Foothills Band & orchestra

Welcome to Foothills Middle School Instrumental Music Program!

Foothills Middle School offers four instrumental ensembles:

• Band 6 – 6th grade band

• Orchestra 6 – 6th grade strings

• Highlander Band – 7th/8th grade band

• Highlander String Orchestra – 7th/8th grade strings

• Drumline - Audition based, after-school program. Must be concurrently enrolled with the Band Class.

6th Grade Ensembles (Band 6 & Orchestra 6): 

Students progress through a first-year method book, reaching a shared performance level by year's end. Each ensemble presents two evening concerts and competes at the SCSBOA Music Festival in March, receiving adjudicator feedback on performance and sight-reading.

Highlander Band: 

Performs in three community parades, a joint Vertical Concert with sister schools at the AHS Performing Arts Center, and an annual visit to its feeder elementaries. The band also presents two evening concerts and multiple school-day performances each year.

Highlander String Orchestra: 

Performs at the Fall String Concert and the Vertical Concert at the AHS PAC, and competes at the SCSBOA Music Festival. The orchestra also visits its feeder elementaries annually, presents two evening concerts, and gives several school-day performances. Select years include an LA Philharmonic rehearsal visit at Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Drumline (Percussion):

The Drumline/Percussion section is highly selective, accepting students only in 6th grade. This timing is essential—percussion students work with Mr. Sherrill, Arcadia HS Music Director, from the start of the year, building the technical foundation and ensemble balance that makes our percussion groups successful. At the end of 6th grade, students audition again for drumline instrument assignment. While I cannot guarantee placement for all who audition, those who don't make percussion are welcome to pursue woodwind or brass instead. Once placed in percussion for 7th or 8th grade, students retain their position through graduation.