_{By Joe Vickrey}

The synthesizer is probably the most widely used instrument in pop music today, yet it can seem impossible to understand for so many musicians. If only there was someone with a master’s degree in Music Technology willing to give free classes on how to use them! Oh wait. There is. 

Ram Kalo’s free monthly Synthesizer Workshops are now taking place at 3Hive Record Lounge. Whether you own a synthesizer or not, Ram’s classes are centered on providing a hands-on experience to help you understand how you can craft instruments with a synth and not just make noise. 

Ram shared, “The idea for these workshops arose because I wanted to take my knowledge, plus some of the unique insights that I’ve developed, and give those to the Provo music community.” Having gone to a few of the classes myself, I can definitely say they’ve completely transformed how I view synths. 

I’ll also add that it’s fun to see people come from all skill ranges. Musicians, non-musicians, producers, and people who might not have touched a synth before. Whether you’re trying to add a texture to your Provocore band’s demo, wanting to make film soundtracks, or just curious about how a synthesizer works, the class is a phenomenal resource for our music scene. 

While no prerequisite knowledge required, Ram only had one request for attendees: “My biggest ask is that you bring a passion for learning about synths and music.” He also added, “The value of synthesizers is the freedom that they bring. They open up new worlds of sound and creative possibility. Learning the art of synthesis will help any musician, whether Techno or Classical, develop a deeper understanding of music theory that books cannot provide.”

Each class provides a lesson on one type of synth module as well as time for dissecting and reverse engineering a synth patch that someone in the class made, dissecting a famous synth sound, and the remaining time is spent in a collaborative jam. Ram explained, “The intention of the jam session isn’t just to have fun making music, but also an opportunity to explore synth techniques with each other in pairs and small groups.”

For those who don’t yet know Ram Kalo, he’s an electronic musician whose enthusiasm for synthesis began in college as he heard artists like Vangelis, the artist responsible for the original Blade Runner soundtrack. He began to hear artists who made him feel “that synths could be so much more emotionally charged than the bleeps and bloops we often find in EDM” – though Ram clarified that he did have an appreciation for EDM while studying synths for over a decade.

The next workshop is on February 18, 2026 from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at 3hive Record Lounge in downtown Provo. Workshops will continue to occur on the third Wednesday of each month at the same time and place. Anyone who wants to participate in this month’s workshop can RSVP here.

Make sure to follow Ram Kalo on Instagram and check out some crazy synth work on “Leave Me Alone” by IDKHow below!