9 AM Classes

• Ringing 101, taught by Lawrence Berdensey. Join fellow ringers as you review how to properly ring and damp handbells and chimes. We will concentrate on the basics of ringing, along with recognizing the different articulations, and how to properly perform them expressively.
• Treble Techniques, taught by Evie Sessions. Have you ever wanted to learn how treble ringers make music with all those bells on the table in front of them? This class will cover the basics of two common treble techniques – Shelly and Four in Hand. We’ll spend time discussing the two techniques, when they are used, and most importantly, learn how to ring them both! This class is a good fit for anyone who would like to improve their current treble skills or learn these techniques, which are most commonly used by ringers playing C6 and above.
• Fascinating Rhythms: The System of Ta, taught by Susan Capestro. As handbell ringers, we are melody percussionists. And of course, we’re all rhythm aficionados… right?? But what if there was a fail-safe language for practicing rhythm – flexible, creative, and actually fun? What if it only used 5 simple one-syllable words? And what if this system had worked for millions of people for thousands of years? Sounds too good to be true? It isn’t! We may also explore why this language produces faster, more accurate, and musically expressive results, time-saving practice and rehearsal techniques, the difference between rhythm and meter, polyrhythms, and any other questions you bring. (Warning: you may never look at rhythm—or rehearsal—the same way again!

• Music Reading 101, taught by Abby Schoppe. Want to play bells but have no experience reading musical notation? This class will demystify various note values, time signatures, rests, and ties through a series of exercises and simple pieces. No prior experience is required, and participants will experience the joy of making music together as they learn.
• Stopped Techniques, taught by Karen Leonard. There are a number of ways to initiate sound with a handbell beyond the straight ring technique. Participants will be instructed in the proper way to perform the pluck, tap pluck, thumb damp, hand damp, martellato, martellato lift, hand mart, ring touch, and malleting. This is a hands-on class. Please bring gloves.
• Weaving, taught by Lawrence Berdensey. Do you want to become a weaving maniac? The “weave” allows the performer to ring multiple bells in succession. We will begin by understanding the different exercises that will facilitate bell changes, necessary in successfully mastering the weave. By the end of the session, participants will be able to perform a piece of music utilizing the weave technique.
• How Do I Play That? taught by Evie Sessions. Composers and arrangers usually write what they want to hear, and not what they think we can play. Come and learn some helpful tips and techniques to problem-solve your way out of what may look like an impossible situation- and feel free to bring those sticky measures from your own music so we can work them out together. It’s really just a puzzle looking for the right piece to fit!