Brass Area Welcome Magazine

S S A

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WE CULTIVATE ARTISTS Brass Area Welcome Magazine

The Department of Music

We Cultivate Artists.

The University of Texas at San Antonio is in the business of training excellent performers, educators, composers, and entrepreneurs.

The Department of Music serves more than 300 students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees.

These musicians are hungry to make their mark in the arts and are dedicated to social good.

The brass faculty is committed to cultivating your artistic voice and equipping you for the career you wish to pursue.

music.utsa.edu

The University of Texas at San Antonio

A note from Professor Oswaldo Zapata, your Brass Area Coordinator Hello and Welcome On behalf of the Brass Area at UTSA, I would like to welcome you and congratulate you for choosing to join our music family. In this Welcome Magazine, you will find information that will help you to get to know our brass faculty and studios a little better.

Our priority is to guide you through your academic education. We have your future professional success as our main goal, and we strive to maintain a positive environment in our area. Aside from technical musical knowledge, we also prioritize the development of interpersonal skills that will promote long-term achievement.

In our music family, we recognize and celebrate every student’s unique personal experiences. Distinct backgrounds, goals, and learning methods make each of our students special. We take that into consideration, and approach every aspect of the learning process on an individual basis. We have no doubt that with hard work, discipline, and an open mind, we can guide you to be a successful professional and musician.

Please do not hesitate to contact me, or your applied lesson instructor, if you have any questions, and once again, welcome to UTSA! Oswaldo Zapata, DMA Assistant Professor of Trumpet Brass Area Coordinator

Dr. Oswaldo Zapata Brass Area Coordinator

The Department of Music

Steve Parker

Gary Poffenbarger Jeffery Castle Oswaldo Zapata

Peter Rubins John Caputo

Faculty Introductions Proudly, we have several former members of the United States Air Force Band on our faculty. These include Jeff Castle (trumpet), John Caputo (euphonium), and Gary Poffenbarger (tuba). Together, they served a cumulative total of more than 50 years with the U.S. Air Force.

Our trombone faculty, Dr. Steve Parker, is also a successful composer, visual artist, and curator. He has been the recipient of the Rome Prize, the Tito’s Prize, and a Fulbright Fellowship.

Peter Rubins, UTSA’s horn professor, is a long-time member of our city’s world-class orchestra, the San Antonio Symphony. He has performed with some of the world’s best orchestras, including the Pittsburgh, Chicago, Dallas and Milwaukee Symphonies.

Also, our Brass Area Coordinator and trumpet professor, Dr. Oswaldo Zapata, brings to UTSA a combination of his classical academic training and expertise in Latin styles, cultivated in his native Colombia and refined in the United States.

The above describes just the tip of the artistic iceberg for your brass faculty. Read more about them on the Music Department website.

The University of Texas at San Antonio

The Department of Music

Our Faculty Artists Lead By Example.

The UTSA Brass area faculty are committed to cultivating your art and equipping you for the career you wish to pursue.

We are comprised of six faculty members with distinct areas of study and rich musical backgrounds. Each of your professors has received recognition in their area of expertise.

With their leadership, UTSA has become a sought after music program.

The University of Texas at San Antonio

Meet your Brass Faculty

Jeffery Castle, Trumpet

Gary Poffenbarger, Tuba

Loves: family, friends, Mahler, great chamber music.

Fun Fact: love to binge watch great Netflix shows Motto: Don’t let anyone steal your joy..... stay positive!

Loves: God and my family Fun fact: Expert marksman, ridden a bike century 15 times, performed for millions all over the world Motto: These three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

John Caputo, Euphonium

Peter Rubins, Horn

euphoniumhero.com

Dr. Steve Parker, Trombone Loves: bike rides & ice cream with my six year old.

Fun fact: I play the didgeridoo, conch shells, & analog synth Motto: Listen. steve-parker.net

Loves: Our National Parks, afternoon coffee, and learning subjects in addition to music Fun fact: I’ve performed at the Vatican Motto: Build something good peterrubins.com

Dr. Oswaldo Zapata, trumpet Loves: music, coffee, hiking Fun fact: Prior to studying music, I was a member of the national police force in Colombia.

Motto: You only fail when you stop trying. oswaldozapata.myportfolio.com

The Department of Music

Are You Ready?

There is much to be done before the start of any semester. Here are some words of wisdom to help you succeed.

First things first, get your tech in order.

Be sure to talk with your UTSA lesson teacher about instruments long before your first semester. You’ll also need access to a laptop, or computer.

What Students Think You Should Know Laura Navarrette, Music Studies: “The students and faculty are so welcoming and kind with diverse teaching and learning skills. This makes it great to study and ask for help from anyone. One thing I noticed is that music classes take a lot more time than expected, so it’s best to plan ahead, make the time for school and yourself, and to not be afraid to ask for help!”

Philip Scheidt, Music Studies: "It can be easy to compare yourself to your peers, and you will undoubtedly do so many times. But you must remember that you are you, an individual amongst many others, and your circumstances as well as other factors affect your progression as a musician. As long as there is conscious effort being put towards your own improvement and success, you will have the tools you need as an individual to succeed. The moral here is that this is an individual journey that you are on, however it is not a lonely one; you will be surrounded by others with similar minds and similar goals. A community is here for you, one that will assist and support you as you travel along your musical path."

Aashish Mavani, Music Studies: “Don’t be afraid to meet people and make connections within your studio and especially those outside of your specialization (voice, wind, string, etc.). It feels great to be making music together!”

The University of Texas at San Antonio

The Department of Music

What You Study Matters.

Brass at UTSA is a fun area of study & your musical growth will come from many experiences.

Some of our students also take advantage of the COLFA Semester in Urbino where they spend four months exploring Italy while earning degree credits.

The experience is life-altering.

What Faculty Thinks You Should Know Dr. Zapata: “Our music department provides a family-like environment. When you arrive at UTSA, have an open mind and heart, and count on our familia to receive you, and support you in any way needed.”

Professor Castle: “Be a sponge when you arrive at school. You will learn so much from your professors, but you will also have an opportunity to plug into the music department community where peer-to-peer learning is very valuable. Do not be afraid to ask questions!”

Professor Rubins: “The field of music is wonderfully more detailed than entering students imagine. It won't be long before you graduate, so work hard in all of your classes to be well-prepared for the start of your career.”

Dr. Parker: “Try to broaden your worldview as much as possible during college and beyond.”

Professor Poffenbarger: “Networking, a varied background, and flexibility are your most important asset in the music business.”

We encourage prospective students: Visit the UTSA Campus Reach out to our lesson teachers Ask to sit in one of our ensembles for a day

The University of Texas at San Antonio

The Department of Music

Some Basics

What the Music Department & Faculty Think You Should Know

The University of Texas at San Antonio

Good communication and using a calendar are essential for music majors. Get used to using email and familiarize yourself with a calendar app or paper planner. From the moment anyone applies for admission, they should be checking their assigned UTSA email account.

New students are strongly encouraged to be communicating with their lesson teacher even before they enter school. The lesson teacher will also be grading you on more credit hours than anyone else during your studies as a music major. We want to guide you in the questions you may have. During the time you are a university student, you will talk more with your lesson teacher than with any other faculty member.

New and returning students should contact Julie Fischer or Jade Martinez, the advisors assigned to music students that will help you navigate your degree plan. They wil help you figure out which classes to take, AND when you need take them. You will be in communication with either Julie or Jade throughout your collegiate career.

Please register for all of your classes as early as possible. Don’t wait until week one to register. Classes do fill up and spots may not be available for when you wish. If there is a registration hold, find out why. If you have a question about a specific music class, contact Dr. Stacey Davis, Associate Chair of our department.

Registration for Music Convocation (MUS 2000) is required. It meets Tuesday, 11:30-12:20. The convocation hour brings together the entire department so that each student can garner important information relevant to music, as well as experience guest lectures, performances, and masterclasses.

Use your calendar app. Begin a regular practice schedule.

Seminar meets on Thursdays, 11:30-12:20. It is required for undergraduates. It does not have a separate registration. Attendance & participation in Seminar will be reflected in your lesson grade.

The Department of Music

The Brass StudiosHigh Brass Trumpet Horn

Trumpet, Horn Trumpet: Each semester, students are assigned to trumpet ensembles that represent the school in different events both on and off-campus. Our trumpet studio presents a yearly recital featuring different trumpet ensembles and solo performances. We also perform as part of the annual Winterlude festivities at UTSA. The International Trumpet Guild holds an annual summer conference in a different city. Students are welcome to attend as ITG members and often go as volunteers. The National Trumpet Competition also offers performing opportunities, masterclasses, and performance recording access for individual students and student ensembles. https://oswaldozapata.myportfolio.com/ https://www.facebook.com/utsatrumpets

Horn: Each semester, horns have the opportunity to participate in the UTSA Horn Ensemble, and other chamber ensembles. In Horn Seminar, students learn to give constructive commentary to one another. This is a time for brief student performances, discussion, and teacher presentations. Seminar is usually held in person. Students should also take advantage of the fantastic opportunities to hear live professional performances in San Antonio when Professor Rubins performs with the Symphony, Opera, Ballet, and Broadway Musicals. http://peterrubins.com/ https://youtu.be/Tsxl7PJSd64?t=445 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-arQDJN_SU

The University of Texas at San Antonio

The Department of Music

The Brass StudiosLow Brass Trombone Tuba Euphonium

Trombone, Tuba, Euphonium Trombone: Each semester, trombone students have the opportunity to participate in the Trombone Choir. This ensemble is devoted to expanding the creative scope of the trombone ensemble. To this end, the group performs music from a variety of musical traditions, including jazz, gospel, klezmer, Baroque, Renaissance, and avant-garde, and actively commissions new works by leading composers. Recent highlights include the production of a monumental work for 80 trombones at the Blanton Museum of Art in Austin, performing the National Anthem the San Antonio Spurs Game, and at the Big 12 Trombone Conference, and T.M.E.A. Performances have been featured on television and profiled in NewMusicBox, Culturmap Austin, and local NPR-affiliates. Video link: https://steve-parker.net/utsa-trombone-studio Tuba & Euphonium: The most unique part of the UTSA tuba/ euphonium studio is our ensemble, “The Boom Squad,” which performs regularly throughout the San Antonio area and on television. It provides members an exclusive opportunity to compose/arrange music and includes a mentorship program that allows upperclassmen to lead and conduct all aspects of the ensemble, including conducting, programming, announcing, publicity and social media, which are all vital parts to becoming a successful professional musician. video Links: https://youtu.be/-kSCZ4gUF7g https://youtu.be/a9rsC9LAjJ8 https://www.facebook.com/utsa.boomsquad http://www.euphoniumhero.com/

The University of Texas at San Antonio

The Department of Music

What Should I Expect The First Week?

In order to a smooth start, find out what might happen during your first week as a college student.

For our students, this will be the first time you will be parking on UTSA’s main campus. Parking can be tricky, and it would be wise to drive the campus to get a sense of walking distances before you choose a parking permit.

You should know the operating schedule of The Runner, our campus bus system, so you can arrive early to class.

Some Suggestions

The University of Texas at San Antonio

Have you heard about our VIA U-Pass? Current UTSA students can ride the public buses in San Antonio for free.

Before the first day of classes, scope out your class locations. Plan your routes, know where you want to grab a drink or food between classes, and locate the nearest restrooms...

Blackboard is a central online hub for many courses. You’ll have access in the first week of classes, and you should devote focused time to look through each course dashboard. You'll need to go over each course syllabus with a fine-toothed comb. As you read over the syllabi, start writing into your calendar the assignment due dates, exam dates, presentation date, etc.

College students are professionals in training, and a calendar will help you to be organized and accomplish more. Please be mindful that scheduling hours of study is best done by including some short breaks as well. Take a little walk, stretch, go to the Rec Center, talk with friends, listen to music etc. Having vast chunks of free time isn’t typical for music majors.

One thing that will help you begin college more smoothly is to have your books purchased before school begins. Faculty expect you to have your texts. You will likely receive assignments on day one that require the use of your text. If you are waiting on financial aid funds to drop before you can purchase books, consider letting your professor know your situation...but note that your professors will likely expect you to figure it out. It is helpful to note that some course textbooks are available in the John Peace Library, and you may be able to access your text there while waiting on a book to arrive.

On the topic of financial aid, some students face a delay in aid which requires them to deal with emergency loans and other difficult situations. Be mentally prepared for long wait times on the phone with Financial Aid in the weeks surrounding the start of the semester.

With so much happening at UTSA, it is likely that many people will be flustered on their first day, maybe even throughout the first week (or two). Keep this in mind when you are meeting new people and interacting with professors for the first time. Listen first, think before responding, and be kind.

The Department of Music

More Tips from the Brass Area Students and faculty in the Brass area want you to succeed, so take their advice to heart.

More Stuff

The University of Texas at San Antonio

In addition to the wonderful studio ensembles, registering for a chamber music credit provides unique opportunities to develop your musicianship and ensemble playing skills. These groups have opportunities to perform in recitals & convocation each semester, and may frequently participate in outreach projects off-campus.

Brass Seminar or individual studios meet on Thursdays from 11:30am to 12:20pm. These meetings present an invaluable opportunity for students to perform for their peers, and to give and receive feedback. Not only will you have the experience of performing the repertoire you are working on and receiving feedback on how to improve it, but you will also have the opportunity to assess other performances and learn how to give constructive criticism in a positive way.

Masterclasses, discussions, lectures and guest artists are also a part of these meetings.

Each year, students also have the opportunity to participate in the UTSA Concerto & Aria Competition. Winners perform with the UTSA Orchestra on a spring concert.

Students often take advantage of the close proximity to attend the annual TMEA and TBA/TODA/TCDA conferences, held in downtown San Antonio by the famous Riverwalk. ___________________________________________________________________________ When registering for applied lessons, is there a specific course number for freshman? Transfers?

How about for ensembles?

Private Lessons (Freshmen & Transfer Students) - MUS 1512/1542 UTSA University Band - MUS 3831 UTSA Symphonic Band - MUS 3831 UTSA Wind Ensemble - MUS 3831 UTSA Orchestra - MUS 3831 UTSA Jazz Ensemble - MUS 3771 UTSA Athletic Band - MUS 3801 UTSA Chamber Music - MUS 4581 (Chamber Music for Brass or Woodwind groups, Boom Squad, Horn groups)

The Department of Music

A Few Last Thoughts To Ready You. We want you to succeed, and to do so with joy. Here are more words of wisdom to encourage and prepare you to soak up what college offers.

Attend as many concerts, lectures, and recitals as you can! There are many events on our campus, plus there is a large city full of life all around you.

Some of the wonderful things to do in San Antonio

The University of Texas at San Antonio

Soak up the culture of San Antonio Check out Fiesta, visit The Japanese Tea Garden, experience Luminaria, go to the Symphony, the Ballet, the Opera, or a Broadway Musical, or attend the Rodeo or a Spurs game.

Walk the grounds of Mission Concepción, the Botanical Garden, the Zoo, or a park. Feast on our culinary heritage. View the Witte or SAMA. Spend a day at Fiesta Texas, Seaworld, Aquatica and more.

UTSA Music events calendar!

San Antonio is incredible - enjoy it to the fullest.

music.utsa.edu

The Department of Music

UTSA BRASS

music.utsa.edu Peter Rubins, editor