Roger Carter

headshot of Roger Carter

Director of Marching Percussion

SDSU

Bio

Roger Carter had many decades of drumming and instructional experience. He was first introduced to the world of marching percussion as a student at Mission Viejo High School, and continued my drumming development in Southern California with the Kingsmen and the Velvet Knights.

Afterward he spent four years as a member of the Concord Blue Devils, culminating with two years as center snare/section leader, a DCI championship title, and a high percussion award. Roger then spent six years as a staff member with the Blue Devils, winning three DCI titles and two high percussion awards. He continued His drum corps teaching experience with the Crossmen and later the Madison Scouts, worked with Riverside Community College, the Freelancers (where I was battery caption head/arranger from 2002-2009), and spent ten years with James Logan High School in Union City, CA. In 2012, Roger joined the percussion staff of the Bluecoats as a snare tech.

In 2013 he assumed the role of Percussion Caption Head, a position he presently holds. In 2016 the corps won its first DCI title at the DCI World Championships, and in 2022 the Bluecoats were awarded their first ever Fred Sanford High Percussion Award. Roger is also the battery instructor for Mission Viejo High School and Aliso Niguel High School in Southern California, and the snare specialist and lead instructor at Broken City Percussion.

Roger recently completed my Associates Degree in Music at Saddleback College under Joey Sellers and studied privately with Paul Johnson.