Music Fundamentals for Tuba Book by Ycaza ’19 Published by Conway Publications
“Mindful Musical Fundamentals for Tuba,” a book written by Stephanie Ycaza ’19 (Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance – Tuba), was recently published by Conway Publications. It contains 64 unique melodies that provide players with a mental, musical warm-up while utilizing their fundamental skills. The melodies offer a variety of key/mode, register, and stylistic challenges.
Dr. Ycaza currently serves as assistant professor of tuba and euphonium at the University of North Carolina – Greensboro. She previously held the position of instructor of tuba and euphonium at the University of Northern Iowa, and has also served on the music faculties of Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia State University, Longwood University, the University of Richmond, and Shenandoah University. Ycaza is active as a masterclass teacher and as a clinician for middle and high school bands.
Ycaza is a founding member of Calypsus Brass, a brass quintet dedicated to performing new works and providing high-quality recordings for composers. Calypsus is committed to promoting the works of composers from historically marginalized groups, and serves as an ensemble-in-residence for Rising Tide Music Press. Ycaza is principal tuba of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony, and has also performed with the Virginia Symphony, the Williamsburg Symphony, the Capital Wind Symphony, and the Virginia Grand Military band. She has also contributed to recording projects at Spacebomb Records in Richmond, Virginia. Ycaza’s recent solo performances have focused on music for tuba with electronic accompaniment, music by women composers, and her own transcriptions and arrangements for low brass. She has appeared as a soloist at the International Tuba Euphonium Conference, the Northeast, Southeast, and Midwest Regional ITEA Conferences, the Army Band Tuba-Euphonium Workshop, and the International Women’s Brass Conference. Ycaza also writes and gives presentations on the topic of mindfulness in the practice and performance of music.
Ycaza holds a Master of Music degree and Artist Diploma from Yale University, and a Bachelor of Music degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. She studied with Dr. Ross Walter, Toby Hanks, Mike Roylance, Andrew Hitz and Michael Bunn. Ycaza is a Miraphone tuba artist.
