My name is Roger Turner. Music has been a part of my life for over 40 years. I started playing trombone in the sixth grade band. I studied music in college and have been teaching for over 30 years. I have taught levels K-college. I have taught band, choir, orchestra and elementary. If I said I enjoyed every minute of it, I would be lying. There were sometimes I would rather have been digging ditches. If I said I enjoyed it most of the time; that would be more accurate. I have especially enjoyed the last 10 years. I keep looking for new ways to improve my teaching, and it has paid off. I have some pretty good jr. high and high school bands.

A couple of events in the last year have changed my life.

1.  I attended an All Northwest Conference in Portland, Oregon. Two of my students were in the All Northwest band. I happened upon a vendor who was selling marimbas. Tom Bourne of Bourne Marimbas got me interested in building my own. He told me that “the world needs more marimba makers.” If my marimbas look similar to his, that is why. As I improve my craft, my marimbas will gradually take their own shape and style. I love music and I love to build things, so it is a natural fit. Tom has been great to answer questions I have had about building, etc.

2. I attended an Orff workshop in Boise, Idaho. The clinician was Doug Goodkin. He taught us for two days about body movement, Orff instruments, jazz and world music. It gave me a real shot in the arm. It has helped breathe new life into how I teach elementary music in my own classroom.

Since then, I have built several marimbas and am using them in my own classroom and selling them. I certainly enjoy doing it.

Thanks for checking out my website. if you have any questions, please be sure to email me at turnermarimbas@gmail.com