Photograph by: Carri Bass Matt Roper M att Roper has been marching to the beat of and orchestra and earned a degree in music. his own drum for quite some time. In addition to being a teacher and artist -in- A percussionist who has played the drums residence at Spartanburg Day School, Roper along since age seven, the music store owner with his staff help middle and high school band has made his passion his profession at Roper Music and orchestra programs across the Upstate recruit 551 East Main Street, Suite 106 Spartanburg since 2006. Recently, Roper has expanded into students, select their instruments, and provide 864.542.2263 his new larger location on East Main Street in the repairs, instrument rentals and supplies. www.ropermusicstore.com Converse Corners shopping center. The new store is As Spartanburg’s only full-service music store, 4000 square feet and features new larger teaching Roper Music sells a range of instruments and has Monday-Friday 11am-6pm studios for the 250 students who study guitar, bass, experienced steady growth. “I know what an outlet Saturday 11am-5pm drums, trumpet, sax, flute, clarinet, trombone, music can be for kids, and you’re never too old to Music Retail piano, voice – even ukelele – every week. learn to play an instrument,” Roper says. “Music was where I found my voice growing up,” Music runs in the Roper family. Son Nathan, 11, says the soft-spoken Spartanburg native who plays sax and Josh, 9, is a drummer. Roper’s wife played with the Spartanburg High School band Kelly plays the French horn. 92 behind the counter | 2012