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Degrees and Certifications:

Roger Keane

This will be my fifth year of teaching elementary music at Midway after 13 years as a Band Director, 8 of which were here in Lexington 1 at Carolina Springs Middle School. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from the University of South Carolina, where I performed in the Mighty Sound of the Southeast, the USC Symphony, the Symphonic Band, and the Pinnacle Brass. I also have a Master's Degree in Elementary Administration from USC, and I continue to perform with the Palmetto Concert Band and in my church's music ministry. I am delighted to be part of the Mustang Family here at MES and am looking forward to making music with your children this year!

  • General Music Classes

    Midway music classes engage students in active music learning and performance.  Our lessons are designed to follow the South Carolina College- and Career-Ready Standards for General Music Proficiency Standards through singing, moving, chanting, playing instruments, music reading, and listening.

    Please visit the South Carolina Department of Education website to see the General Music Academic Standards.

    Singing is the most fundamental means of musical performance.  Singing is musically rich because it involves both the rhythmic and tonal elements of music.  When singing, students have an opportunity to apply what they have learned aurally to their own musical performance without needing to develop other sophisticated technical skills such as those needed to play an instrument. Additionally, fourth grade students are invited to join Midway’s Fall Chorus.  The Fall Chorus leads our annual Winter Holiday Sing-Along.  Fourth and fifth grade students are invited to join the Midway Spring Chorus and perform for friends and family during a Spring Musical Concert.

    Moving is essential to musical development.  Movement provides fundamental readiness for the understanding of rhythm and style.

    Chanting is a means of vocal rhythmic performance.  As with singing, students have an opportunity to apply what they have learned aurally to their musical performance.

    Playing Instruments involves a three-step process using classroom pitched and unpitched percussion instruments.  First, students will develop readiness by observing the music teacher playing the instrument and by having an opportunity to explore the instruments with no expectation toward correctness.  Second, they will transfer what they have learned through listening, singing, chanting, and moving to their instrumental performances.  Third, they will develop instrumental technique. Additionally, Lexington One’s Elementary General Music curriculum includes basic instrumental lessons in the recorder during fourth grade and basic instrumental lessons in ukulele during the fifth grade year.

    Listening, although presented in this overview last, is essential for learning music.  Your child will probably quote our theme if you ask… “Listening is the most important job of a musician!”  In order to develop appropriate musical concepts, students must listen to and observe excellent musical models.  Eventually, students who were actively engaged in music making through singing, chanting, moving, and playing instruments will be able to apply to listening what they have learned while making music.

    Modes of Performance taken from Jump Right In: The Music Curriculum

    Midway Mustang Music Website