Greetings Handbell Musicians.

Now that we are in September, and many of us are preparing for our first rehearsals, I wanted to share one of my pet peeves as a handbell director, and some of the things I have done with my groups to avoid my concerns.  I will start by sharing a story about a hypothetical handbell rehearsal.

It is the start of the rehearsal, the last ringer just rushed in, and we're ready to start working on our first piece.  We make it about half way through the second page and realize that some of the bass ringers need mallets.  Rehearsal is stopped for a moment while everyone in the bass clef goes to get the mallets they need.  With mallets in hand, we continue rehearsing - until we get toward the end of the piece and see that the high treble bells have a descant with mallets on suspended bells.  Since they didn't need mallets for the earlier section, and they didn't consider the potential to need mallets later on, rehearsal is again delayed while everyone gets the mallets they need.

Next, we move on to the second piece of music.  Someone immediately notices that chimes are needed at the very beginning of the piece.  We send someone to the storage room to get the chime cases and everyone gets the chimes they need.  Many in the group are confused about which cases have the chimes they need (in particular, the G6A6 ringer who cannot find the A6), causing further delays and frustration.  Eventually everyone finds their chimes, and since everyone has chimes in the opening measures, I figured there would be no further delays.  Unfortunately, on page 4, there is a key change, (going from the key of C to the key of Db), and we realize that most of the group left their sharps and flats in the case.  By now, we are at the end of our rehearsal time, and I barely covered about half of what I had hoped to accomplish.

I expect that at least parts of this story sound familiar to many of you, and the moral is to just get everything out before rehearsal starts.  As a director, I'd much rather have chimes or mallets on the table which are never used than have to disrupt rehearsal to get equipment out after the fact.  There are a few ways to accomplish this goal.  I know that some directors who set everything up for their own group.  (In fact, one well-known Area 10 personality has commented "I can setup 5-octaves myself in about 5-minutes.  If my group helps, we can get it done in 10-minutes.")  I personally am not quite that ambitious as a director and typically assign setup tasks to my ringers.  After a week or two, each person becomes an expert with their bell case or piece of equipment, and we rarely need to go hunting for equipment in the middle of rehearsal.  With appropriate planning on my part, I will sometimes let my group know if there is equipment that specifically does not need to come out of storage, but it's understood by all that unless I say otherwise, the motto is "just get everything out."

Over the past couple of months, we've been posting some information on our web site about the upcoming Musicality in Motion Area 10 Conference next June.  To date, we've posted information about changes to the conference format, classes available for pre-registration, music lists, and registration costs.  If you've not had an opportunity to review the materials over the summer, I encourage you to do so now.  Conference registration forms will be made available in the coming months, but we wanted to post some basic information and give everyone an opportunity to understand some of the changes before accepting registrations.

One component of the 2014 event that I'm particularly excited about is the All-Star Choir led by David Harris.  Our goal is to attract the best ringers across Area 10 and have them spend the weekend to be the feature group on our Saturday evening concert program.  In past years, we've brought some excellent groups in from outside of the area to perform.  This year, I'm looking forward to the level of musicality the best talent within our area will be able to achieve.  We are posting audition materials on the web site and also below in the conference section, and if you're interested in applying for the All-Star Choir, I encourage you to review the materials soon.  The application process requires letters of recommendation and preparing a video tape.  The due date is November 15^th.  This is not much time, but we want to process the applications and have the group selected by January so those who are not accepted into the group still have the opportunity to sign up for the other classes we are offering at the event.

"Honing Skills"

When: Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013 * 8:30 am - 4:00 pm

Where: First Unitarian Church (SW 12th between Main & Salmon), Portland

Cost: $15 (covers coffee & snacks, lunch and cost of shipping music for the workshop)

* Dalcroze for Ringers with Dustin Hunley. Dalcroze Eurhythmics teach rhythm, structure and musical expression through body movements. Through carefully planned lessons and games, students develop connections between their ears, mind and body that are essential for musicianship. Rhythmic games teach teamwork, flexibility, concentration and expression through group interactions with music. Games of quick change and reaction also focus the mind, spark creativity, and increase student learning of any kind. Of course, these games are also incredibly fun; don't be surprised if you forget that you are learning!

* Damping, Let Me Count the Ways with Nancy Hascall. "To damp or not to damp" is only the first question. What about when, where, why, and how? Expand your musical horizons with this in-depth exploration of damping techniques and styles, and discover how the damping choices we make (or fail to make) can affect the musicality of our ringing. Includes finger damping, damping with multiple bells in hand, selective damping, timing, touch, stopped sounds, and more. For both directors and ringers. 

* Read 'n' Ring -- "Diverse Repertoire" with Ellie Hodder

            * 2-5 octave titles, levels 2-3+ music that is both stylistically and Ethnically Diverse.

Registration form 

 Please include $15 to cover the cost of snacks and a light lunch. Checks to "First Unitarian".

Mail to: Ellie Hodder, 4228 SE Mitchell, Portland, OR 97206 by September 9, 2013. (Later registrations okay, but please let me know by Friday so I can make sure there's enough  food for all.)

Questions? Call/txt Ellie Hodder at 503-730-9311 or email at [email protected].

Friday, April 25 &

Saturday, April 26

Idaho Falls, Idaho

Clinician: Cathy Moklebust

Music list and additional information will be available soon!

May 9-10, 2014

Ashland, Oregon

Guest Clinician: Fred Gramann

Mark your calendars now for the 2014 Siskiyou Summit Handbell Conference set for  May 9-10 in Ashland, Oregon. I am pleased to announce that our Guest Conductor/Clinician for 2014 is Area 10's own Fred Gramann. Ringing under him is a delightful privilege as he is a wonderful teacher and fine musician. The theme for this year's Siskiyou Summit is Spirit and is reflected in the repertoire choices, which are suitable for Lent, Easter and Pentecost. Ellie Hodder will once again conduct the Bronze Conference Choir with Fred conducting the Massed Ringing and both The Siskiyous and Cascades groups.

Registration for the event will be $65/ringer if registered by March 1^st, after March 1^st registration will be $75/person.  Registration materials will be available beginning January 1^st, space is limited so register early. If you wish to receive your registration materials electronically please contact Diane Barnes at [email protected] with your e-mail contact information.

Saturday, October 19

9:00 am - 4:30 pm

Faith Presbyterian Church

620 S Shirley Street

Tacoma, Washington

Guest Clinician: Martha Alford

Artistry with Varied Tone Color: Expression & Musicality in Handbells. There's more to music than piano and forte. This workshop will explore how to create varied sounds, using technique and movement to express a musical idea.

Complete description, schedule, and registration.

Saturday, December 7 - 4:30 pm Wesley. Handbell Choir annual "Ring in the Season" concert will at Trinity United Methodist Church, 210 North Water Ave, Idaho Falls. Attendance is free. A freewill offering will be taken after the concert.

Sunday, December 8 - 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm. Wesley Handbell Choir annual "Ring in the Season" concert will at Trinity United Methodist Church, 210 North Water Ave, Idaho Falls. Attendance is free. A freewill offering will be taken after the concert.

Sunday, December 8 - 4:00 pm, First Baptist Church, 221 E Linden Street, Caldwell. "Carols of the Bells" with Treasure Valley Bronze (directed by Phyllis Tincher) and various homeschool choirs of Ruth Whitley. They will be joined by the Chancel Choir of the First Baptist Church. Free.

Sunday, December 15 - 4:00 pm, Jewitt Auditorium at The College of Idaho, Caldwell. 8th Annual "Kettle Koncert" for the Nampa and Caldwell Salvation Army with Phyllis Tincher, handbells, and Sean Rogers, piano. There will be a contribution opportunity for the Salvation Army during the concert. RingPraiseMinistry.org

 Wednesday, October 9 - noon-1:00 p.m.  Concert by Nancy Kirkner, solo handbells, and Janet Anderson, piano.  Music of modern American composers, including Amy Beach, Karen Lakey Buckwalter, George Gershwin, Scott Joplin, Linda Lamb, Eric Whitacre, and original compositions for handbells and bell trees.  Seattle Public Library, Microsoft Auditorium, 1000 Fourth Avenue, Seattle.  Free admission.  Bring your lunch.  More information at www.solobells.com.

Saturday, October 19 - 9:00 am - 4:30 pm, Alliance of Christian Musicians Handbell Workshop, Faith Presbyterian Church, 620 S Shirley St, Tacoma. Guest clinician: Martha Alford. See article above.

Saturday, November 9 - 2:00-3:00 p.m.  Concert by Nancy Kirkner, solo handbells, and Janet Anderson, piano.  Music of modern American composers, including Amy Beach, Karen Lakey Buckwalter, George Gershwin, Scott Joplin, Linda Lamb, Eric Whitacre, and original compositions for handbells and bell trees.  Frye Museum auditorium, 704 Terry Street, Seattle.  Free admission to museum and concert, and free parking.  More information at www.solobells.com.

Saturday, December 7 - 7:30 p.m. Handbell soloist Nancy Kirkner and pianist Janet Anderson will be featured in the Magnolia Chorale's Christmas concert. Magnolia Lutheran Church, 2414 31st Avenue West, Seattle. Ticket information: www.magnoliachorale.org. More information at www.solobells.com.

Sunday, December 8 - 2:00 p.m. Handbell soloist Nancy Kirkner and pianist Janet Anderson will be featured in the Magnolia Chorale's Christmas concert. Magnolia Lutheran Church, 2414 31st Avenue West, Seattle. Ticket information: www.magnoliachorale.org. More information at www.solobells.com.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014 - 10:00-11:00 a.m.  Handbell musician Nancy Kirkner will be the featured speaker at the monthly meeting of Seattle Music Teachers' Association.  Topic:  Teaching music to the adult beginner.  Sherman Clay, 1624 Fourth Avenue, Seattle.  Open to the public.  Free admission.  More information at www.solobells.com.

Friday - Sunday, June 27-29, 2014 - Area 10 Handbell Conference, Musicality in Motion, Yakima Convention Center. See article above and visit our website, http://area10.handbellmusicians.org.