Introduce yourself in 280 characters or less.
I’m an ethnomusicologist and I specialize in teaching Chinese instrumental music, broadly defined. I have a child-like curiosity and love all kinds of music.
How would you describe your approach to teaching music? What do you enjoy the most about teaching?
I am big on teaching technique, and since I teach about six different Chinese instruments in the UBC Chinese Ensemble (Music 165A/565A), I have to be a life learner and hope my students will be too. Once students have achieved a degree of facility with their instruments, we work on different repertoire but we also talk about Chinese music history, theory, performance practice and improvisation. The Chinese Ensemble is a very ambitious course in that it is meant to give students a first experience of playing Chinese music in just one school year. I love to share my knowledge but I have to be wise about packing in just enough for the students to enjoy the class and not feel overwhelmed.
What courses are you teaching in 2020/21?
I am teaching Music 165A/565A, the UBC Chinese Ensemble.
What do you love about your instrument?
I play a lot of instruments! I’m not equally good at all of them but I enjoy all of them. I did my undergrad at UBC, majoring in piano in my first two years, and then voice in my final two years (yes, I can be rather indecisive!). During my undergrad, I learned the pipa (pear-shaped lute) and the zheng (21-string zither). I would say these are my strongest Chinese instruments. I have basic facility in the ruan (round plucked lute), the sanxian (fretless lute) and the dizi (bamboo flute). This summer I have been focussing on the erhu (bowed lute) and I’m loving it.
Describe one of your most memorable performances (good or bad!).
I sang a very simple song in front of a group of children once for a church event and I’m not sure what made my singing particularly special that evening, but the children were rather hushed and some had a kind of mesmerized look on their faces afterwards. I think I was able to speak about the song at some point and I felt like they understood its message and it touched them in some way. It was a very impromptu and simple moment but memorable.
What is your favourite piece of music/composer/musician?
I’ve always loved J.S. Bach and Bartok! I like to say that Bartok made me an ethnomusicologist before I heard of the label. I also love the works and arrangements of a Chinese musicologist/composer named Liu Tianhua. I also love new music. Last year, I heard a work I really loved by a Dutch composer/accordion player named Erica Roozendaal, performed by the Roadrunner Trio.
What other instruments would you like to play?
I play a lot of instruments already (it’s like a growing adoptive family where I try not to play favourites) but I would like to focus on the sheng (mouth organ) for 2021.
When you’re not practicing or teaching or performing, what are you most likely to be doing?
I love gardening. I’m working on re-landscaping my front flower beds. I also love cooking and baking and am working on my cheesecakes—the no-bake variety since it’s so hot right now! I love listening to stand-up comedy while cooking…or new music (not comparing them or anything though!).
For students thinking about the BMus program, what are your top three best reasons for studying music at UBC?
1) My biggest advice would be: don’t be shy and get to know your teachers and fellow students. I’ve been recently reminded of how dedicated all the faculty are in this school. Also, I’m still close to a lot of my friends from my BMus days. We love seeing each other and keeping in touch.
2) Don’t stress. Find ways to enjoy your music when you find you’re taking it too seriously.
3) Keep listening to all kinds of music and take time to explore and read about different worlds of music.
For more information about Dr. Wong, visit her faculty profile.
