/02/2025

After decades of conducting, inspiring, and spreading the love of music, it’s time to turn the spotlight on Mr. Jim Cauter!

Submit your video, photo, or written note by December 10, 2025 — tell him what you remember most about your time in his classes, what he taught you, what instrument you played, what school and years you attended and how the music you shared together shaped your journey.

His 70th birthday is coming up on December 16, 2025 and we’re putting together a virtual “encore” of appreciation from all his former students.

Jim taught in both California and Washington State and we who had the priveledge of having him as our music teacher can all agree that his classes were what we remember most from our school years.

Let’s fill this page with harmony, memories, and gratitude for the man who made music come alive for us all!

PS - this is a SURPRISE! JC does NOT have a FB page but if you speak to him before his birthday, please do NOT tell him thank you!

Happy Birthday JC! We all love you so much!