New Hampshire Spring Ring 2019

Spring Ring provides an opportunity for ringers to meet, share experiences, have fun, and develop musicianship and ringing skills. This event is sponsored by the Handbell Musicians of America for the benefit of its members. Registration is available only for current members of the Handbell Musicians of America, or members of any ensemble they represent. Individuals, small groups, partial, and complete choirs are all welcome.

Date:

None for 2022

Location:

 

Event Schedule

8:15-9:00 AM      Arrival, Registration, Set Up

9:00-9:10 AM      Announcements and Opening Bell

9:10-10:10 AM    Massed Choir Rehearsal 1

10:15-11:15 AM   Morning Workshops

11:15-11:30 AM   BREAK

11:30-12:30 PM   Massed Choir Rehearsal 2

12:30-1:15 PM     LUNCH BREAK

1:15-2:15 PM      Afternoon Workshops

2:20-3:20 PM      Massed Choir Rehearsal 3

3:30-4:00 PM      BREAK

4:00 PM              Open Concert: Massed
and Solo Presentations
Closing Bell

5:00 PM           Break Down

Contacts

NH State Chair
[email protected]

Susan Schultz
Event Registrar
Handbell Musicians of America, Area 1
[email protected]
978-273-2226

Event Details

Join choirs from NH and surrounding states as they come together to ring and build skills. Our clinician, Dan Moore, will guide ringers through the massed ringing pieces in preparation for the upcoming Festival Conference in Hartford, CT. The day will consist of three massed rehearsals, two workshop sessions, and a lunch break, concluding with a concert, open to the public, where we will present the massed pieces along with solo presentations from willing participants! Please see the detailed schedule to the left.

Meet Our Clinician

Daniel K. Moore of Rumford, RI retired from teaching and directing the Concert Handbell Ringers of the Wheeler School in  Providence, RI after 37 years. His auditioned ensemble toured annually,  appeared frequently on television, performed with the Rhode Island Philharmonic, and presented opening concerts at national and regional handbell festivals. Recordings include Joy To the World (Empire Brass),  Inside Fessiwigs (Ed Sweeney), and on several solo CD’s. Dan was a charter member of the American Guild of English Handbell Ringer’s committee to promote handbells in education and subsequently served The Area 1 and national AGEHR boards in many capacities, most recently as Chair of AGEHR’s second Certification Program, and Secretary of Area 1. Dan is the currently the Artistic Director of the Jubilate Ringers of East Greenwich, RI, and he continues to be a frequent clinician, organizer and conductor at handbell events. His comprehensive handbell textbook, “Ringing RIGHT! From the Beginning”, a valuable resource for ringers and directors alike, is published by HMA/AGEHR. Dan is also a New England regional representative for Malmark Bellcraftsmen.

Massed Ringing Repertoire

  • Make Me an Instrument of Thy Peace   Kevin McChesneyJHS9296 (Handbells), MJHS9296B (Instrument parts), MJH9296FS                                                                      (full score), published by Jeffers Handbell Supply, Inc.
  • Allegro Spiritoso     Greg Underwood, AG 23028(2-3 octaves), AG 35261(3-5 octaves), AGEHR publishing
  • Inception                  Jason Krug, LC202021L(2-3 octaves), LC202020L (3-5 Octaves), Lorenz publishing

Morning and Afternoon Workshops

Two workshop sessions will be run, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. You will have your choice of two different workshop tracks to participate in, covering both sessions.

Skill-building Track

Participants in the Skill Building Track have their choice of three workshops in each of the two workshop sessions.

Morning Workshops     10:15-11:15 AM
  • (ALL) Weaving 101- Carlene Ruesenberg – Here’s your chance to dance around those chromatics! We’ll cover the basics of weaving 3 and 4 (or more) bells. Bring Gloves to this class.  Limit 10 participants.
  • (ALL) Techniques for Fun and Skill – Sue Chamberlin  Learn and refresh your handbell skills
  • (ALL) How to Mallet those Bells like a Pro – Krishna Ersson Would you like to be more comfortable malleting? How to change from ringing to malleting? Bring 2 bells and the mallets for those bells to this workshop
Afternoon Workshops      1:15-2:15 PM
  • (ALL) Weaving 101- Carlene Ruesenberg – Here’s your chance to dance around those chromatics! We’ll cover the basics of weaving 3 and 4 (or more) bells. Bring Gloves to this class.  Limit 10 participants.
  • (ALL) Techniques for Fun and Skill-Sue Chamberlin  Learn and refresh your handbell skills
  • (ALL) Drumming and Rhythm-Krishna Ersson  Using percussion to improve your rhythm skills, and adding color to your handbell performances.   If you have hand drums or other percussion instrument bring them with you to this class.

 

Coppers Plus Sight-reading Track

Improve your sight-reading skills with clinician Dan Moore! Dan will use both Workshop sessions to instruct participants on how to approach a new piece of music and make it your own. If you choose this option, you will receive a piece of music when you arrive and work with Dan as you read through it and work on making music from the start. Please note, this is a two-session track.

My handbells are all bronze, what's this about tins and coppers?

Handbells are made of bronze, which is an alloy about 20% tin and 80% copper.  Handbell Musicians of America uses 'tins', 'coppers', and 'bronze' to group ensembles or ringers into approximate ringing proficiency levels. The group difficulty is generally self-selected by the group as opposed to assigned from the outside. Tins are typically beginning ringers and groups, just getting started on their handbell journey.  They may feel most comfortable playing music at a difficulty of level 1 or 2. A group progressing in skill will begin using the term coppers to indicate that they are an intermediate level group.  They may feel most comfortable playing level 2-4 music. Bronze level is the term used when referring to groups performing music at a higher difficulty level with strong musicality.  Bronze group most often perform music at difficulty levels 3-6 and beyond.

Solo Choir or Ensemble Performances

We invite your choir/ensemble to share a “solo” selection during the final concert. Please fill out the appropriate information on the registration form if you wish to perform a solo piece. Solo performances will be limited to the first five requests. You will be assigned a short time during lunch to run through your piece once in the performance area. Please be prompt and courteous to other groups.

Lunch

In order to save on registration costs, and with the many dietary concerns, Lunch will be Bring Your Own.  That way you can bring exactly what you want or need. Coffee and water will be provide.  Closed water bottles only will be allowed on the ringing floor.

Partial Choirs and “Orphan Ringers”

If you are planning to ring just the massed selections, you are encouraged to attend with a partial choir of any size.

Orphan Ringers are welcome!  We will match you up as best we can.

What to Bring

Each Ringer should bring gloves and comfortable shoes. Each choir (partial or whole) should bring bells, mallets, foam, table covers, music, music stands, and tables.  If your choir has a uniform or concert dress you are encouraged to wear it for the day or the performance.

Registration Information

Registration Fees Early Bird Rates After March 1
Ringing Participant $25 $30
Non-ringing Chaperone $0

$0

Youth ringers welcome! Please register at least one Adult as a chaperone for every ten registered ringers under the age of 18.

Early-bird Registration until March 1

Scholarship Information

Scholarships are available on a variety of levels. If you are in need of financial assistance in order to attend this event, please review the scholarship information and application directions on our scholarships page.

 

HMA AREA 1 COVID-19 VACCINATION POLICY

(Updated 1/26/2023)

PARTICIPANTS & AUDIENCE

Area 1 no longer requires masking for our events for participants or audience members.

All participants and audience members at Area 1 events are strongly encouraged to wear a mask in indoor venues, regardless of their vaccination status. The Area 1 board will revisit this policy and amend it as circumstances change and as required by venue.

DISCLAIMER

By attending/participating, you acknowledge and fully understand the nature and extent of the risk related to the COVID-19 virus and other contagious diseases and agree to attend this event at your own risk. You expressly acknowledge that COVID-19 is highly contagious, and infection can result in death, the risk of infection and transmission are higher in indoor facilities, there are no safety precautions that totally eliminate the risk of contracting COVID-19, and individuals with various underlying medical conditions may experience worse outcomes.

NOTE: Where state, local and/or venue policies vary from the Area 1 policy, the more strict policy will be in effect.