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Greetings, Area 12 —
June is finally here and many handbell groups are taking the summer off from their regular service and/or performance schedules. While some might consider this a bell-free vacation time (surely nobody I know! 😉), others may use this time to regroup, reflect, and even refresh their knowledge and/or skills.
Fortunately, Handbell Musicians of America has national, area, and local events at all times of the year. Our national organization maintains a list of events on their web site here: https://handbellmusicians.org/events/.
Area 12 maintains a list of events happening in California, Hawaii, and Nevada here: https://area12.handbellmusicians.org/events/calendar-of-events/
In addition to virtual and in-person events, HMA’s national web site includes a list of some educational resources here: https://handbellmusicians.org/education/ There are also handbell groups on Facebook as well as individual handbell musician’s feeds on Instagram.
I encourage all handbell musicians, both directors and ringers of any skill level, to seek out these resources for themselves and their fellow handbell musicians and enthusiasts.
And if you can’t find something you are looking for, please reach out to me (chair.area12@handbellmusicians.org) or your Regional Coordinator, or really any board member. We are here to help you get what you need to live your best handbell life!
Have a great summer!
PS. Remember that there is no July edition of Twelfth Tone.
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Dear CenCal,
As the season winds down, many of us are already taking a well-earned break, or in the process of wrapping up for a few months. Maybe you are thinking about how to recruit new ringers, or planning repertoire for your next season and beyond.
For church choirs, have you considered an “open house” or casual “show and tell” to answer questions and let curious newcomers try their hand at bells?
For community groups, consider an open rehearsal where already
established ringers can check out your ensemble.
Whatever your plans, here’s something fun to keep the handbell spirit alive: Off-Season Handbell Bingo! Regular 5-down-across-diagonal, or challenge
yourself to “blackout” if you’re feeling ambitious. Okay, no prizes… but bragging rights absolutely count.
I’d love to hear from you; email me about a piece you enjoyed this year, a concert or worship service you played, or a question you’ve been pondering. Happy summer!
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SOUTHERN NEVADA
Alison Pruett
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Hey, all you directors out there!
We’re holding a Director’s Workshop on September 6. Barb Walsh (Director of Tintabulations out of Reno) will be here to teach how to direct a bell choir. We’ll get into ringing techniques as well as actual directing. More details will be coming, but please put this on your calendar! You won’t want to miss this opportunity.
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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Cindy Ksiazek
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Hello, Sacramento area ringers and directors.
By now I would imagine that your ringing season is winding down or over. Most of you are probably ready for a little break --except for bell fans who are always ready to attend a concert to hear more bell ringing! I was hoping to hear from some of you who are playing in an active bell choir and I still look forward to hearing from you.
I thought it would be fun to do a Handbell Q & A
What is the most important skill in playing handbells? The production of the ringing stroke.
Name two kinds of damps: precise and sloppy
How do you play legato (smoothly)? Sloppy damping, loose grip
True or false: Breathing focuses the individual, the group, and the director better than any other technique in ringing. True
What determines the size of the ringing circle? Value of note, tempo, and casting size.
What are two kinds of grips used in handbell ringing? Basic (used most of the time) and Matched (adjust fingers slightly when using for mallets, martellatos and martellato lifts)
Does the sound from a bell come from the mouth of the bell or the side of the casting? Side of the casting
True or false: It is fun going to a bell festival. True
I wish you all a safe, relaxing, and enjoyable summer.
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For information on Northern Nevada concerts, events, and other opportunities,
click here.
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Howdy!
It's been a busy past 4 weeks!
Rio Lindo Adventist Academy, a high school boarding school near Healdsburg, CA, visited Tintab at our rehearsal space at Sparks UMC for a workshop collaboration. The students in their bell ensemble, Sonare, are wonderful musicians and were attentive participants during the workshop portion and seemed to especially enjoy learning 4-in-hand. Tintab really enjoyed sightreading two pieces with them and then performing those pieces for the parents at the end of the evening along with each ensemble sharing a couple of solo pieces. The vocal choir even shared a piece - such beautiful voices! Thank you so much to their director, Whitney Weems, for organizing this wonderful collab! She has so much energy and talent! And Tintab wants to thank you for the lovely dinner!
A couple of weeks after that, Tintab held the 22nd Annual Sierra Spring Ring at Sparks UMC. Along with massed ringing, six different classes were offered. I walked into the Ringing Well class and they were all carefully "ringing" bananas, not wanting to bruise them by holding them too tightly! Then I walked down the hall into the Booms and Beats class where they were playing rhythms on Boomwhackers - sometimes on their neighbor's head! Here's a video: https://youtu.be/FQdTwxUsfdE. Some brave souls stayed after the Ring to sight read through a piece Travis Maslen had just composed; it was really cool! What a great day of music and fellowship!
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If you want more fun, join us on September 20th for BellJam!
Watch for more info in the next 12th Tone!
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FAR NORTHERN LIAISON
Nancy Schmitt
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REDDING HANDBELL FESTIVAL
Saturday, October 18, 2025
9:10a.m. through the final concert 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Redding Christian Fellowship
2157 Victor Ave. Redding, CA
The Redding Handbell Festival is endorsed by Handbell Musicians of America, dedicated to uniting people through the musical art of handbell and handchime ringing. www.handbellmusicians.org
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REDDING HANDBELL FESTIVAL
OCTOBER 18, 2025
REDDING CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
REDDING, CA
Revving Up For the Red Zone Bronze Choir is a class being offered at the Redding Handbell Festival. Maybe you are one of those ringers who attend concerts and watch a bronze choir perform a difficult song and wish that you could be a part of that. Here is your chance to stretch your wings - so to speak - and see what it would be like to play in a bronze level choir. The clinician for this class is Matthew Compton. This hands-on class will be taught in two sessions: Friday, October 17 from 7:00 p.m - 8:30 p.m. and on Saturday, October 18 from 8;00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. During the Friday night session, Matthew will discuss and implement how to mark your music and what to watch for as you ring. Then he will lead the ringing and rehearsing. On Saturday, he will offer more tips and lead a rehearsal of the music. You will also perform this song at the afternoon concert. If you are interested in giving this class a try please purchase Hallelujah arr. by Matthew Compton, Code GMH350016 Published by Grassy Meadow Music
Massed music for the festival with director Matthew Compton:
Song of Assurance by Arnold Sherman CGB604
Andante Maestoso arr. by Kevin McChesney HB180A
I’ve Got Peace Like a River arr. by Valerie Stephenson Code 2542
Momentary arr. Matthew Compton
https://sonologymusic.com/product/musical-score/handbell-choir/momentary-3-7-octaves-handbells
Registration fee: $40.00 includes massed ringing, classes, final concert, light breakfast, and lunch.
Full choirs and individuals are welcome.
For registration forms please visit the Area 12 calendar or e-mail me at schmitt@awwwsome.com
Have a great summer,
Nancy Schmitt
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The Twelfth Tone is published on or around the first of each month, except July, by Area 12 of the Handbell Musicians of America (The Guild). The Guild is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the musical art of handbell/handchime ringing through education, community, and communication. The editor of this publication reserves the right to reject or modify copy.
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Teachers: Would you like the use of a three octave set of handbells or handchimes to add interest and a new dimension to your music class?
Area 12 encourages schools and other educational institutions, both public and private, to develop educational programs using handbells and handchimes.
To support the development of such programs, Area 12 has six 3-octave sets of handbells and three 3-octave sets of handchimes for loan.
To learn more about the responsibilities and procedures for participating in this program, click here.
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