With the support and encouragement of Sarah and others in the LSS community, I started writing my first album ever using synthesizers only 4 months after starting the program. Going into this I never had any intention or expectation of performing, but within 7 months of starting LSS I did my first ever modular performance! Now, I'm just finishing up the album that I've dreamt of making for years. I would say this course is the BEST musical investment I've ever made! Thanks Sarah!"
- Jared Kozub (Ice Locus)
Six months ago I came in with nothing. Aside from being a devout listener, I had no understanding of CV or VCAs, waveforms, patch cables, gates or triggers. But now… it’s like WHOA. I now compose, orchestrate and improvise with these machines.
I thought I just didn’t have one of those brains with the innate ability to comprehend technical information . Sarah’s patience, breadth of knowledge and talent for education showed me that totally wasn’t true ."
I will never forget that moment, when I first I sat down at a modular synth, full of expectation and curiosity and then... absolutely nothing happened.
What button do I push?
How in the world does this thing work??
As I sat there, I started to feel more and more intimidated. I started to worry that maybe synthesis was all too technical for me, and truthfully...I wondered if I was smart enough to figure it out.
Before I had made a single sound, I had somehow convinced myself I couldn't do it.
But (thankfully), I didn't give up.
Over many years and a LOT of trial and error, I became fluent with modular synthesizers. I now record, perform & tour all over the world, teach synthesis at major universities in the US, and work with electronic music companies like Moog and Make Noise.
Here's what I realized teaching 1000+ students: This struggle was NOT unique to me...
Modular synthesis is challenging. It's not just about knowing what to plug in where—It's about understanding electronics, signal flow, acoustics, synthesis, and musical theory, all while learning how to use an unfamiliar interface—It's A LOT.
If you're like most people I work with, you've been trying to figure it all out on your own. You've watched tutorials, read manuals, asked your friends for help...but chances are, you're not yet where you want to be.
If you answered "yes" to any of the above, let me just say: I get it. And I've been there. Learning modular synthesis can feel daunting, and most manuals and tutorials assume a lot of prior knowledge.
But let's get one thing clear...
This is not a matter of whether or not you are capable ( YOU ARE! )
The real culprit here is simply a lack of a clear, complete curriculum that addresses all of the essential technical and musical elements, shows you how to connect them all together, AND how to apply them creatively.
And that’s exactly what I’m going to show you in this course: what all the essential tools & techniques are, how to connect them all together in the right order, step-by-step, so that you can explore endless musical possibilities without the many year-long struggle and overwhelm.
And the best part? You can do this entire program with nothing but a computer—no hardware synthesizer needed!
I teach everything using the free modular synthesis software VCV Rack, so that you can get started before spending money on any gear. And if you've got a synth already, that's fine too. You'll learn universal synthesis and composition techniques that will transfer to any instrumental setup you choose.
I have packaged a lifetime of experience, successes, failures, and invaluable lessons into an online program that will teach you everything you need to know to make music with modular synthesizers, no matter where you are in your journey.
Guide you step-by-step through the MOST important synthesis concepts and techniques that you can apply to any synthesizer you encounter!
Equip you with processes, strategies, templates, and examples for patching, composing, performing, and improvising with modular synthesizers that take you from your first patch to advanced multi-instrument setups and beyond
Inspire you with prompts and exercises that are designed to help you put everything you’re learning into action with confidence, so you can start making more music you love within days
Help you overcome technical and creative roadblocks through personalized live coaching, feedback, and community
“This program has changed my confidence the most. I'm more confident now in my understanding of my tools and my instruments... it opened up my idea of what an instrument could be! Also, I feel more confident in sharing my music with people...I'm excited to be able to feel confident enough to say 'YES!' to doing performances or working on art projects that I wouldn't have otherwise.”
When I first saw a wall full of modular synths in front of me in a store, I was instantly fascinated. I bought a few modules & tried to learn by myself, watching tutorials... but that was not enough and I was not making progress, so I would get very frustrated and stop playing for a few months, and then try again, and would be in this cycle, in a loop.
I joined LSS and it was a game changer for me. The course is so well built, and explains things in such an easy way to understand! It truly opened up my mind and stimulated me to appreciate every little tweak and modulation I make in a patch... an incredible feeling when I realize I actually understand the patches I’m making!
Now I’m able to create my own patches, and I spend hours exploring, making small pieces, and recording.
In Module 1, you’re going to connect on a deeper level than ever before with the history of modular synths, and the incredible inventors, musicians, & creative minds behind these instruments we love.
There is SO much going on behind every synthesizer module and instrument that gives them their unique and irresistible sound and character: Wh o designed them? How are they made? When were they created? WHY were they created?
By diving into the minds of famous synth designers and creators, you will be able to tap into their inspiration, understand their workflow, learn from their successes (& failures!) and harness the full potential of these instruments.
How can you synthesize and design sound if you don’t have clarity around how we actually hear and perceive it?
Imagine how fun and rewarding it would be to hear a sound in the world or in a song you love, and know exactly how to reverse engineer it and build it up on a synthesizer...?
By the end of Module 2 you'll start to hear details and nuance in sounds that you never realized were there—giving you the ability to design sounds with WAY more intention & precision!
You may even be familiar with what they are—but that’s only part of the puzzle. The REAL magic is in knowing how to connect them all together to create truly endless sounds.
Epic bass lines? ✔️ Classic synth leads? ✔️ Punchy kicks & snares? ✔️ Soaring melodies? ✔️ Ambient pads? ✔️ Experimental sound FX? ✔️ ^^They ALL begin with the same core building blocks, which you will become FLUENT in by the end of Module 3!
The secret to adding life and movement to your synth patches lies in mastering control voltage and modulation techniques.
After this module, you'll know exactly how to design sounds that breathe and feel alive; melodies that evolve over time; and music that feels exciting & dynamic.
It can be daunting and intimidating to approach a blank slate, and knowing where to start can be one of the most difficult (yet important!) things.
In this module, you’ll get REALLY good at starting from a blank, unpatched synth and building up your own custom sounds from scratch.
Lots of people believe that modular synth patches always happen “by chance”—but that’s just a myth. It’s 100% possible to create intentional, repeatable synth patches, AND to actually create the sounds in your head…you just need to know what to focus on and how to approach it (which is exactly what Module 5 will teach you!)
But the GOOD news is, Learning Sound and Synthesis doesn't stop at the technical "how-to" of synthesis—we go deep into all aspects of making music, including composition & performance. Module 6 breaks down a number of different approaches for composing music with synths & for building a successful creative practice as a musician:
✔️ generative music & patching ✔️ sample-based composing in a DAW ✔️ graphic notation ✔️ improvisation ✔️ building live performance patches for single-take recordings ✔️ composing with feedback, chaos, & cybernetics ✔️ how to work past mental blocks, generate inspiration, and get yourself out of creative ruts (...and more!!) Plus, you'll get to hear from modular synth experts Omri Cohen, Kurt Kurasaki (Peff), and Ryan Gaston on finding inspiration, creative patching, and composition
You’ll walk away with a music-creation workflow that fits your goals and makes it easy for you to make more music you love.
...and if you are, I’m right there with you! I LOVE VCV Rack and use it in a lot of my music, but I also love the feeling and interaction that comes with playing physical, hardware instruments and controllers. Not to mention, I’m a trumpet player, and my absolute favorite way of making music is by connecting my trumpet to my modular setup to combine both acoustic and electronic worlds.
That’s why I have created an epic module dedicated entirely to expanding your practice beyond VCV Rack. I have had multiple students tell me that this module could be an entire course on its own!
Module 8 currently includes 2 multi-part trainings: 1) Strategies for working with rhythm including clock dividers, polyrhythms, patterns, and logic
2) A 5-part series on distortion techniques, including wavefolding, bit crushing, sample rate reduction, and more
...with more on the way!
As an LSS student, you will continue to get access to all future additions to this module.
Watch this video! >>
Learning Sound and Synthesis is NOT your average, figure-it-out-yourself online course. Not even close.
LSS is the most comprehensive step-by-step modular synthesis program out there. And it’s more than just videos & workbooks— when you enroll in Learning Sound and Synthesis, you get support every single step of the way.
An important part of growing as a musician is receiving meaningful support and feedback.
Got a question? Looking for feedback? Something—anything—not making sense?
Between our group calls and our supportive Community Forum, we've got you covered.
“I've done a number of online courses with some very talented musicians—But the class size is so large that there's never any real interaction….
Sarah’s personal interactions in the coaching calls are really what stands out. She gets to know each of the students , what our abilities are, what things we like, what our interests are, where our musical tastes go. And she helps that person find what type of musician they are and what's going to help them succeed. And that's just amazing. And it's a lot of fun too!
And can I just say most online music classes allow you to have access to the curriculum later on...But this is the first time I've done an online course where I actually see previous students coming back, in the coaching calls and in the member area...which tells you something about the class.”
I’ve been using software & hardware synths in my music for about 3 years. Even though I have many hours of self-directed patching under my belt...the course material shook up assumptions and ingrained patching habits I wasn’t even aware I had.”
Sarah is the kindest person you can hope for in a teacher. This course could easily cost 10x more and still be worth it. ”
Often, creative coaches and mentors can charge $100+ per hour, and college music training programs can be over $40,000 for one year. I have grown so much as a musician and artist from experiences like these, but I also recognize that many people are left out at these price points. One of my main motivations for creating this program in the first place is about making electronic music and synthesis education accessible to as many people as possible.
At the same time, Learning Sound and Synthesis is NOT your typical massive online class where you feel lost among thousands of students and are left to figure everything out on your own, with little to no contact with the teacher.
This program combines training videos with LIVE coaching calls and a supportive, global community of like-minded folks, just like yourself, who are passionate about learning and making music. This is a space to be curious, to ask questions (and have them answered!), to share music and ideas, to seek support and to help others overcome challenges.
This is a small investment in yourself that will result in lifelong transformations and connections.
You can join Learning Sound and Synthesis for just 3 installments of $245. And, once you enroll, you’ll have lifetime access to the course materials AND community.
“ OMG!!! Thank you!! I pulled out my old Model D hardware synth after going through this course and I FINALLY get what I have -- I understand what every module does and I know what to do with all the knobs and switches. Now I don’t want to do anything else and THANK YOU!!! 🥳😍🙆🏻♀️👾”
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Enroll in Learning Sound and Synthesis Core Program for just $125 today, plus 5 monthly installments of $125.
Still have questions before enrolling? Give us a call at 818-495-5455 !
If you’re anything like most people who read this far, you’re likely interested in joining Learning Sound and Synthesis. But chances are, you might also have your eye on 1 or 2 new Eurorack modules or synths that you’d love to buy.
Trust me, I get it—G.A.S. (gear acquisition syndrome) is REAL, and oh so tempting!!
But, I have to be honest with you about something: buying that one new module *right now* isn’t really going to help you get closer to your music-making goals...especially if you're still struggling to fully understand vital synthesis, signal routing, and patching concepts.
I understand that you want more out of your synth, you want to be able to create more sounds or layers, to be able to perform a full piece live, and generally to just play more—but a lot of the time people reach for another module to solve a musical problem, when really, there’s an underlying gap in skill or knowledge that they need to fix, instead.
In fact, numerous students have told me that they have had Eurorack modules and hardware synths sitting around virtually unused for years before they enrolled in Learning Sound and Synthesis—and now they finally have clarity on how to actually use and make music with them.
Investing in Learning Sound and Synthesis costs roughly the same amount as 1 or 2 Eurorack modules —but instead of adding one new sound or tool into your kit, this program will give you everything you need to completely transform your musical practice from top to toe, giving you everything you need to make more music you LOVE...for years to come.
"Learning Sound and Synthesis is EVERYTHING I wanted, & it's all in one place!! The community is incredible. I don't feel alone anymore."
"You’ll join a community of absolutely brilliant people… you will inspire them, they will inspire you. There are TONS of opportunities to collaborate. This class is an eye-opening experience, both technically and creatively.”
“I came out of it with polished technical skills, knowledge, and new perspectives on sound. It really felt like Sarah’s wisdom was being transferred to me in each lesson. Each topic left me curious and ready to explore new sonic worlds . I promise you’ll be making cute (or scary) beeps and boops in no time. On top of that, the coaching calls are an excellent place to connect with other musicians and excavate synthesis & sound further. ”
The 8 main modules in Learning Sound and Synthesis will completely transform the way you approach modular synthesis and music-making, but that's only the beginning.
When you enroll you’ll get 3 additional gifts, designed to augment & simplify your synthesis-learning experience!
Planning your first hardware system can be extremely overwhelming—with thousands of module options (and more every day!) and dozens of different kinds of cases, power supplies, and formats, it can be hard to even know where to begin.
This 2-day live, hands-on workshop will teach you everything you need to know in order to confidently plan out your first hardware modular synth, and to avoid potentially damaging (& expensive) mistakes.
In this workshop, you will:
(Yes, you're getting a course within a course!!)
In this mini course you’ll learn how to create realistic-sounding AND experimental drums for your music. I’ll walk you step-by-step through creating punchy kick drums, snappy snares, crisp hi-hats, and I’ll also show you my favorite techniques for creating glitch drums, bongo sounds, metallic & glassy percussion, and more.
You’ll walk away with more tricks up your sleeve than EVER before for creating amazing drum patterns, grooves, and percussive hits in your music!
In this mini course, you get to become a fly on the wall in my studio, and watch as I guide you step-by-step through my entire music creation process—from coming up with inspiration for a piece, to building modular synth patches, recording everything, to working on editing and post production in a DAW and getting it ready to release.
Take my exact templates and processes outlined in this course and plug them into your own workflow to jumpstart your next creation and help you finish more music!
This intensive, hands-on workshop introduces you to a number of different compositional approaches and methods for working with electronics, experimental sound, improvisation, and more. You'll walk away with tools and resources that you can put into practice immediately in your own work!
“I found the workshop so inspiring that I actually wrote a song and came up with a concept for an EP right after, so thank you for that inspiration!
I really loved the end where we all got to share that creative side of ourselves that we would typically feel silly sharing. It was a very receptive group. Thanks again for it :)"
—CLARA CASEY Electronic Singer-Songwriter
I’m a performer-composer specializing in modular synthesizer, trumpet, and homemade electroacoustic instruments and controllers. I have played at major music festivals around the world (Primavera Sound, Moogfest, Roskilde Festival, Pitchfork Music Festival, and others) and have performed and recorded with incredible artists of all genres, including Charlie Haden, Julia Holter, Avey Tare, and Adele.
I am DEEPLY passionate about making music in unexpected, innovative ways and helping others unlock their full creative potential and discover their own, truly unique musical voice. I have held faculty positions teaching electronic music and music technology at a number of different universities (CalArts, Chapman University, Temple University) for over 5 years, and have helped over 10,000 people get started in modular synthesis and electronic music through my online programs.
Have a pressing question you need answered before enrolling in Learning Sound and Synthesis?
Below is a list of the most common questions I've been asked. If you don't see your question here, just reach out to us at [email protected] so we can assist you!
Learning Sound and Synthesis was created for people who are curious and passionate about sound, music, and modular synthesizers, regardless of prior experience. The program is structured in such a way that you will be guided step-by-step through everything you need to know to start working with modular synths, with dozens of examples and demos for you to follow along with. Everything is taught using a free, virtual modular synth software program called VCV Rack, which means that you can get started making music today without needing anything other than your computer. So yes, if you’re new to synthesis, this is 100% for you.
YES. Absolutely! In fact, you’re not alone—many of the students inside of LSS have never performed or composed music before when they enroll, and that’s okay! You’ll be shown how to start making sound on Day 1, and you’ll be given lots of tools and strategies for creating your own synth patches for composition, performance, and/or improvisation. Your musical practice will completely transform as you go through this program!
If this program sounds intense, it might be because you’re used to having to figure everything out and put all of the pieces together on your own. Learning Sound and Synthesis is designed to be an antidote for overwhelm: everything is laid out for you step-by-step and organized in one place, so you can spend more time focusing on your specific goals.
Also, you have LIFETIME ACCESS to Learning Sound and Synthesis, so you can go at your own pace and come back to the materials as many times as you need to.
I hear you, trust me! You’re not alone. If you love music and are passionate about this topic, then YES! I can absolutely help you break through worry about perfectionism and performance anxiety, and can offer you the same strategies for building confidence that completely transformed my personal music practice. I used to suffer from debilitating stage fright, so I completely understand where you’re coming from.
Upon completing your order, you will receive an email immediately with your login details. You will be able to login to the Learning Sound and Synthesis member portal and receive instant access to the course and community.
As long as you are committed and excited about learning, you will ABSOLUTELY be able to do everything inside of this course. Everything is laid out for you step-by-step, and you can go at your own pace. So, even if you don’t consider yourself to be “techie,” you can do this!
If you know for sure that you would benefit from extra support and small group coaching throughout this program, the VIP Track might be the right option for you.
Learning Sound and Synthesis is structured as a go-at-your-own-pace class. You will get access to the entire course as soon as you enroll.
You have lifetime access to the course, so you go through it as quickly or slowly as needed.
To supplement the video training materials, we also have some live group calls. These are optional, and always recorded for those who cannot attend live. These calls are scheduled at different days/times to accommodate as many time zones as possible.
As a member of Learning Sound and Synthesis, it’s important to me that you feel supported—I’ve got your back!! You have THREE ways to get support and feedback:
1. The Private (Members-Only) Group
This is your community. Ask questions, share ideas, and connect with musicians from around the world.
2. The LIVE Group Coaching Calls
As a member of Learning Sound and Synthesis, you’ll also receive access to live group coaching calls with me and the other members. Any questions you have can be submitted to me to go over during our live calls!
3. The LSS Support Team
Any technical issues about your membership (login, billing, etc.) can be addressed by emailing our Support Team at [email protected] at any time!
If you want extra mentorship and direct access to the LSS Coaches for additional support and feedback, the VIP Track might be the best option for you.
Yes. The core training modules inside of Learning Sound and Synthesis are available as go-at-your-own-pace videos. You can take your time going through them and come back as often as needed.
The group coaching calls are all scheduled to accommodate as many international timezones as possible, as LSS truly is a global community! Our coaching calls are also recorded and replays are posted in the Members Area, so if you can't attend live you can still participate.
Learning Sound and Synthesis starts at the very foundations of synthesis and working with modulars, but it progresses quite quickly into more advanced patching techniques and concepts.
Many of our more advanced students, like yourself, have found that going back through the foundations helped to solidify what they already knew and helped to fill in some vital knowledge gaps and misconceptions that they didn't even realize they had.
No matter what level you are at technically, developing as a musician and creative thinker is a never-ending journey, and Learning Sound and Synthesis focuses equally on musical and technical development, providing challenges and opportunities for growth at any level.
Learning Sound and Synthesis and Discover Modular Synthesis: Moog Mavis are very different courses.
They are designed to complement one another, so if you started with the Mavis class, LSS is a perfect next step (and vice versa!)
While DMS: Moog Mavis focuses exclusively on modular synthesis using the Mavis, Learning Sound and Synthesis teaches universal synthesis concepts and techniques that can apply to any synthesizer—hardware or virtual.
Learning Sound and Synthesis is a much deeper curriculum, covering everything from the history of modular synthesis to techniques for composing and improvising (and of course, ALL the essential synthesis how-to).
LSS also has an amazing, supportive community forum and live group coaching calls, so if you're craving some real-time interaction, sharing, and collaboration, this is for you!
It really doesn’t matter what your instrument is or your level of competency as long as you have a willingness to learn, as Sarah creates an environment that addresses ways of doing things that almost magically make it easier and clearer how to take difficult concepts and approach them in curious and positive ways...Thanks to Sarah’s undying positive spirit which is imbued in everything she does, I learned to be a more positive person which has changed my life in so many incredible ways ”