Master of Music (Boston University)
Bachelor of Arts (Brandeis University)
Zoe Fong is a M.M. graduate of Boston University School of Music and B.A. graduate of Brandeis University, where she studied music education and music composition respectively. She is a viola, violin, and ukulele player and has performed (primarily as a violist) in Canada, the United States, Austria, Germany, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and the Philippines. As a composition student at Brandeis, she focused on film scoring and minored in film studies, and additionally went abroad to Vienna, Austria for one semester to focus on viola performance. She loves musical theatre as well and has experience as a music director, conductor, performer, pit orchestra musician, and producer in various community and university productions.
While Zoe has found joy in many musical areas, she has found her true calling in music education. She has taught a range of ages and musical subjects including preschool music, elementary chorus, band, strings, and general music, middle school jazz band and strings, high school strings, chorus, and music theory, and private viola, violin, and composition lessons. There is nothing she loves more than sharing her passion for music and helping her students find their own passion and artistic voice.
Get to know Zoe…Beyond the Bio!
Hobbies: Teaching myself new instruments, dancing, reading
Musical influences: Kim Kashkashian, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Danny Elfman
Favourite food: Dumplings
Least favourite food: Broccoli
Favorite music: A little of everything!
Favourite song: Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen
Favourite movie: Ladybird
Favourite movie music: Edward Scissorhands – Danny Elfman
Favourite musical theatre/opera: Les Miserables, Hadestown, and Hamilton
Best quote from your teacher: “Don’t leave your baggage at the door. Bring it in and let’s make music with it.”
Favourite quote: “This will be our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than ever before.” – Leonard Bernstein
Favourite book: The Shadow of the Wind – Carlos Ruiz Zafon…and also Harry Potter by JK Rowling
Latest Homework from Zoe
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Weekly Homework Post – February 6th, 2020
I hope everyone is staying warm and dry in this snowy weather!
Hendry
– Reminder: Look into purchasing a shoulder rest. When you borrowed mine today, your sound was so much better and there was a lot less pain and exhaustion for you! While this is not a requirement, I do highly recommend getting one and I think it will improve your viola playing over all. If you do get one, make sure to keep it in your backpack so you can bring it to school and also to your lesson. I’ll include an Amazon link below.
– Recommended practice time: 15-20 min/day, 5 days/week
– Practice: A Major, D Major, and C Major scales, Twinkle theme and variations, French Folk Song, Lightly Row, and Song of the Wind. Now that you are much more comfortable with the notes, use the scales and Twinkle to focus on your bow hand and posture. Practice in front of a mirror if you can. Use French Folk Song and Lightly Row to focus on your sound and long bow strokes. Keep practicing Song of the Wind so you feel more comfortable with the fingerings and notes.
Thank you and happy playing! See you next week!



