Classes

Please click the instructor’s name to learn more about them.

MICHAEL GLASGOW

Rhythm Is Gonna Get You!

While a rhythm game will be taught as an introductory activity and icebreaker, the class isn’t about rhythm games; it’s more of a “drill session” to help participants sharpen their rhythmic skills  (think “theory lab!”).  Corporate and individual (for those brave volunteers) rhythmic sightreading will be experienced, as will rhythmic dictation for all (e.g., “write down the rhythm you hear”).  This class is always wildly popular and well-reviewed!

Conducting Quagmires

Dynamics, tempo changes, expressive phrases…so many things in italics and Italian!  The course will teach basic conducting gestures (which directors AND ringers need to know!) and explore interpretation of how difficult-to-conduct passages may be approached, showing the importance of the left hand, getting ringers to learn conducting basics so they know what all that hand-waving is about (and ensuring that the directors are waving appropriately).  Participants are welcome and encouraged to bring pieces that present conducting challenges so that we may customize the class for specific applications. (And bring your conducting baton if you have it with you!)

DAVID HARRIS

Making Excellent Rehearsals Happen

How do you make the most of the precious rehearsal minutes you have with your group? We’ll discuss thorough planning before rehearsal, efficient execution and strong leadership during rehearsal, and causal analysis after rehearsal.

Starting & Sustaining a Community Handbell Program

This class will explore both the rationale and procedures for starting a community-based handbell program as well as thoughts and ideas regarding how to keep your group going for as long as possible!

Choosing Handbell Repertoire & Handbell Concert Programing

The first half of this class will discuss the factors involved in selecting music for your handbell program, including commissioning music for your choir. The second half will discuss that really exciting handbell concert that kept you on the edge of your seat AS WELL AS that bell concert that put you to sleep. Come to this class and  learn how to put together that handbell concert that will KNOCK THEIR SOCKS OFF!!

MICHAEL JOY

Dividing the Beat

Dividing the beat is a huge step forward for developing ringers. Eighth notes appear in Level 2 music through Level 6 where they are used in many different ways. Participants will develop an understanding of the hierarchy of difficulty of music using eighth notes through rote experiences, exercises, and handbell repertoire.

Processionals

WYSIWYG

The acronym WYSIWYG stands for “What you see is what you get.” As a corollary, David Davidson said that audiences hear what they see. Combining these two ideas, this class will explore how to help ringers “look like the music” so that audiences will experience a visual impact that will enhance their performance.

JASON KRUG

Concept to Completion

When seeing a printed piece of music, it’s hard to understand all the thoughts and considerations that went into creating it. In this class, watch as a piece of music gets written — start to finish — before your very eyes! Bring your musical ideas and questions to help with the creation of the final product.

Creative (& Easy!) Hymn Accompaniments

The organist at your church plays several hymns every Sunday while the bells just lie on their tables or, worse yet, in their cases.  Learn simple and effective ways to incorporate handbells with your weekly hymns in ways that are sure to delight and uplift your congregation.  Participants will look at sample hymns, brainstorm practical ways to include handbells, and play through the hymns using those ideas.

RON MALLORY

Arranging Pop, Rock, & Jazz for Handbells

Performing pop, rock, and jazz–whether it’s one of the great oldies of the past or the latest chart-topping hit–can be enjoyable for ringers and audience alike. But there are some interesting challenges involved in adapting this music for our unique instrument! We’ll look at several approaches to arranging pop, rock, and jazz music for handbells, as well as the process involved in getting permission to legally arrange and perform copyrighted songs.

Overview of Music Theory

Ever wonder why some pieces have lots of sharps and flats, while others have none? Curious why a composer chooses to write certain notes, and not others? This class will give a broad overview of scales, chords, key signatures, melody, harmony, and more, as we take a look “under the hood” of some well-known handbell pieces to see how and why they work. This is a great introduction for those who may be considering music theory certification courses in the future, or who just want a quick primer on the basics of music theory.

MICHÈLE SHARIK

There’s More Than One Way to Peel a Banana

Do you find yourself with 5 or more octaves of bells, but only 8 ringers? People have solved this problem in many ways over the years. In this hands-on overview of different assignment strategies — Allured, Hilty, Ivey, KatSigning, and beyond — we will try out a bunch of different ways to assign the bells to ringers.

A Hand-clappin’, Foot-stompin’ Funky Good Time

As handbell musicians, we’re pretty good at using our hands, but how about adding in our feet? Four-limb independence is the Holy Grail of coordination exercises, so let’s work on getting our feet moving, too!

Dream Weaving: Wend Your Way Through Without Getting Warped

Weaving is an essential skill for all handbell ringers, from brand newbies to veterans. We’ll learn how to weave safely and with optimum sound production.

KAREN VAN WERT

Handbell Science Lab 101

Harnessing the knowledge of handbell science opens the door to experimenting in sound production. Simple movement of a sustained note or perfect execution of a technique can add drama and interest to a performance. Ringing the final chord with a deliberate style will close the piece in keeping with the mood. Abrupt or slowly fading into the distance, contemplative or exciting, joyous or sorrow-filled – help the music tell the story you wish to convey. Come into my laboratory and experiment with purpose.

Zero to Ring & Record in 60 Minutes

How do you take your choir from zero to ring and record in 60 minutes? Using the acrynom “MAP the STARS” to break down the music and build it up to success.

KATHLEEN WISSINGER

Mastering Mixed Meter

Let’s explore the enticing world of mixed meter! We will strengthen our mixed meter muscles through simple, progressive exercises – then explore and ring through some iconic pieces. You might just amaze yourself! Bring mallets.

Syncopation Anxiety

Don’t you love a surprise? That’s the beauty of syncopation – stressed notes in surprising places and missing notes in others.  We’ll deconstruct and then rebuild rhythmic patterns to make them easy to identify and play accurately  – and then we’ll ring through some pieces to test our new skills. Take two tied-8ths and call me in the morning! (Bring notebooks and mallets.)

Learn to Ring from Square One

A strong foundation of understanding and experience makes for confident, capable ringers. Let’s explore a method that grows successful ringers: Square One: a complete Level 1 curriculum that gets ringers ringing and reading notation right away. (Bring notebooks and mallets.)