The Bob Moog Foundation proudly announces the launch of a pilot program of its hallmark educational project,Dr. Bob’s SoundSchool, at Asheville City Schools’ (ACS) 2^nd grade classrooms.

Dr. Bob’s SoundSchool (formerly known as MoogLab) ignites the creative and innovative spirit by teaching children the science of sound through the magic of music. The experiential curriculum, which meets state and national standards, integrates intuitive, engaging electronic musical instruments to teach the physics of sound to young students. For the pilot phase of the program, the 2^nd graders are using theremins, which were donated to the BMF by Moog Music, Inc. In addition to an introduction to the physics of sound, students are taught about scientific method using examples from Bob Moog’s science notebooks, as well as examples from other seminal inventors.

Images from prior SoundSchool outreach (Photo credit: www.sicimages.com)

The SoundSchool curriculum was developed over the summer of 2011 by a team of music and science educators  along with music technologists. Jonna Kwiatkowski, PhD, Assistant Professor at Mars Hill College and experimental psychologist specializing in creativity, coordinated the curriculum team.

Following the development of the curriculum, the BMF collaborated with eight participating 2nd grade teachers from ACS, teaching them the necessary background knowledge regarding the concepts of sound in preparation for successful teaching of the SoundSchool curriculum. This professional development was conducted in the Fall of 2011.

Teacher training in fall 2011: Learning the priciples of sound (Photo credit: Tracie Acreman)

The pilot program will run for 10 weeks during the winter and early spring of 2012, after which an assessment measuring science proficiency and creativity will be issued to participating students as well as to a control group who will use a state provided kit-based curriculum.

The curriculum development and teacher training have been guided by Donalyn Small, Instructional Coach for Science at ACS. “This unique opportunity has been an honor for our district. It gives our students a chance to learn the concepts of sound using lessons that have been designed using a constructivist approach. They are innovative, authentic and promote creativity as well as 21st century learning skills. This partnership was timely as the state has recently adopted New Essential Standards for Science. The SoundSchool curriculum reflects these new standards,” Small explains.

Following the assessment of Dr. Bob’s SoundSchool, the BMF plans to seek grant funding to grow the program nationwide. Currently, the Foundation is conducting a fundraising campaign on IndieGoGo.com in an effort to raise $50,000 for the program.

The last in a series of kickoff events will take place on Tuesday, January 31 at Vance Elementary School. BMF volunteers August Worley and Ben Hovey will explore ideas, invention, sound, and music with 2^nd grade students as an introduction to the course work that will ensue over the next 10 weeks.

We are excited to announce the auction of a Moog Little Phatty Stage II synthesizer signed by over 15 artists from the floating musical experience, Jam Cruise 10. The auction, which benefits our educational project, Dr. Bob’s SoundSchool, will be hosted on the Bob Moog Foundation’s eBay portal from January 19 to January 29.

During Jam Cruise 10, which took place from January 9-14 2012, both legendary and contemporary musicians signed the instrument, including:

• Bruce Hornsby
• John Oates (Hall and Oates)
• Robert Walters (Greyboy Allstars)
• Neal Evans (Soulive)
• Joe Tatton (The New Mastersounds)
• Joel Cummins (Umphrey’s McGee)
• Nigel Hall (Lettuce)
• Rich Vogel (Galactic)
• Skerik (Garage a Trois)
• Alex B. (Paper Diamond)
• Adam Deitch (Break Science)
• Steve Kimock
• Toots (Toots and the Maytals)
• Trombone Shorty
• Colonel Bruce Hampton
• That 1 Guy
• DJ Logic
• Ulises Bella (Ozomatli)
• Asdru Sierra (Ozomatli)
• Jamie Shields (the New Deal)

Dr. Bob’s SoundSchool, our educational program, teaches children the science of sound through the magic of music. Using electronic musical instruments such as theremins, synthesizers and effect pedals, as well as oscilloscopes and other teaching aides, the innovative program engages children in the basic physics of sound through the parameters of electronic music. A standardized curriculum for Dr. Bob’s SoundSchool is currently in a pilot phase with the Asheville City Schools at the second grade level and our goal is to grow the program nationwide. Dr. Bob’s SoundsSchool brought its experiential learning experience to 50 children in Jamaica as part of Jam Cruise’s Positive Legacy project.

The Little Phatty® synthesizer was donated to the Bob Moog Foundation by Moog Music, Inc.  The Little Phatty Stage II is a monophonic analog synthesizer manufactured by Moog Music since 2006. It puts the performer in control of 100% analog signal path, two Voltage Controlled Oscillators and the Voltage Controlled Filter. Other versatile features include external audio input, CV and KB gate input, full MIDI controller, MIDI over USB, MIDI Clock Sync, an arpeggiator and Tap Tempo. The Little Phatty Stage II brings true analog synthesis to contemporary performance and production, making it modern music powerhouse.

Bidding on the autographed Little Phatty is now open!  You can place your bid here.

We are proud to announce the release of our 2012 calendar, “Moog Pioneers in the Studio”, which features photos and history from Bob Moog’s archives, as well as photos from collections of pioneering synthesists. The photos and text, compiled by BMF volunteer Historian Brian Kehew, focus not on the rock star pioneers, but rather on more obscure luminaries and their fantastic Moog modular synthesizers.

Through documenting the many  musicians, composers and scholars who collaborated with Bob Moog, the Foundation aims to share the breadth of material encompassed in the inventor’s archives and to share the rich history of electronic music.  In addition to three photos that feature Moog himself, the calendar also features:

• Jon Appleton
• Max Brand
• Joel Chadabe
• Herb Deutsch
• Mort Garson
• Emmanuel Ghent
• Jean Jaques-Perrey
• JD Robb
• Eric Siday
• Chris Swansen
• Gil Trythall
• Jon Weiss

The calendar includes forwords from Executive Director Michelle Moog-Koussa and from Brian Kehew.

The calendar is available for purchase on the Bob Moog Foundation’s brand new online store.

As an ode to Moog’s pioneering work in modular synthesis, the background of calendar grid features art images of vintage Moog modules from symphonic synthesist Erik Norlander’s 1967 modular system.  The images were taken by Shaun Hollingsworth of (SIC) Images. The calendar was designed by Rose Hecht and edited by Geary Yelton.

Saints be praised, the Bob Moog Foundation has released another fantastic, picture-laden calendar, this one for 2012! Featured in gorgeous vintage photos and posing with Moog Modular Synthesizers — and on occasion with the great Bob Moog himself — are 12 important pioneers of synthesized and electro-acoustic music. Some of these pioneers I’m familiar with, others not so much, and I welcome the challenge of learning more about them beyond what’s revealed by their accompanying captions. Cheers to the Bob Moog Foundation for recognizing these pioneers! I urge everyone to support the crucial Bob Moog Foundation cause by first purchasing this new calendar and by contributing in any way humanly possible.

—Mark Vail, Music Historian, Author, Teacher and Journalist.

All proceeds from  the sale of the calendar go to support the foundation’s ongoing projects, including the preservation of Bob’s historical and extensive archives, the expansion of our Student Outreach Project and future creation a Moogseum in Asheville, NC.

Early on the morning of the launch, when our first website went live, the phone rang and a deep, gentle voice left a message that began “Greetings on this very special day, my name is Doug Babb……….”. Little did we know on that day of the Foundation’s birth what many gifts Doug would have in store for us over the next five years.

Doug Babb is a musician and educator who was taught by Bob Moog’s friend, colleague, and avant- garde opera composer John Eaton at Indiana University. Through John, Doug met Bob Moog and later helped advise Bob on the parameters for a portable synth that Bob was working on with his team of engineers. This portable synth was later to become known as the Minimoog.  Doug maintained a deep interest in everything Moog and in more recent years worked in a consultant’s capacity for Moog Music, Inc.

Doug reached out to us on that August day in 2006 to see how he could help. It wasn’t long after that we discovered that Doug’s vast knowledge of the Moog legacy could be of great service in helping us understand the huge archive that Bob had left behind. In 2006, the collection was still in Bob’s former workshop in the hills of western NC where it was succumbing to the effects of mold, time and small rodents.

Doug generously volunteered to travel down to Asheville, NC from Indiana to help sort through the archives and assist us determining the breadth of the collection, and to prioritize it. This was a long process, involving five separate visits extending over almost a year’s time, and scores of hours in moldy conditions sorting, prioritizing, re-boxing and transporting Bob’s archives to safety. A couple of times Doug worked with Michelle and a team of volunteers. The rest of the time, it was the quiet, dedicated work of the two of them that resulted in the initial salvation of the historic collection.

Here are some photos that Doug took of those early days sifting through the archives (photos copyright Douglas Babb 2011):

The archives have been safely stored for almost five years, but Doug’s contributions to our efforts continue. This summer, Doug drove down to Asheville once again to donate over 800 electronic music-related magazines, including Keyboard Magazine, Electronic Musician, Tape-Op, Sound on Sound and more to the Bob Moog Foundation Archives.  This library of media will serve as a wonderful resource for students and researchers of electronic music history and will eventually be housed in the Moogseum. The Keyboard Magazines in particular include many articles written by Bob throughout the years.

Here is a sampling of the materials that Doug donated to the archives (Photos copyright the Bob Moog Foundation 2011):

Thank you Doug for your support and guidance in our work to protect and preserve Bob’s archives!

You can read more about Doug at www.TheMoogGuy.com and at this article in NUVO http://bit.ly/ru33hF.

At the center of the campaign is a short, beautiful video about the power of Dr. Bob’s SoundSchool. The video, produced by Flying Pig Studio, features Bob Moog’s own voice. Take a look:

Donation levels on the campaign range from $5 to $5000 with incentive perks being offered at each level. Rewards range from special downloads to CDs, with two centerpiece incentive perks including:

• A chance to win the 2011 Moogfest Minimoog Voyager synthesizer signed by over 25 Moogfest artists!  This gorgeous Select Series synth was donated by our friends over at Moog Music, Inc. and features whitewashed cabinet and a blue backlighting.

• A chance to win a VIP 2012 Moogfest Weekend  including 2 VIP tickets to Moogfest 2012 and a three night “Bed and Breakfast” stay at the beautiful and historic Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa, located just outside downtown Asheville.

Support the Indiegogo Dr. Bob’s SoundSchool campaign by donating at any level!

Make your involvement more powerful by sharing through this direct link on your Facebook page: http://on.fb.me/tRmQdu

The 2011 Moogfest Minimoog Voyager, which has since been dubbed “The most valuable Voyager in the world,” was signed by a legion of superstars and legends including:

• Amon Tobin
• Beak>
• Brian Eno
• Chromeo
• Dick Hyman
• Edgar Froese (Tangerine Dream)
• Ghostland Observatory
• Holy F**k
• Joel Cummins (Umphrey’s McGee)
• Moby
• Passion Pit
• Suicide
• STS9
• Terry Riley
• TV On the Radio
• Wayne Coyne (Flaming Lips)

You can enter to win the Voyager by visiting our Indiegogo campaign here.

Check out this cool gallery of the signed synth and many of the artist signings! Many of these photos were taken by Micah Mackenzie (http://micahmackenzie.wordpress.com/).

Boca – 68 North Lexington Ave

Located just a block over from the Asheville Civic Center, Boca serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a Tex-Mex flair. On Friday from 11:30-3:00pm, they will be donating 10% of their lunch sales. Boca will also be featuring a special Moog-ito and rich chocolaty desert that Bob would have loved.

Mela – 70 North Lexington Ave

Right next door to Boca you will find Mela, which offers North and South Indian dishes and a full bar. On Sunday they will be donating 10% of their lunch sales. Mela has a delicious lunch buffet from 11:30 to 2:30pm, so come hungry!

Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack – 1455 Patton Ave

Located across the river in West Asheville, Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack is a great option for those looking to take a break from the Moogfest crowds. They will be donating $1 to the Bob Moog Foundation for every bottle of Moog Filtered Ale that they sell. You’ll need it after a platter of their signature spicy fried chicken!

Moogfest History and Technical Panels Draw on Deep Legacy and Industry Connections

The Bob Moog Foundation is bringing together top minds in history, technology and education for this year’s history and technical panels. Experts, ranging from Bob’s colleagues in the seminal days of synthesis to the more contemporary sound sculptors of today, are coming from around the country to share their ideas and vast experiences. The Bob Moog Foundation will be responsible for the historical content at Moogfest, including items from Dr. Bob’s Archives such as rarely seen vintage photographs and historic audio clips from recently restored reel-to-reel tapes.

All panels, demonstrations, and workshops will take place between Noon and 6:30 PM EST at the Moogaplex, located at the Haywood Park Hotel complex at 1 Battery Park Avenue in downtown Asheville, just a stone’s throw from many of the music venues. They are first come, first serve for those who bought either weekend passes or have a pass for that particular day.

Convergence – Hardware and Software Integration in the 21st Century & The Award of  OMG-1 One-Of-A-Kind Synth (Friday, 3pm)

The One-Of-A-Kind OMG-1, designed by Eric Persing

The creation of electronic music has always relied on exploring all technologies available. In the modern context, that often means transcending the divide between the tactile experience of hardware devices and the ever-increasing capabilities of computers.  An incredible panel of sonic explorers moderated by Spectrasonics’ founder Eric Persing will investigate the challenges of how electronic instruments can reach their ultimate potential through the convergence of multiple technologies.

During this panel, Persing will be awarding his one-of-a-kind OMG-1 synthesizer to the winner of the OMG-1 Contest, Torley Wong.  You won’t want to miss this historical moment!

Panelists:

• Eric Persing (moderator)
• Torley Wong
• Diego Stocco
• Tara Busch
• Marc Doty
• Amos Gaynes

When & Where: Friday, 3:00 @ the Moogaplex

Mavericks of Sound Design (Saturday, 12pm)

In this extraordinary panel, some of today’s most innovative sound sculptors will share insights into the visionary techniques and ideas behind their craft. Listen in as this meeting of the minds compares and explores cutting edge sound creation concepts they use in their work.

Panelists:

• Eric Persing (moderator)
• Diego Stocco
• Richard Devine
• Scott Gershin

When & Where: Saturday, 12:00 PM @ the Moogaplex

The First Moog Rep – Remembering Walter Sears’ Pivotal Role in the Moog Legacy

(Saturday, 4:30)

Walter Sear’s impact on Bob Moog’s early career cannot be overstated. He was Bob’s first representative, selling theremins and a little known run of R.A. Moog, Co. amplifiers. Based in NYC, he helped Bob grow his theremin business in the mid-1960s and quickly transitioned into pioneering the sale of Moog Modular synthesizers in the late 1960s.  You may recognize Walter’s name from his conversation with Bob in the “Moog” documentary or from mention of his legendary studio, Sear Sound. Walter Sear passed away in April 2010. His fascinating legacy will be explored through incredible documents from Bob’s archives other collections.

Panelist:

• Brian Kehew
• Herb Deutsch
• Dick Hyman

Where & When: Saturday, 4:30 PM @ the Moogaplex

Pioneering Moog in Live Performance (Sunday, 12pm)

Ever thought about what it was like to play a Moog Modular synthesizer or an early Minimoog live back in the late 1960s and early 1970s? It was nothing less than a creative adventure. Our panelists are all pioneering musicians having forged the path of synthesis in live performance when it was in its infancy. With no chance for edits or do-overs, raw talent, knowledge, and a healthy dose of the innovative spirit were the guiding factors as these musicians blazed new trails for music and music lovers alike.  Don’t miss the unforgettable stories and reflections that will be shared in this panel!

Panelist:

• Brian Kehew (moderator)
• Herb Deutsch
• Dick Hyman
• David Borden
• Larry Fast

When & Where: Sunday, 12:00 PM @ the Moogaplex

Journey to the Center of the Theremin with Neon Indian, Dorit Chrysler & Albert Glinsky (Sunday, 1:30)

Neon Indian’s Alan Palomo is joined by theremin goddess Dorit Chrysler, and Leon Theremin biographer Albert Glinsky to take you on a time traveling voyage to the epicenter of the theremin past, present and future.

Panelists:

• Brian Kehew (moderator)
• Alan Palomo (Neon Indian)
• Albert Glinsky
• Dorit Chyrsler

When & Where: Sunday, 1:30 PM @ the Moogaplex

Sun Ra and Beyond: Exploring Rare Recordings from Bob’s Archives (Sunday 3pm)

Delve deep into the depths of Bob Moog’s historical archives and explore newly restored vintage recordings from the reel-to-reel tapes in the collection. Thanks to two grants from the Grammy Foundation, the Bob Moog Foundation has spent the past two years lovingly and carefully restoring nearly 100 tapes from the archives, including a tape from jazz fusion legend Sun Ra playing the prototype version Minimoog Model B. You’ll hear some astounding music as well as early recordings of Bob and his colleagues forging their way in educating people about the capabilities of the brand new sonic contraption called a synthesizer. Sit back and open your ears – -these recordings will blow your mind!

Panelists:

• Brian Kehew
• Seva Ball

When & Where: Sunday, 3:00 PM @ the Moogaplex

Pioneering Moog from the Tech Perspective (Sunday, 4:30)

Techs are the heart of any touring band as they are responsible for making sure all of the gear is in top working order. In the early days of synthesis, this was a much more complex task then it is now. This panel discussion will lend insight into what it took to make early tours with such bands as ELP, Herbie Hancock, Peter Gabriel, and Nektar a success.

Panelists:

• Brian Kehew (moderator)
• Bryan Bell (Herbie Hancock, Santana,  John McLaughlin)
• August Worley (ELP)
• Larry Fast (Peter Gabriel, Nektar)

When & Where:  Sunday, 4:30 PM @ the Moogaplex

Moog Music is featuring several fantastic product related panels in the Moogaplex throughout the weekend. You can check them out here.

Asheville Brewing Company and the Bob Moog Foundation are proud to announce the release of the second limited edition of Moog Filtered Ale, a pale beer named in honor of synthesizer pioneer Bob Moog. The two organizations partnered in 2010, releasing the first edition to international acclaim. The Ale will be available October 6, 2011, through November 7, 2011. Proceeds from the sale of the beer will be donated to the Bob Moog Foundation to benefit their mission of igniting the innovative and creative through science, music and history. The timing of the beer’s release coincides with Moogfest, the three-day electronic music festival to be held in Asheville, N.C., on October 28, 29, and 30, 2011.

Moog Filtered Ale is an American-style pale ale with distinctive notes of caramel and pine. It will be distributed nationally and internationally in 22-ounce bottles through Asheville’s Bruisin’ Ales and will be distributed locally by Budweiser of Asheville at various locations throughout Western North Carolina, on draft and in 22-ounce bottles.

Asheville Brewing has been making outstanding craft beers since 1998 and has won several awards for its beers. As an active supporter of local non-profit groups, they are thrilled to be working with the Bob Moog Foundation, whose work is innovative and historical. Through Moog Filtered Ale, Asheville Brewing aims to support the interactive educational programs that the Foundation is developing to teach science through music, as well as to support the eventual creation of the Moogseum.

Asheville Brewing Company President Mike Rangel says, “We are honored to be working with the Bob Moog Foundation again this year to help keep Bob’s vision and legacy alive. By donating the profits from Moog Filtered Ale, we will be supporting innovative science education through the Foundation’s Dr. Bob’s SoundSchool outreach program. Moog Filtered Ale is absolutely the most exciting project our company has been involved in, and after the success of last year’s collaboration, we couldn’t wait to do it again this year.”

The Bob Moog Foundation is extremely proud and grateful to be partnering with Asheville Brewing Company again this year. The funding from last year’s sales of Moog Filtered Ale was of tremendous assistance in helping us reach our goals. As a result, our programs are thriving and our organization is stronger than ever. Purchasing Moog Filtered Ale is a very tasty way for people to support both the work of the Bob Moog Foundation and Asheville Brewing Company, a small business that supports many local non-profit organizations all year long.

The label for the Ale is an original design by Asheville artist Phil Cheney. Featuring vibrant shades of purple, green, and orange, the label shows Bob Moog leaning over a keyboard with musical notes, synthesizer knobs, and patch cables floating above his head.

A line of t-shirts and other merchandise featuring the label will be available through www.shop.ashevillebrewing.com beginning October 10.

Marc Doty

When people in the synth community want to brush up on their  knowledge of a range of  iconic and esoteric vintage synthesizers, many of them turn to Marc Doty’s Automatic Gainsay YouTube Channel. Over a period of five years, Marc has posted 100-plus educational videos in which he teaches the audience about the characteristics of a variety of vintage synthesizers. His enthusiasm, passion, and dedication to the functionality and sonic integrity of these instruments is a compelling part of every video, as is the clarity with which he presents the subject matter at hand. Marc’s videos are not only educational assets to synth geeks everywhere, but they touch and inspire millions of  viewers around the world. From his most-watched Demonstration of the Moog Minimoog with over 800,000 views to his exploration of the more esoteric Wersi Bass Synthesizer with over 300,000 views,  Marc’s teaching prowess has been enjoyed by a total of nearly 4 million viewers.

When the Bob Moog Foundation needed a graphics designer with a deep knowledge of synthesis to assist our Dr. Bob’s  SoundSchool curriculum team this summer, Marc was an obvious choice. He joined our staff for a six week (mid July through end of August) period as our Artist-In-Residence. This position blended his graphics, educational and history expertise. It didn’t take long before Marc became an indispensable member of our team, filling the roll of graphics artist,  education and history consultant, videographer, video editor and more.

You can read the announcement of  that residency here:

http://www.moogfoundation.org/2011/synth-guru-marc-doty-summer-residency-at-the-bob-moog-foundation/

and a few of Marc’s blogs from  his time with the BMF here:

http://www.moogfoundation.org/?s=marc+doty

BMF Historian Brian Kehew and Marc Doty considering a special piece from the archives

Shortly after Marc returned home to Washington State we reached out and invited him to return, this time for a six month period, as our Archive and Education Specialist. We are delighted to announce that he accepted the position, which he refers to as his “dream job” and will begin work in this capacity on October 5th. This time around Marc will be working on a special project that will bring the education and history parts of our mission together in an exciting, interactive platform that we will be able to share with all of you.  Stay tuned for more about that near the end of the year.

We welcome Marc Doty to our team here in Asheville, NC and we are grateful to have someone with such diverse and mission-relevant talents helping us push our projects into the future.

Keep an eye out for Marc’s future blogs. He’ll have a lot to share!

That spooky time of year is quickly drawing near…it’s almost Halloween and time for Moogfest 2011

Moogfest is a weekend celebration of the creative vision of sonic pioneer Bob Moog, inventor of the Moog synthesizer. The Flaming Lips, Moby, Passion Pit, STS9, Tangerine Dream, TV on the Radio, Special Disco Version: James Murphy and Pat Mahoney, Umphrey’s Mcgee, Amon Tobin: ISAM, Chromeo, Crystal Castles, Flying Lotus, Suicide, Ghostland Observatory, Childish Gambino, M83, Neon Indian, and St. Vincent are just some of the mind-blowing artists gathering for this epic weekend, October 28th-30th in Asheville, NC.

Plus, in what can only be described as a Moogfest coup, musician / producer / artist / visionary / thinker and all-round renaissance man Brian Eno will be coming to Moogfest this year.  His amazing video installation, 77 Million Paintings, will be exhibited for the first time in the USA outside of the West Coast and Eno will also present a mind expanding “Illustrated Talk.” (Separately ticketed events, specially priced for Moogfest attendees. Learn more here.)

Also, Moogfest 2011 is expanding in a big way.  In addition to concerts at the Asheville Civic Center Arena, the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, and the Orange Peel, new venues for the weekend will include the newly renovated Asheville Music Hall (formerly Stella Blue), the beautiful and intimate Diana Wortham Theatre and…we’re going outdoors this year! That’s right…stay tuned for more information to come via moogfest.com.

Weekend passes are still available while supplies last.

Can’t come for the whole weekend? Check out the daily schedule and pick up your single day tickets here.  These are currently being offered at a special price.

Visit www.moogfest.com for complete lineup, tickets, & more!   And don’t forget your costume…