Area 10 wishes to strongly encourage schools to develop music programs using handchimes or handbells. To support the development of such programs, the area has established a grant program for schools that includes the loan of a 3 octave set of handchimes plus curriculum and music for a school year. There are seven sets available. The application deadline is June 1.

Handchime Grant Application

Saturday, May 21

Green River Community College

Auburn, WA

Clinician: Debbie Rice

$40, includes lunch

     We are in the home stretch before the Greater Puget Sound Handbell Conference! It is NOT too late to send in your registrations!! We are anticipating a fantastic conference with Debbie Rice on the conductor's podium and a number of classes you will not want to miss! Highlights include: Playing Without Pain, taught by a physical therapist by day/handbell ringer by night; Team Building the Hooked on Handbells Way; Intro to Arranging, taught by AGEHR's composition winner, Ron Mallory; 4-in-Hand; Weaving; and Bass Bell Techniques; beginning directing and more!! Registrations should be in by Friday, May 13. We hope to see you on May 21 at Green River Community College. For more information, contact Wendy McPhetres at [email protected].

Music List

Registration Form

Kath Wissinger, clinician, directing the 2010 Big Sky Handbell Festival in Livingston, Montana

     The podium directions by Stacy Jovick in last month's issue were very popular. We're including them again in this issue.

     Two important factors to consider when building a podium for a gymnasium:

1.    To make the platform area large enough for 2-3 people to stand on - and -

2.    To make the platform high enough so that the guest clinician can be seen by ringers, even from the back of a gym, over the heads of standing ringers.

     Considering item number 1 - There is nothing worse than watching the host squeeze up next to the clinician onto a tiny platform. Worse yet is when the host gives up on the podium space, decides she doesn't need the microphone, and stands on the gym floor to make announcements. The majority of ringers can't hear or see her! The clinician also needs space to comfortably and confidently move around while directing without the worry of falling off the sides, front or back.

     The second item addresses how high off of the ringing floor the platform should be and, subsequently, how far into the bleachers it will reach. The reason for sinking the podium into the bleacher area addresses two requirements: 1) the bleachers and access stairs themselves act as steps up to the platform, so stairs need not be built, and 2) this placement allows maximum use of all available floor space for ringers and also allows the director to be far enough away from the front row of ringers for comfortable viewing.

     By taking into consideration these factors, both your clinician and fellow ringers will have a comfortable ringing experience. I hope that the directions and pictures provide inspiration for you to build your own Handbell Festival podium. Happy building!

Click for a pdf file of the plans and pictures

I would like to thank Kathleen Wissinger for her input on this article, my handbell ringer Carole Buckner for being able to make sense of my drawings, and Jamie Isaly, Park High School Industrial Technology teacher, for his overall assistance.

 Saturday, May 14 - "The Desert Ring" in Richland. See article above on left for registration information and music list.

Saturday, May 14 - Columbia River Celebration of Bells, concert at 7:00 pm, The Performing Arts Center, 123 N Wenatchee Ave, Wenatchee. See article above on left for additional information.

Monday, May 16 - 7:00 pm; Forest Ridge School's three handbell choirs present an exploration-themed concert entitled "Infinity and Beyond." Concert will be in the Forest Ridge Chapel (4800 139th Ave. SE, Bellevue). $5 suggested donation. Directions at: www.forestridge.org

Saturday, May 21 - Greater Puget Sound Handbell Conference. See article above for registration information and music list.

Mark Sunday, May 22nd @ 4:00 pm on your calendars. You will want to be in downtown Seattle at Daniel's Recital Hall, on the corner of 5th Ave. and Marion Street. The hall is 1 block from the public library. Several Seattle area Handbell Choirs are combining efforts to present a Benefit Concert for Disaster Relief in Japan. You will hear great music, an awesome organ with Artist in Residence Mark Andersen at the organ bench, and some very pleasant surprises still in the planning stages. Be there... and bring your choir with you. This could be the event of the year that you have been waiting for. Suggested donation is $10 and ALL proceeds will go directly to Japan. Mr. Nozuma Abe (chair of the International Handbell Symposium in Osaka, Japan) will assist us on that side of the ocean. Blessings, Marlene M. Anderson, Coordinator. Parking is available in the bank parking garage across the street.