KeyReel Raskolenko has the Artist Diploma from Texas Christian University (2018). He earned his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Gnesin’s Russian Academy of Music (2005).

KeyReel has started his pre college education in 1989 and later has been performing across Europe, Asia and North America,  for nearly 30 years. His musical experience is vast and includes classical solo, chamber, symphony orchestra, Celtic, swing, and improvisational music. His experience in teaching started in 2007 with Classical and then Celtic music. Besides this program, KeyReel gives private violin, fiddle, and viola lessons, which include not only playing the instrument, but also a basic theory and other things helping people to grow as a musician. 

Check more at www.key-reel.com

The program is for both! However we have two separate classes with separate time schedule. At the end of the semester, at the recital, we all combined and share same or some of the tunes, not necessarily entire program, it depends. For example we share the same  tunes for both groups at the Fall semester of 2024. 

Unfortunately we don’t offer anything for Double Bass for now.

We might open enrollment  for basses later, but not at this time. 

It is what we call Celtic Music, common term for Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Breton, and as part of Canadian, especially Cape Breton  and American Traditional Music. 

So it is instrumental compositions, tunes, historically mostly played for dances and nowadays can be played as concert pieces! Slow tunes  though, more like songs played on the instrument.

Tunes are usually grouped in the set of same genre, sometimes mixed genres.

And then usually played as the set, not each tune individually. Separate tune composition is common for slow tunes or special music arrangement. 

Most of the time it could be very confusing and stressful to be in the program if you are the beginner.

How about you still send us a message, fill out the form and maybe we can think about  starting beginner class!?

Also we can start private lessons first, focusing on proper holding and playing simple tunes, learning basics.

Fill the form anyway

Private lessons page is here

Absolutely! 

We have different options:

• First of all you can use the form to schedule Zoom appointment for quick online meeting, in this case you don’t need to record video at all! 
• You can use the form and fill in only required fields marked * and ask anything about the program, including help with uploading. Happy to help! 
• You can always use one of our social media buttons, for example WhatsApp to contact NTCS.

Short answer – NO.*

The goal is to teach to play by ear. So we don’t use music, instead we train our ears to learn the tune in the class. In this way it is better to hear and reproduce all the details needed for Traditional music.

* Sheet music could be provided later in the program if needed. Just keep in mind that in this kind of music it’s just a skeleton, reminder of the notes and rhythm without any further details. Here is an example:

We usually cover at least about three to four sets of music. Sometimes more. It is about from 9 to 14 tunes. Winter semester of 2023 we covered 5 sets, in the Fall of 2024 we covered 3 sets and one slow tune, so 10 tunes. 

We are open to discuss this. It really will depend on signups. Signing up doesn’t take long, please sign up even if you can’t attend those days or time offered. If we have enough students on the other day we can form new group or move one of the groups there.

We play recital at the end of each semester. Location is different for each semester. Plano, Allen and McKinney – that was from previous recitals. It’s being recorded and you will have your copy as well. Also it is supported by the band, so students can experience the real feel of traditional music community on the stage!

We have different options. Zelle, PayPal, checks and cash.

Payment schedule is either for the entire semester or monthly payment is available.