The Newsletter of Area 1 | Volume XXXIV No. 5 | October 2019
News for Handbell Musicians in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont 
Notes from THE CHAIR
Welcome to fall, fellow Handbell Musicians,

It’s time for Back to School and more importantly, Back to Bells! I’m sure you’re all busy getting back into the swing of things: teaching new ringers how to ring their very first note, spreading enthusiasm and excitement for your first performance, or perhaps rehearsing your Christmas program. Your Area 1 Board has been working hard all summer to present programs that will help each of you to ‘unite people through the musical art of handbell and handchime ringing...through mentorship, education and events.’
We just held our fall Board meeting in Essex, CT, and there is a lot going on in 2019-2020! More
Congratulations to Ed Henderson, who received the Margaret Shurcliff Leadership Award at the Area 1 Biennial Meeting on June 28, 2019, at Area 1 Festival/Conference in Hartford. Ed has worked tirelessly and selflessly to promote handbell artistry and education throughout our region for more than 30 years. Thank you, Ed! Read the whole story here.    
Karen Leonard Honored!

On Saturday, September 28, Karen Leonard was honored by family, friends, and representatives of the New England handbell community for her 50 years of service as Minister of Music of the West Chelmsford (MA) United Methodist Church. The ceremony, organized and led by her friend, Holly Cerullo, included handbell and vocal choirs, a responsive reading, hymns, and remarks by several attendees.
Karen noted that this was not a farewell party!  
Congratulations, Karen! and special thanks for all you have contributed to local and national handbell events.
Help us put all handbell groups in Area 1 on the map!

Click here to see the interactive map that we've compiled so far, showing demographic information about all handbell groups in our region (all 6 New England States and the Canadian Maritimes). We are making excellent progress, and we want to be sure to include every group, no matter how small! I f you have not yet completed the survey, please click here to get your group added to the map. 
Also, if you know of other groups that are not accounted for, please share the links.
Thank you for your help!
Area 1 Winter Workshop

The Area 1 Winter Workshop will once again be held at UMass Amherst, January 31 - February 1, 2020...this year we are once again offering “Distinctly New England” with Griff Gall as the clinician...and the second ringing track, “Beyond Basics – Before Bronze” with clinicians Karen Leonard and Jane Nolan. More

2020 FRIENDS AND FAMILY HANDBELL CAMP
will be held at
CAMP WIGHTMAN
GRISWOLD, CT,
FRIDAY, JUNE 26 thru
SUNDAY, JUNE 28, 2020

Free Fall Skill Building Workshops

Area 1 is offering two different types of free skill building workshops this fall as a benefit to all full members of Handbell Musicians of America. The first will be “Handbell Boot Camp” which will cover ringing techniques, weaving, rhythms, counting, time signatures, and how to look good and sound better.  More
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE RINGERS…..OR IS IT?

In recent weeks comments have surfaced relating to how handbell directors prepare for a new season of handbells. Concerns include repertoire, rehearsal planning, cleaning and adjusting instruments (bells and chimes), organizing materials (notebooks, gloves, pads, tables), and setting goals for your choir. For the moment, let’s focus on... More
Notes from CONNECTICUT


I hope you are all having a nice start to the fall, as many of our community and church ensembles have resumed rehearsals after a summer break. There is a lot going on this fall for handbells in our area. See below for a list of upcoming handbell events, workshops and concerts to consider attending! More
Notes from MAINE
As the Maine State Chair for Handbell Musicians of America, I am happy to send you some information regarding our 2020 Maine Spring Ring.
Date: March 28, 2020
Location: Auburn Middle School in Auburn, Maine     More
Notes from MASSACHUSETTS
Greetings from Massachusetts!
Fall always seems to signal so many exciting things – whether in churches, schools, or other community venues, everyone is starting a new program year, and that especially includes ringers and directors! In Area 1, fall is also when we see the return of our annual Skill-Building Workshops.  More
Notes from NEW HAMPSHIRE
Happy Fall! We hope everyone has recovered from Festival Conference and enjoyed the rest of their summer! Most groups are back in session and already working towards… Christmas!   More
Notes from RHODE ISLAND
Happy Fall! We are looking forward to an afternoon of Master Classes with
David Harris,
Saturday, October 5
at St. Luke’s Church, East Greenwich, RI More
Notes from VERMONT
On April 26, 2019 the Vermont Handbell Association held another successful Spring Ring in Hinesburg with over 188 ringers attending workshops, rehearsing the massed pieces with clinician Stephanie Rhodes and then giving a wonderful concert for a capacity crowd of almost. More
Classifieds

Call for articles
Directors and Handbell Musicians are invited to submit articles for future publications.

Would you like to advertise in Fundamental Tone ?
Full page ad (7.25" w x 9.625" h): $80.
Half page ad: $50
Quarter page ad: $30
Eighth page ad: $20
Discounts: Deduct 5% for prepayment of two issues;
deduct 10% for prepayment of four issues.


Next publication is scheduled for December 1
Articles must be submitted no later than November 18

Thank you!
If you have suggestions or questions regarding this or any other aspect of the Fundamental Tone ,
please contact the editor:
Fundamental Tone is a publication of the Handbell Musicians of America Area 1.
It is published six times a year: Feb. 1, Apr. 1, Jun. 1, Aug. 1, Oct. 1, Dec. 1.
Editorial copy and advertisements are due by the 18th of the month preceding publication.
Questions? Contact Donna M. Horan, Editor editor.area1@handbellmusicians.org