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 – July 20, 2022
Olivia – hope you’re able to get some rest!
– Recommended practice time: 30 min/day, 5 days/week
– Practice: Review 2-octave Major and minor scales (try to memorise fingering patterns for each scale, and focus on F Major shift to fifth position – remember you go 1-2-3 and then shift, not 1-2-3-4 shift), Spring (practice end of second page and beginning of second page – play through slowly and get familiar with the notes), and see if there’s anything you’d like to add to our Zero to Hero arrangement, especially where we left off at m. 70 and what to do with those intervals!
Hendry – great work with your shifting in Gavotte and making it to the end of Hibari!
– Recommended practice time: 30 min/day, 5 days/week
– Practice: C, D, E-flat, E, F, and G Major scales (2 octaves, doing our usual posture and bow hold check each time before playing, and focusing on the ascending part of E Major and the shift to third position in G Major), D minor scale (2 octaves – natural, melodic, harmonic – focus on natural fingerings), A Major scale (1 octave, open positions with high 3 on G and D strings), Gavotte (remember to have shorter bows when there’s a staccato dot, especially at the end of phrases) and Hibari (make sure to stretch third finger for F#, C#, and G#).
Thank you, stay safe, and happy playing!
Weekly Homework Post – February 23rd, 2020
I hope everyone has been enjoying this wonderful sunny weather!
Ramiro – Thanks for bringing your Suzuki book today! Let’s continue to remember to bring it.
– Recommended practice time: 15-20 min/day, 5 days/week
– Practice: A and D Major scales, Twinkle theme and variations, and Lightly Row. Play the scales using long bow strokes and use the time to pay attention to make sure your bow is in between the bridge and fingerboard, and to also check on your posture. Choose 2-3 variations of Twinkle to play each time you practice and focus on keeping a steady beat. For Lightly Row, continue playing and repeating until you feel more comfortable. Watch out for the rhythms and where your fingers are on the fingerboard.
Olivia – Keep thinking about Intermediate vs Senior Strings! Just remember there is no pressure and no wrong answer. It’s more about how much commitment you want to put into it, and your music teacher at school said you have time to think about it.
– Recommended practice time: 30-40 min/day, 5 days/week
– Practice: G, D, and C Major scales (two octaves), A minor scale (one octave, melodic and harmonic) and sight reading in your book. When sight reading, remember to take your time! Take a look at the key signature, time signature, what notes occur most often, what rhythms occur most often, etc. There is no need to rush into it. We will keep sight reading and also finding a solo piece during your next lesson!
Thank you, everybody, and happy playing!