We are proud to announce that Dr. Bob’s SoundSchool has been introduced into the Madison County School District in Western North Carolina. Dr. Bob’s SoundSchool (DBSS), the Foundation’s hallmark educational project, is a 10-week experiential curriculum that teaches second graders the science of sound through the magic of music.  Dr. Bob’s SoundSchool is also taught in Asheville City Schools and Buncombe County Schools.

The DBSS curriculum teaches second grade students the physics of sound using acoustic and electronic musical instruments such as the theremin, as well as oscilloscopes and custom educational materials and processes developed by the Bob Moog Foundation educational team. Through DBSS, students gain a thorough understanding of vibrations, waveforms, sound travel and parameters of sound such as pitch/frequency and loudness/amplitude.

Madison County Schools, a progressive school district serving a rural, high poverty area northwest of Asheville, NC, embraced the science curriculum across all second grade classes. Madison County Schools taught the curriculum to the students beginning in August of 2013 and will be presenting the Madison County Dr. Bob’s SoundSchool Grande Finale at the Orange Peel on October 31st,  demonstrating what the children have learned through song, poetry and other theatrical medium.

Dr. Jonna Kwiatkowski, the Curriculum Research Coordinator for DBSS (a volunteer position), serves as a professor of psychology at Mars Hill Univerisity, specializing in creativity and assessments. Dr. Kwiatkowski is responsible for overseeing the development of the curriculum to meet state and national standards. For the Madison County expansion, she solicited the assistance of an intern from Mars Hill, who has assisted the teachers with the curriculum and will be assisting Dr. Kwiatkowski with assessment data.

Michelle Begnino, Assistant Curriculum Director for Madison County Schools, states “We are so pleased with the experience our children and teachers have had working with Dr. Bob’s Sound School and with Mars Hill University, which has supported assessment data and an intern assistant for the program.  The excitement our children radiate when talking about the DBSS lessons will be on full display Thursday at the Orange Peel.  As we focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) throughout our district, this curriculum gives teachers the chance to implement lessons that have the rigor and the support to be successful! We have tremendously bright children in our system of high poverty and DBSS gives our children wonderful, hands-on learning opportunities and a chance to shine.”

Michelle Moog-Koussa, Executive Director of the Bob Moog Foundation, reflects on the growth of Dr. Bob’s SoundSchool into Madison County, “The Bob Moog Foundation is proud to partner with Madison County School district to bring its  teachers and children our innovative curriculum, which helps enlighten students to the basic physics of sound in the early stages of their science education. The administration, teachers, and students have enthusiastically embraced teaching and learning the material, and by all reports it has been a great success with the students.”

Madison County will celebrate the conclusion of Dr. Bob’s SoundSchool with a Grand Finale event at the Orange Peel, a popular music venue in downtown Asheville, on the morning of October 31, 2013. The event takes place from 10am -11:30 and is open to the public.