* Healthy Ringing  Ringing handbells incorrectly or overusing one's body can be a painful experience. Learn basic stretches, strengthening exercises and postural cues to help you continue to ring for many years without injuries that sideline you. Details on the back. Kelly Reed, PT, COMT, OCS, Presenter 

* I Got Rhythm . . . But, I'd LOVE to Feel More Confident! Get away from the tables and have some fun with rhythm. A toolkit of activities to help every handbell musician feel more confident about the rhythmic complexities of our art form. Ellie Hodder, MFA, Joanne Dixon, co-presenters. 

* Read 'n' Ring  --A Packet of Pieces that Make You Want to Ring Them! A variety of publications for sacred, secular, concert settings. So wonderful you'll want to do them all. Ellie Hodder, et al (Please contact Ellie if you'd like to direct one of the Read 'n' Ring pieces) 

      

     This past July I had the privilege of attending Distinctly Teen in St Louis during National Seminar. I had so much fun making music, seeing old friends and making new ones.

      We arrived on Tuesday; however, my activities did not start until Thursday, so I had the opportunity to do some volunteer work with the people putting on the event. This was really cool to see everything that goes on behind the scenes. All the people that put on the National Seminar really put a ton of work into the events. I was also able to go to some really great concerts. It is so cool to see the ways people can reinvent and push the limits of our instrument!    

      When we started practicing for Distinctly Teen this year we had the honor of being directed by Greig Ashurst. I really enjoyed his conducting style and fun personality. You could really see how his background in band and percussion shaped his way of running rehearsal and creating the sound he wanted. We played a total of four songs: Del Cinco, Milele, Sway, and a pop tune arranged just for us, High Hopes. All these songs use a myriad of techniques and challenged many of us.

     We also had time to attend several of the classes offered. This is truly one of my favorite parts of Seminar because it gives you such an opportunity to learn and grow as a ringer. You are able to gain access to so many new ideas, techniques, music and knowledge that can all make you a better ringer.   My mom always says we are so lucky that so many of the leaders in the handbell world are still with us and can teach and show us great new things, and that is absolutely true.

     We had our final concert on Saturday and we got to perform alongside the All-Star Choir. The concert went really 

well and everyone seemed to enjoy it. So all in all it was a great festival and I had so much fun. If you get the chance, please go! Not only will you learn, but you will be supporting bell ringers of the futu re and getting a great experience on top. Next year it is in Orlando, Florida, so be  sure you get signed up to go!

Rachel Hould - Shelby, MT - Area 10  

Victor K-12 schools appreciates the loan of the handchimes to the music program for the 2018-2019 school year. The chimes were used in general music classes and in high school choir. Third and fourth graders used them as they were learning about the music staff, and played an ostinato to a song (such as the round "Hey, Ho, Nobody Home") while other students sang. It engaged the students and made them eager to play and learn music. In high school choir, we experimented with using them as the root of chords during a carol that referenced bells. Thank you for the use of these instruments!

 

Heidi Schnarr

Victor K-12 Music Teacher  

Ellie Hodder Founder/Clinician

October 11-13 * Portland, Oregon

6th Annual 

Snake River Handbell Conference

Friday & Saturday, February 7 & 8, 2020

Central Gym

1415 6th Street South

Nampa, Idaho

Clinician: David Harris

David M. Harris has been the director of The Raleigh Ringers since January 1990, when he was instrumental in the formation of the group. David is a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University and has studied conducting privately with Dr. William A. Payn at Bucknell University. David was the director of the handbell program at Hudson Memorial Presbyterian Church, and has served Handbell Musicians of America  as North Carolina State Chairman and as Area III Treasurer. He chaired the national committee that planned the very first Community/Professional Handbell Choir event, Pinnacle 2000, which was held in Las Vegas, Nevada. David is in increasing demand as a clinician and guest conductor, and has led several national Handbell Musicians of America events as well as serving as the primary handbell clinician for denominational music events, such as those held at Montreat, Lake Junaluska and Lutheridge. After growing up in the Northeast, David moved to Raleigh with his wife, Kristina. Dave and Kris have three grown children and one granddaughter. 

Repertoire      Registration     Information

For questions, contact Phyllis Tincher, 208-989-2811 or [email protected].

This event is sponsored by Handbell Musicians of America, dedicated to uniting people through the musical art of handbell and handchime ringing.    www.handbellmusicians.org.

 

The 19th International Handbell Symposium- Sound of the Pearl will be held in Hong Kong, China-August 4-8, 2020. Participation in an International Symposium is wonderful experience, from meeting ringers from around the globe, ringing under conductors from each member country, experiencing new cultures and expanding your handbell family nationally and internationally. Hong Kong also makes a great jumping off point to explore some highlights of China. 

Come experience the 19th International Handbell Symposium with the Rogue Ringers International, an Ad Hoc Handbell Choir made up of ringers from around the country. Contact Diane Barnes at [email protected] for more information about Rogue Ringers International and the 19th International Handbell Symposium-Sound of the Pearl.

Online registration begins Oct 16, 2019.  Look for more details in the October newsletter.
 

Friday & Saturday, February 7 & 8, 2020 -  6th Annual Snake River Handbell Conference.  Central Gym,  1415 6th Street South,  Nampa, Idaho Clinician: David Harris.  Repertoire Registration,  Information