High Bridge Middle School
50 Thomas Street
High Bridge, NJ 08829
Phone: 908-638-4101
Fax: 908-638-4211
 
Listening Library & Free Sheet Music
Happy-Birthday (pdf)
Hedwigs-Theme (pdf)
Jeopardy-Theme (pdf)
Yellow-Submarine (pdf)
Why study music?
Free metronome!
Note Reading Game 1
note reading Flash Cards
Download SmartMusic Trial
Essential Elements Play along trax
Mr. Thompson's Band Page

 

 

Welcome to

   Mr.Thompson's

         Band Page!!

There is a wealth of information and useful resources for all musicians and parents.   If you ever have any questions please feel to email Mr. Thompson at:   thompsonj@hbschools.org

Attention all High Bridge Band 
students grades (5-8)!!
 
The Lesson schedule will be posted in the cafeteria on Friday September 9th! 

Lessons will begin on Monday September 12th!

5/6th grade Band will rehearse on Monday mornings  during Homeroom/SEL time. After going to your locker check in with your homeroom teacher and report to the stage by 8:21am. Our first rehearsal is Monday, September 12th!

7/8th grade Band will rehearse on Thursday Mornings during Homeroom/SEL time. After going to your locker check in with your homeroom teacher and report to the stage by 8:21am. Our first rehearsal is on Thursday, September 15th!

 

 

Elementary School News!

Attention all 4th graders!!!

 
  Exciting news...All incoming 4th graders will have the opportunity to start learning how to play an instrument in 4th grade!!  
 

To help you make a decision on which instrument you would like to try....check out this demonstration video below!

https://youtu.be/QsNHuplwFYk

Here's some information on how to rent an instrument  https://rent.kandsmusic.com/

( Our school code is..."725"for 4 month rentals or "726" for 10 month rental).

 

Here are some extra materials and other information....

For extra practice and to learn fun songs please visit " gobando.com "!!

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me ....thompsonj@hbschools.org

 

Link to Renting an instrument online with free delivery to HBES! http://rent.kandsmusic.com/

Our school code is...

                "w54"for 4month rentals or "w510" for 10 month rental.

 

Let's talk about practicing....

  • You should be playing your instrument throughout the week.
  • Practicing at least 5 out of 7 days is recommended.
  • Practice sessions should be in a quiet area (free from distractions).
  • You should practice at least 20 minutes per session!
  • Music is fun when you succeed! Effort is the key to success!
  • Watch this excellent video as a guide to musical practicing!!!

 

 
 

Here are Links for great

listening on every

instrument!!!

 

EXTRA "STUFF"

SMART MUSIC
Please consider ordering your child a subscription to Smart Music.  We use it regularly with our method books, our band music, and with jazz and solo literature.  The possibilities are truly endless, from beginner through professional level music.  Your child  will  practice more and it will be more fun.  You can check it out at  www.smartmusic.com . See the information for parents that includes testimonial videos.  You may also visit us at school to see how we use it in the classroom.  A brief flier about Smart Music is available below.

FUN WEB SITES
Here's one with PDFs of tons of  cool songs!

Try  Music Racer !  See if you can get the high school for naming the notes or fingerings for your instrument.

FUN GAMES

Need some practice naming notes?   Staff Wars  is a free computer game that will remind your parents of the old Space Invaders game.  Choose your clef, and name the correct notes to shoot them down. The game will get faster as you get better!  Use this  link  to Staff Wars and go to the list about halfway down the page where it says StaffWars v1.3.  Then, choose to download it for Mac or PC.  Parents:  this is safe and free.  We use it at school often!

 

Check out the games on  Yamaha Advantage .  There's anything from musical memory to note identification and ear training.

 

FREE FLUTE SHEET MUSIC
Flute Tunes is a free website with tons of flute information!  The best part is the free sheet music, from beginning through advanced levels.  Have fun exploring: 
http://www.flutetunes.com/

  • "JUST FOR FUN" BOOKS

Here are some suggestions for books to motivate your child.  I will add more as I discover them!  Order from your local music dealer (such Hunterdon Music in Flemington or Amazon.com) or on line.

"Abracadabra Flute" is a fun book with songs of all styles. This is a great book to get your child playing tunes from the very beginning but will continue to challenge them for quite some time.  Includes CD's.  Also available for oboe, clarinet, and saxophone.

 

Yahama Advantage "The Greatest Solo Songbook" by Sandy Feldstein and Larry Clark.  This is awesome!  It includes 75 songs playable on only the first six notes.  And, it has an accompaniment CD!

 

"Tons of Tunes for the Beginner" by Amy Adam and Mike Hannickel (Hal Leonard Publishing) - wonderful resource of familiar yet accessible songs for the first year student.  It comes with an accompaniment CD so it makes playing more fun.  Great for mini-concerts for family, at church, etc.  

 

"Fantastic Familiar Folk Songs" by Sandy Feldstein & John O'Reilly (Alfred Publishing) - this one is really geared toward the beginning student

 

"Essential Elements Christmas Favorites" arr. by Michael Sweeney (Hal Leonard Publishing) - this is a great book for beginners and has fun songs.  Be sure to order the accompaniment CD as well - probably sold separately.

 

"Easy Christmas Instrumental Solos (Alfred Publishing) - ranging from quite easy to a bit more advanced. 

 

"Easy Rock Instrumental Solos (Alfred Publishing) - these are not difficult but could be a challenge to first year players.  Still, they are fun and the CD accompaniments are very good.  Students are likely to be motivated to learn these songs.

 

"Starter Duets - 60 Progressive Duets" by Philip Sparke (Anglo Music) - appropriate for first and second year players

 

VIDEO LINKS

Listening to great players is a great way to get inspired.  I hope you will enjoy some of the videos I have chosen because they are some of my favorites.  I will add new ones as I find things that interest me so check back now and then.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Middle School News!

For extra practice and to learn fun songs please visit " gobando.com "!!

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me ....thompsonj@hbschools.org

 

 

Check out our Listening library (on the left side of this page).

 

  •  

High Bridge Middle School

       

 

JAZZ BAND   

We will be offering virtual Jazz Band/Jazz Studies later on in the year! Mr. Thompson will keep you posted!!

All HBMS JAZZ MEMBERS: Keep up your playing using the "smartmusic" software/app. There are many free excersises and play along tracks to improve your skills and explore improvisation.

The most important thing you can do is to listen to jazz music every day! Below are some links...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPfFhfSuUZ4&list=PL8F6B0753B2CCA128