My Keys To Music Nord Keyboard Training Unofficial Nord video courses by Marc Larochelle.
Syntorial Interactive synth training · Nord Stage 4 Lesson Pack Learn synthesis by ear with Syntorial Built for Nord players who want to understand synthesis, not just tweak presets. Pair Audible Genius’s Syntorial with my Nord Stage 4 Lesson Pack: 34 videos applying every concept on the Stage 4. Explore Syntorial →
Marc Larochelle at the Nord Stage 4 synth section: Syntorial Nord Stage 4 Lesson Pack

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STUDENT EXPERIENCES

Learn from players like you.

Get more from your Nord with practical setup, tips, best practices, maintenance, creative possibilities, and selected sounds from popular classic songs.

★★★★★

Super helpful

“Really detailed and well thought through. Nord should just include this when you purchase the keyboard. I don’t think I could have gotten such a complete and detailed understanding of the NS4 without this. Thanks!”
Elliot S.
Nord Stage 4
★★★★★

Amazing Course!

“I’ve had the privilege of learning on other courses from other websites, but none are more detailed than what I have learned here on MyKeysToMusic. It took me longer to go through the course, but it was worth it. I plan on returning to some of these courses, like the Synth and MIDI sections. Loved every minute of it. Keep learning!”
Alejandro R.
Nord Stage 4
★★★★★

Excellent Course

“Marc is thorough and is able to present a lot of information in an understandable and concise manner. There is a lot to know about these keyboard and Marc is fluent in all aspects. He makes the process of getting to know the keyboard fun and very informative. I highly recommend Marc's course to anyone wanting to be a more informed and agile user.”
Michael C.
Nord Stage 4
★★★★★

A great course….again!

“I’ve already completed the courses for the Nord Stage 3, Wave 2, and Nord Sound Manager. Since I recently upgraded my live setup I switched to a Stage 4 a few months ago. The course covers everything Nord users needs to know to get the most out of their keyboard! Marc is an excellent teacher and the course is both engaging and extremely well-explained. I would definitely recommend it to every Nord user.”
Frederic R.
Nord Stage 4
★★★★★

Excellent

“I can highly recommend this extremly detailed and comprehensive training about the Nord Stage 4 Keyboard. Marc Larochelle is an excellent engineer and goes in all details without missing one feature or function. I am happy to explore now what I learned moving forward!”
Marc H.
Nord Stage 4
★★★★★

An essential course

“As the title says, this is an essential course for understanding and mastering the NS4, its tricks and its possibilities. The explanations are engaging, delivered at an unhurried pace, with simple terminology and many examples to understand each part of the keyboard. Dividing the course into chapters that are not too long is a good idea to keep it interesting. The downside is that successive…”
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As the title says, this is an essential course for understanding and mastering the NS4, its tricks and its possibilities. The explanations are engaging, delivered at an unhurried pace, with simple terminology and many examples to understand each part of the keyboard. Dividing the course into chapters that are not too long is a good idea to keep it interesting. The downside is that successive firmware and Nord Sound Manager updates mean the course needs to be supplemented. Very satisfied.

Ismael G.
Nord Stage 4
Translated from Spanish
★★★★★

The best thing for a new Nord owner

“Words cannot describe how happy I am I found this. Everything you need in one spot. Absolute perfection! Keep up the great work guys and Thank You so much. 10 stars”
Tim N.
Nord Stage 4
★★★★★

Nord Stage 4 Keyboard course overall

“If you are a keyboardist who wants to know about the power of this great performance keyboard and how to control it, then this Stage 4 course is a must. Marc is so knowledgeable with every feature and his teaching method leaves you with many a ha moments. And I love the fact you can go back and review and relearn time and time again...and you will. Amazing job Marc, I've enjoyed the ride…”
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If you are a keyboardist who wants to know about the power of this great performance keyboard and how to control it, then this Stage 4 course is a must. Marc is so knowledgeable with every feature and his teaching method leaves you with many a ha moments. And I love the fact you can go back and review and relearn time and time again...and you will. Amazing job Marc, I've enjoyed the ride immensely and you continue to amaze me and provide sound support with some of the great sounds of our time. Loved Here Comes the Sun...that's a bonus I value more than you know. I wish you all the success in your quest to teach others about the Nord keyboards. You were born to teach! Mr. Guru of Nord keyboards. Love it!

Reed C.
Nord Stage 4
★★★★★

Just Getting Started

“I am just through the first few videos, but I ALREADY am inspired and making new music! The 4K quality of the videos is excellent. Marc’s calm and knowledgeable style is easy to follow and the capability to navigate through the videos (again and again, if needed) is outstanding.”
Myli C.
Nord Stage 4
Excerpt from the student’s review
★★★★★

Nord Stage 4 Lessons

“Ladies and Gentlemen: I am half way through the Nord Stage 4 lessons. I previously had a NS3 and just traded up for the NS4 88....sweet. I took Marc's NS3 course and was blown away at the detail and the expertise he demonstrated in helping me learn this magnificent instrument, Well, Marc has one upped himself. The NS4 lessons are the next level. In my frank opinion anyone that spends this…”
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Ladies and Gentlemen: I am half way through the Nord Stage 4 lessons. I previously had a NS3 and just traded up for the NS4 88....sweet. I took Marc's NS3 course and was blown away at the detail and the expertise he demonstrated in helping me learn this magnificent instrument, Well, Marc has one upped himself. The NS4 lessons are the next level. In my frank opinion anyone that spends this kind of money on a keyboard really needs to understand the full capabilities of that instrument. Marc is the best of the best in explaining all the features...he is easy to understand---you know everyone is not a great teacher even though they may have performed or excelled in something...Marc has been gifted with that rare ability to teach others, making everything so clear and understandable. I highly recommend that anyone owning a Nord take Marc class. You yourself will move to the next level...I promise! Mark W in Florida

Mark W.
Nord Stage 4
★★★★★

Thorough and Clear Instructions

“Excellent course. Very thorough and organized. Marc not only explains and shows the “how-tos,” but also gives examples of when you might use a specific feature. Well worth the time and money! I highly recommend it!”
Joe A.
Nord Stage 4
★★★★★

A wonderful experience!

“Thank you so much, Marc, for guiding me over these months as I discovered the great potential of my Nord Stage 3! Congratulations on the passion you convey and the clarity with which you explain all the content! Marco”
Marco F.
Nord Stage 3
Translated from Italian
★★★★★

The only way to learn the Nord Stage 3

“I don't think there's anyone else out there on the internet who's creating this level of detailed content that covers every square inch of this keyboard. Marc is an incredible instructor who clearly puts in massive effort into creating such easily-consumable videos, instruction, and resources. I'm so glad I found this course, and this instructor. Absolutely worth every penny!”
Tyson S.
Nord Stage 3
★★★★★

Huge Thank you

“Well, I'm a newbie to the Nord world, in truth a newbie to the digital keyboard world, so I am coming at this course from perhaps another angle. I play piano, but recently took an interest in the digital world of keyboards, after many deliberations I decided upon a Nord 3, to cover all of my requirements, ease of use being a priority, with visual dials without digging deep for the same thing on…”
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Well, I'm a newbie to the Nord world, in truth a newbie to the digital keyboard world, so I am coming at this course from perhaps another angle. I play piano, but recently took an interest in the digital world of keyboards, after many deliberations I decided upon a Nord 3, to cover all of my requirements, ease of use being a priority, with visual dials without digging deep for the same thing on other keyboards. But the digital world looks overwhelming and this is were this review begins... Thoughtfully laid out, running at your own pace, what could be better, I got tired of the YouTube attempts for tutorials, some were good but for one reason or another none of them were the quintessential of all topics. In Marc's work, I've seen the questions answered I would be afraid to ask, it's a must for newbies and professionals alike. The indepth work that has gone into creating this course is worthy of appreciation such is the command it gives the listener over something they own but never fully understood or for the newbie a course on all topics to get me started, the hard work already laid out, the end result...go be creative. Many thanks to Marc for this course and many thanks if you made this far in my review. Enjoy the music.

David C.
Nord Stage 3
★★★★★

My NORD sounds amazing now!!!

“I am a NORD fan now. I have had a stage 3 for a while. Now, though, I can make it sound like it deserves too. Amazing keyboard and this course was exactly what I needed to learn it. Marc does a wonderful job of explaining everything. This keyboard has a completely different paradigm from any other keyboard I have had so it was a learning curve that I would have never gotten on my own. This course…”
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I am a NORD fan now. I have had a stage 3 for a while. Now, though, I can make it sound like it deserves too. Amazing keyboard and this course was exactly what I needed to learn it. Marc does a wonderful job of explaining everything. This keyboard has a completely different paradigm from any other keyboard I have had so it was a learning curve that I would have never gotten on my own. This course is worth the time and the financial investment in my opinion!

Cynthia M.
Nord Stage 3
★★★★★

Excellent, Comprehensive Course

“This is a superior comprehensive course that goes into great deal explaining how the Nord Stage 3 works and all of the various details of synths and other parts. If you really want to know all the ins and outs of the Nord Stage 3, take this course!”
Marian P.
Nord Stage 3
★★★★★

Worth it

“Marc is proud of his craft and his work; therefore, what he puts out is thoughtful, intuitive, and effective. As someone who likes to get the most out of their investment, I highly recommend this course as an equal investment to your NS3 purchase.”
Omar C.
Nord Stage 3
★★★★★

MASTER the NORD STAGE 3

“An amazing thorough course in easy to understand, bite size chunks. It covers ever aspect of the Nord Stage 3 keyboard in considerable detail. It enabled me to gain a comprehensive understanding of the keyboard and how to get the best out of it when I play keyboards in my covers band. It is also a great way to refer back to parts of the course to refresh my learning. Great value for money.”
Martyn F.
Nord Stage 3
★★★★★

It just keeps getting better!

“I just completed this course ... for the second time! I first took and completed the course when I first got my Nord Stage 3 about two years ago. I went back to review some sections recently and found that it was only 85% completed. Say what?!? There had been so many new sections added since I first completed the course that there were several HOURS of new material added to the course. I really…”
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I just completed this course ... for the second time! I first took and completed the course when I first got my Nord Stage 3 about two years ago. I went back to review some sections recently and found that it was only 85% completed. Say what?!? There had been so many new sections added since I first completed the course that there were several HOURS of new material added to the course. I really appreciate that this course is constantly being updated with new material, especially examples of how to create unique and challenging sounds from classic rock and modern songs.

Richard R.
Nord Stage 3
★★★★★

Comprehensive!

“Marc is really great at breaking down the Stage 3. My first electric keyboard with a synth engine was the Stage 3 and Marc brought me up to speed right quick on sound design fundamentals. The course is well worth the expense.”
Matt H.
Nord Stage 3
★★★★★

Master the Nord Stage 3

“Very helpful, extremely detailed, diving into very deep. Perfect. Looking for updates in the Discovery section.”
Thomas S.
Nord Stage 3
★★★★★

Practical overview

“An enormous help in quickly finding your way around the Nord architecture. 👍👍👍”
Martin S.
Nord Stage 3
Translated from German
★★★★★

Good course

“Calm and detailed explanations of the operation and possibilities of the Stage 3. For me, it adds real value and is worth the investment!”
Arjan J.
Nord Stage 3
Translated from Dutch
★★★★★

Master the Nord Stage 3

“Great course, very thorough, and fills in a lot of areas that the user manual does not go into and tells how to apply the features. The Discovery section is awesome to understand how to program the synth with real musical examples.”
Rob C.
Nord Stage 3
★★★★★

Mission accomplished!

“I purchased my Nord Stage 3 and wanted a course that would teach me its features and capabilities. Mission accomplished!”
Greg J.
Nord Stage 3
★★★★★

Great Job!

“Very well spoken and you're not moving to fast. I really enjoy having you as my instructor. I would really love to figure out the sound to Whitesnake: " Here I Go Again." I have it close but Im not good at figuring the sweeping sounds.”
Eric S.
Nord Stage 3
★★★★☆

Nice careful walkthrough!

“Better than reading the manual - well, some of the manual gets read and each function explained in plain English with played examples. Excellent detail without getting into the weeds...”
Michael H.
Nord Stage 3
★★★★☆

Amazing Work, but... Premium?

“Hey Marc, wow, you are God sent to All of Us here, I was even in West Africa this January and Nord users were talking about you, your impact is immense! I really appreciate your passion and teaching style...I have been a fan and Sub since you first started your YT channel and pretty much live on your channel as a YT red sub... Needless to say, I really love your work, however when I purchased…”
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Hey Marc, wow, you are God sent to All of Us here, I was even in West Africa this January and Nord users were talking about you, your impact is immense! I really appreciate your passion and teaching style...I have been a fan and Sub since you first started your YT channel and pretty much live on your channel as a YT red sub... Needless to say, I really love your work, however when I purchased the Master the NS3, I was hoping to find more content different than the amazing stuff you already have on YT for free! I was a little disappointed because I indulged myself in your YT playlist even before I purchased my personal NS3 December last year, I have to say the Master Class is about 90% if not more of the exact info that's on YT, I hope you understand where I'm coming from, the info you share is top-notch but what I'm saying is: It's already available and provided by your channel on YT for free, which I'm very thankful for but make me feel not so good about the premium paid.

Jhonson F.
Nord Stage 3
★★★★★

Mastering the Nord Electro 6

“Truly outstanding content and instruction. Makes understanding all the features of the Electro 6 much easier. Marc graciously provided a great number of goodies and bundles for free which must have taken many hours to create if you know what you’re doing.”
David E.
Nord Electro 6
★★★★★

Excellent

“I typically only learn what I need to know to get into the battlefield, then it's OJT; however, this course opened my mind to the critical thinking necessary to faster create the sounds I want when on a gig ... i.e., less guesswork in the trial & error process.”
Robert S.
Nord Electro 6
★★★★★

Thorough and articulate

“Must have for anyone who wants this instrument truly turned inside out and back again.”
John M.
Nord Electro 6
★★★★★

Thank you Marc ...

“Now, my technical understanding for this special Electro 6 allows me to begin to work and programming.”
Thomas H.
Nord Electro 6
★★★★★

The best Nord course

“Very didactic. Excellent content. Helped me better explore my Nord Electro 6D Thanks”
Eduardo S.
Nord Electro 6
★★★★★

Nord Electro 6 course(s)

“Very well done - quick to respond to follow up questions - very professional!”
Johnny S.
Nord Electro 6
★★★★★

Master the Nord Electro 6

“Marc is an excellent teacher, and I recommend this course to anyone purchasing a Nord Electro 6 keyboard, especially if you are unfamiliar with this brand. For me, it was much more effective and more fun to learn from watching the video instead of reading the owner's manual.”
Rod C.
Nord Electro 6
★★★★★

Nord Electro 6 - Excellent Course

“I really learned so much more from this course. It would have taken me years, not the amount of time invested. Excellent value.”
Stuart M.
Nord Electro 6
★★★★★

RTFM

“...stands for Really Thorough Format Marc! This course has been brilliant for me as a Nord newbie, I'm much more tuned into my Electro 6 now thanks to everything I've learned in this course, 10/10”
John T.
Nord Electro 6
★★★★★

The only place you should go to learn all things Nord

“I found this course to be immensely helpful in learning about the Nord Electro 6. Nord's owner's manual is dry and has limited usefulness and that's where Marc Larochelle's expertise comes into play. He clearly knows his stuff, speaks well, gives useful commentary and breaking down all of the electro's components into chapters. So far I'm only halfway done but already I've learned a lot. Marc's…”
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I found this course to be immensely helpful in learning about the Nord Electro 6. Nord's owner's manual is dry and has limited usefulness and that's where Marc Larochelle's expertise comes into play. He clearly knows his stuff, speaks well, gives useful commentary and breaking down all of the electro's components into chapters. So far I'm only halfway done but already I've learned a lot. Marc's teaching of the Nord Sound Manager is my favorite part. If you really want to learn the Nord and put your fears at rest, put your money where your mouth is and sign up for this course. It's well worth it.

Gene K.
Nord Electro 6
★★★★★

Worth Every Penny!

“I wanted to dig into the Nord Electro but knew I needed guidance. This course goes deep and covers the “need to know” areas and more. I’m way more comfortable with this keyboard and getting more out of it everyday. Highly recommend if you need help navigating the Nord world.”
Steven M.
Nord Electro 6
★★★★★

An easy way to learn.

“I like the way this course is presented using an actual keyboard. It's longer bringing the manual to life. I also like that I can move around and learn at my own pace.”
Tony R.
Nord Electro 6
★★★★★

Incredibly detailed walk through of every feature on this amazing keyboard

“The level of detail Marc goes into is impressive, but at the same time, the information is explained and demo'ed in an easy-to-digest manner. Absolutely top marks for this course, and I now know what every single button and knob on my 5D does!!”
Benny M.
Nord Electro 5
★★★★★

The best hardware tutorial package I have ever seen.

“Everything you need to know plus all the tricks the old-timers bought it for, to begin with.”
Larry O.
Nord Electro 5
★★★★★

Great

“I will be going through again at a slower pace with more hands on doing with each lesson.”
Jim R.
Nord Electro 5
★★★★★

OMG!!!!

“This is the best course ever and I will be referring to it a lot in getting my keyboard ready for my next gig!!! I simply cannot thank you enough... even for a french guy, this is easy to understand and follow!!! But there is one sad thing!!! Now I feel like I want to upgrade to a Stage 3 hahahahaha Thanks again!”
Carl S.
Nord Electro 5
★★★★★

Finally Got around to Learning my Nord Electro

“Wow, I've been playing this thing for a couple years now with no idea how to work it. It's such a great instrument that it didn't really matter, frustrated a few times live, but got through it. Now I actually understand it and can't wait to use it to it's full extent. Thanks so much!!”
Scott P.
Nord Electro 5
★★★★★

Great Course

“I use my Nord 5d/73 for about 2 years and I thought, I know all about my lovely instrument. But this opinion was wrong, very wrong. I learned so much more in this course! I like the tempo and the very easy to understand explanations! 100% recommendation - great job!”
Thomas K.
Nord Electro 5
★★★★★

This is exactly what I was looking for!

“I’ve been struggling to figure out how to use the programs and set lists and they are thoroughly explained here. (Nord Electro 5)”
M’Lou S.
Nord Electro 5
★★★★★

Excellent

“Excellent Course”
Edward B.
Nord Electro 5
★★★★★

Excellent...thanks

“Excellent...thanks”
Cres C.
Nord Electro 5
★★★★★

Very good

“Even though I am using a translator, I have to say that, although progress is a little slower, things are becoming clear to me.”
Luis D.
Nord Wave 2
Translated from Spanish
★★★★★

The course is awesome!

“There is no video on YouTube that has all the content of this course, presented so clearly and with an example of how to apply every explanation. 10/10!”
Rubén D.
Nord Wave 2
Translated from Spanish
★★★★★

Excellent course

“This course provides a very solid foundation for using the NORD WAVE 2. It is not always easy to follow when you have to use subtitles to translate Marc’s explanations, because the translations are sometimes rather approximate. But you can still manage. I recommend it.”
Pascal B.
Nord Wave 2
Translated from French
★★★★★

ESSENTIAL!

“If you want to know, learn and control all the ins and outs of Nord Wave 2, it is essential to take the course. On YouTube there is a salad of videos that leave many topics out. Here it is all about, and if you have any questions or suggestions, they will kindly assist you by email. [Spanish] Si quieres conocer, aprender y controlar todos los entresijos de Nord Wave 2, es imprescindible hacer el…”
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If you want to know, learn and control all the ins and outs of Nord Wave 2, it is essential to take the course. On YouTube there is a salad of videos that leave many topics out. Here it is all about, and if you have any questions or suggestions, they will kindly assist you by email. [Spanish] Si quieres conocer, aprender y controlar todos los entresijos de Nord Wave 2, es imprescindible hacer el curso. En Youtube hay una ensalada de vídeos que dejan muchos temas fuera. Aquí se trata todo, y si tienes alguna duda o sugerencia, te atenderán amablemente por correo electrónico. Yo mismo propuse que se pusieran subtítulos para poder entender el curso...y ahí están! Sólo puedo dar las gracias.

Ismael G.
Nord Wave 2
★★★★★

Amazing course!

“An amazing course to get the best out of the NORD keyboards!!! I already finished the Stage3 course and the course for the NORD sound manager. All of them had been great and easy to learn!”
Frederic R.
Nord Wave 2
★★★★★

Very Good information!

“Very Good information, logical structure, and good to understand.”
Achim F.
Nord Wave 2
★★★★★

Part 1

“Super”
Manon B.
Nord Wave 2
★★★★★

This Course Is Simply Unbeatable!

“I have been watching this course for just over one week and already I am using my own samples during live performances. There really is nothing better out there which can compete with the high level of Marc's courses! monsterjazzlicks”
Paul S.
Nord Sample Editor
★★★★★

Very very good!

“Very profound, perfect tempo to follow, a must for any NSE user, all 4 thumbs up!”
Christian L.
Nord Sample Editor
★★★★★

Thorough review of software at a managed pace

“The only successful way to learn to ride a bike is to get on it! I find the same with some software, Nord Sample Editor/Manager included. An excellent well paced guide to how to (stop falling off)/get samples on your keyboard.”
Don M.
Nord Sample Editor
★★★★★

Great great coarse

“Best coarse (maybe the only one) talking you step by step in the coarse. I'm thankful to every minute spent here.”
Omar Q.
Nord Sample Editor
★★★★★

Awesome, easy to follow along

“This was my first time learning about Creating Samples. This course was what I was looking for and I am incredibly pleased with the outcome. I am ready to learn more and am very excited for what is instore for me.”
Alejandro R.
Nord Sample Editor
★★★★★

Nice overview

“Nice overview. I can apply it for my band.”
Ber R.
Nord Sample Editor
★★★★★

Fabulous!

“Fantastic lessons. Thank you!!”
Scott M.
Nord Sample Editor
★★★★★

Great course

“Outstanding!”
Matthias L.
Nord Sample Editor
★★★★★

Perfect

“Perfect”
Eddie C.
Nord Sample Editor
★★★★★

This course has helped me enormously to work with Nord Sample Editor 3. Thank you Marc.

“This course has helped me enormously to work with Nord Sample Editor 3. Thank you Marc.”
Hans V.
Nord Sample Editor
★★★★★

Solid Training for the Beginner

“I am brand new to synthesis. I took Marc’s advice to pause my NS3 training and learn Synthesizer Fundamentals. Thank you, Marc, for offering this as a free course. I definitely gained some good understanding!”
James B.
Synthesizer Fundamentals
★★★★★

Synthesizer Fundamentals Review

“I came with having no clue about the topic, but now I have a better understanding”
Luis F.
Synthesizer Fundamentals
★★★★★

Great starting point

“I have some decent experience with piano, and some basic knowledge about organs, but pretty much no clue about synthesizers. Having recently bought a Stage 4, I got instantly curious about that. This course won't make you an instant expert in synths (that's not what's made for), but it will give you a really good, solid idea about the basics, and perhaps more important, it will make you hungry…”
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I have some decent experience with piano, and some basic knowledge about organs, but pretty much no clue about synthesizers. Having recently bought a Stage 4, I got instantly curious about that. This course won't make you an instant expert in synths (that's not what's made for), but it will give you a really good, solid idea about the basics, and perhaps more important, it will make you hungry for more. I feel I'm on the verge discovering a whole new world of exciting possibilities with sound and creativity. I found Marc's teaching style effective and engaging, which makes very easy to remember the concepts and explanations he gives.

Saúl M.
Synthesizer Fundamentals
★★★★★

Great way to start.

“Thank you for making this available. I used the information and was able to understand so much more.”
Paul S.
Synthesizer Fundamentals
★★★★★

Amazing

“Like imagine a light bulb physically forming over your head during and after each video. That’s what that was.”
Beau K.
Synthesizer Fundamentals
★★★★★

Very Practical

“I’m an electronics engineer by education and profession; however, my time in colleges was just before the synth craze of the 80’s so my learnings of Frequency, Waveforms, and Filters were all related to circuit analysis and not necessarily audible sound. I’ve never really been a “synth” guy, but I was technically familiar with all the terminology from my EE background. It’s very interesting and…”
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I’m an electronics engineer by education and profession; however, my time in colleges was just before the synth craze of the 80’s so my learnings of Frequency, Waveforms, and Filters were all related to circuit analysis and not necessarily audible sound. I’ve never really been a “synth” guy, but I was technically familiar with all the terminology from my EE background. It’s very interesting and educations to see it all applied to a keyboard for sound creation. A big thanks you again, Marc, for creating this great knowledge resource here on MyKeysToMusic!

Robert S.
Synthesizer Fundamentals
★★★★★

Helpful First Class

“As I am new to synthesizers, I found this class most helpful. I am also learning my way around the Nord Stage 3 HA88. Marc's class with that beast of an instrument is also proving to be quite useful. This synthesizer class was a perfect place to start.”
John F.
Synthesizer Fundamentals
★★★★★

Excellent

“This was perfect for me. I have been trying myself for a long time without having this fundamental background. Really helpful.”
Thomas G.
Synthesizer Fundamentals
★★★★★

Very good and comprehensive

“The course is very good, easy to understand, and all the information is concise and clear. The topics covered in a little more depth, so they are not left out, are also very interesting. The instructor is very meticulous and you learn a lot. Very good!”
The Purple Wall Studios
Synthesizer Fundamentals
Translated from Spanish
★★★★★

Fantastic!

“Great explanation about the sound fundamentals for synthesizers in general! Love it!”
Ricardo C.
Synthesizer Fundamentals
★★★★★

clear and simple

“clear and simple. Just what is needed with the overwhelming and scattered amount of videos out there. The language is precise and accessible.”
Stefano I.
Synthesizer Fundamentals
★★★★★

thanks for this approach to fundamentals!

“I have enjoyed your courses in youtube, then here, I´ve learned the fundamentals and now i have joined the master nord stage 3. very good ones!”
Alberto C.
Synthesizer Fundamentals
★★★★★

Marc's an amazing teacher of complex topics like synthesizers

“I took this course since I am taking a music production 101 course. I was intimidated by musical synthesis at first. However, Marc's discussions of synthesizer intricacies is deep, well-researched and delivered with passion. (It's eons better than toughing it out with the manual!) Moreover, the course is not just a quick description of features and moving on, but rather many demonstrations of…”
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I took this course since I am taking a music production 101 course. I was intimidated by musical synthesis at first. However, Marc's discussions of synthesizer intricacies is deep, well-researched and delivered with passion. (It's eons better than toughing it out with the manual!) Moreover, the course is not just a quick description of features and moving on, but rather many demonstrations of how the Nord's many features work and sound. Musical synthesis involves more than selecting cool sounds. It requires an understanding about the physics of sound, their creation and the technique of modifying them to suit your personal tastes. Marc demonstrates deep concepts with remarkable clarity. Now, I feel more confident in using the various filters, oscillators on my Nord Stage 3 thanks to the Synthesizer Fundamentals course from My Keys to Music.

Gene K.
Synthesizer Fundamentals
★★★★★

Great course, extremely helpful

“Participate on that course gave me a much deeper insight in the fundamentals of how a synthesizer works. And it is extremely helpful to understand the functionality of the synth engine of the Nord Stage. Great job. Thank you, Marc.”
Thomas S.
Synthesizer Fundamentals
★★★★★

Course review

“Very clear and concise. A great place to start for anyone getting into sound creation.”
Travis C.
Synthesizer Fundamentals
★★★★★

great beginner overview

“Marc takes you step by step through synthesis fundamentals. He is easy to understand utilizes a the use of camera, arrows highlights etc to a great effect.”
Alison H.
Synthesizer Fundamentals
★★★★★

Easy to understand even for newbie like me.

“Good course for person without background or basic knowledge about synthesis and synthesizer. Good starting point.”
Grasoon J.
Synthesizer Fundamentals
★★★★★

Great course...

“This course really helped my understanding of synthesis. I'm moving on to the sampler course and stage 3 course.”
Jah H.
Synthesizer Fundamentals
★★★★★

fantastic beginner synth starter

“Well explained and a very interesting course, and FREE! Can't go wrong, thanks Marc”
James F.
Synthesizer Fundamentals
★★★★★

Great intro! Interested in the Nord Stage 3 course next!

“Great intro! Interested in the Nord Stage 3 course next!”
Daniel R.
Synthesizer Fundamentals
★★★★☆

great so far but not parted with any money yet ! but I'm going to

“Good intro to synthesis. I own and use a sequential pro 1 mono synth so I'm fairly up on sound creation using it. Being completely new to the Nord Stage 3, it would have been great if the settings for that presentation could have been divulged so we could play or tweek along and go " oh yeah ! " but as much as I tried to set my Stage 3 by observing what was lit and what was not I couldn't find…”
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Good intro to synthesis. I own and use a sequential pro 1 mono synth so I'm fairly up on sound creation using it. Being completely new to the Nord Stage 3, it would have been great if the settings for that presentation could have been divulged so we could play or tweek along and go " oh yeah ! " but as much as I tried to set my Stage 3 by observing what was lit and what was not I couldn't find those basic waveforms without other stuff being in the display or other stuff going on.... Hopefully, all will be revealed in the course ... watch this space :)

Shaun B.
Synthesizer Fundamentals
87 selected reviews · Swipe to explore

Reviews

Latest feedback from current students

5 star rating

Best online music course

Jean-Christophe Millot

Thanks Marc for the course. This is a must-do for someone like me rusted after 30 years not playing keyboards and discovering my new Nord Stage 3. This course really accelerated my leanings, It would have taken me years to not even get the same kn...

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Thanks Marc for the course. This is a must-do for someone like me rusted after 30 years not playing keyboards and discovering my new Nord Stage 3. This course really accelerated my leanings, It would have taken me years to not even get the same knowledge on my own. Thanks again from Jean-Christophe, New Caledonia

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5 star rating

The only place you should go to learn all things Nord

Gene Kelly

I found this course to be immensely helpful in learning about the Nord Electro 6. Nord's owner's manual is dry and has limited usefulness and that's where Marc Larochelle's expertise comes into play. He clearly knows his stuff, speaks well, gives...

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I found this course to be immensely helpful in learning about the Nord Electro 6. Nord's owner's manual is dry and has limited usefulness and that's where Marc Larochelle's expertise comes into play. He clearly knows his stuff, speaks well, gives useful commentary and breaking down all of the electro's components into chapters. So far I'm only halfway done but already I've learned a lot. Marc's teaching of the Nord Sound Manager is my favorite part. If you really want to learn the Nord and put your fears at rest, put your money where your mouth is and sign up for this course. It's well worth it.

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5 star rating

Very Detailed - Easy to Follow

Justin Voss

As stated, Very Detailed - Easy to Follow. Very easy to progress quickly and retain the material. Updates are more than you could ask for. A LOT of BANG for Your Buck. Material added each year is well worth it. Simply put -- probably the bes...

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As stated, Very Detailed - Easy to Follow. Very easy to progress quickly and retain the material. Updates are more than you could ask for. A LOT of BANG for Your Buck. Material added each year is well worth it. Simply put -- probably the best course for a keyboard I've purchased. Especially for such a powerful machine.

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5 star rating

Best tutorials ever you will find out there

Abelardo Fernandez

The lessons have the perfect rhythm. Every aspect of the Stage 3 keyboard is covered in a most didactical way, with an eye set on its practical applications. And you always actually see on video, what you are explained, step by step. Believe me, t...

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The lessons have the perfect rhythm. Every aspect of the Stage 3 keyboard is covered in a most didactical way, with an eye set on its practical applications. And you always actually see on video, what you are explained, step by step. Believe me, these courses are worth every penny you pay for them. Great, great job. Greetings from Spain. Saludos desde Asturias.

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5 star rating

The best course for learning the Nord Stage from A to Z!

Stefan Stoermer

This course really covers every aspect of the Nord Stage. The workshop concept is well structured and the videos are presented by the competent and sympathetic Marc Larochelle who obviously enjoys it himself. He really knows and likes what...

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This course really covers every aspect of the Nord Stage. The workshop concept is well structured and the videos are presented by the competent and sympathetic Marc Larochelle who obviously enjoys it himself. He really knows and likes what he does. Chapeau! I will recommend these courses to everyone beginning with the Nord Stage 3 or the Nord Electro 6.

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5 star rating

Super course on Synthesizer Fundamentals

Hans Micheelsen

Thank you very much for a very well organized and easy to understand course.

Thank you very much for a very well organized and easy to understand course.

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5 star rating

Welcome to the course

Rebecca Dudley

I am so impressed with your combination of musical talent and computer programmer skill. What an amazing combination. I would like to be you for a day and have all that superpower in one person!

I am so impressed with your combination of musical talent and computer programmer skill. What an amazing combination. I would like to be you for a day and have all that superpower in one person!

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5 star rating

Perfect for anyone just learning about synthesizers!

Kevin Coakley-Welch

If your starting point is virtually no knowledge of synthesizers (and this describes me) Marc's short course is an ideal way to start getting up to speed. Very glad I found this site!

If your starting point is virtually no knowledge of synthesizers (and this describes me) Marc's short course is an ideal way to start getting up to speed. Very glad I found this site!

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5 star rating

Program Area

Mickey Peare

This course is very easy to use. I have a gig coming up next week and really needed to understand some basic parts of the Nord keyboard. Marc has made it extremely easy to find, learn and setup my Nord Electro 6D. Great Stuff !

This course is very easy to use. I have a gig coming up next week and really needed to understand some basic parts of the Nord keyboard. Marc has made it extremely easy to find, learn and setup my Nord Electro 6D. Great Stuff !

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5 star rating

This is exactly what I was looking for!

M’Lou Speranza

I’ve been struggling to figure out how to use the programs and set lists and they are thoroughly explained here. (Nord Electro 5)

I’ve been struggling to figure out how to use the programs and set lists and they are thoroughly explained here. (Nord Electro 5)

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5 star rating

Fantastic introduction to synthesisers for those with little prior exposure.

Ruth Shepherd

Clear explanation of terms, great accompanying visuals, and practical applications.

Clear explanation of terms, great accompanying visuals, and practical applications.

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5 star rating

Great Course

Thomas Kolb

I use my Nord 5d/73 for about 2 years and I thought, I know all about my lovely instrument. But this opinion was wrong, very wrong. I learned so much more in this course! I like the tempo and the very easy to understand explanations! 100% recommen...

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I use my Nord 5d/73 for about 2 years and I thought, I know all about my lovely instrument. But this opinion was wrong, very wrong. I learned so much more in this course! I like the tempo and the very easy to understand explanations! 100% recommendation - great job!

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Marc Larochelle, My Keys To Music instructor
Your instructor Marc Larochelle Musician, Performer, Electronic Keyboard Trainer
  • ■Playing keyboards semi-professionally in rock bands for over 30 years
  • ■Music Business major; NAMM in Carlsbad, CA, 1991–1996
  • ■Owns a Nord Electro 5/6/7, Stage 3/4, Lead A1 and Wave 2 (first Nord: Electro 3)
  • ■My Keys To Music YouTube channel since Oct 22, 2017, teaching beginner through advanced
Newsletter Join Our Newsletter Get each new issue by email, or catch up on past issues online.
FAQ How yearly subscriptions work
Why are most courses a yearly subscription? Because I’m still open to providing updates to them.
What about the years after the first? Subsequent years are significantly reduced in price to keep the content active.
Can I cancel? Yes. Cancel anytime.
What happens if I cancel? You’ll still have access to the course for the remainder of the year.
These offerings are “unofficial” Nord training courses. I’m not hired by Clavia/Nord or affiliated with them in any way other than being a fan of the products.