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Greetings, Area 12!
As the church program year winds down, have you made any summer handbell plans?
One great option is Neon City Rhythms, your Area 12 conference in Las Vegas! It’s really going to be a great event -- the inimitable Michael Glasgow will be our clinician for both Thursday’s Directors’ Seminar as well as the Friday and Saturday massed and divisional ringing. There are also great class options taught by some of the handbell community’s best teachers.
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I think my favorite part of conferences is the opportunity for fellowship with other ringers and directors! I always learn something new and have made so many wonderful friends at handbell events over the years. I’ve said it before & I’m sure I’ll say it many more times, because it’s true: handbell people are the best people!
There’s also an optional Thursday evening excursion to the Neon Museum, where over 250 decommissioned historic neon signs are on exhibit. Called one of "15 Most Fascinating Museums in the U.S." by VacationIdea.com, it features an outdoor exhibition space known as the Neon Boneyard, as well as the North Gallery, home to the immersive audiovisual experience "Brilliant! Jackpot," which uses projection mapping technology to animate more than 40 non-operational signs.
If you haven't yet, please go register for Neon City Rhythms and join the fun!
Go here for more conference details and to register: https://area12.handbellmusicians.org/ncr2026
See you there!
| | Marci shares why should you consider joining the Area 12 Board? | | |
Nominations for Elected Board Positions
It is that time to prepare for elections. We are looking for nominations for the three elected positions: Chair (6-year cycle), Secretary (2-year cycle), and Treasurer (2-year cycle). We need two candidates to be placed on the ballot for each position. Would you or someone you know be interested in a nomination for the ballot?
In addition, we have openings for the following appointed positions: Events Coordinator, Membership Director, and Member-at-Large.
If you are interested in or know of someone who might be interested in any of these elected or appointed positions, please contact Marci Nuoffer at pastchair.area12@handbellmusicians.org with any nominations.
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Hi CenCal!
I recently attended the Bay Area Spring Ring along with over one hundred ringers from multiple regions! We all enjoyed the day ringing under the direction of Brian Childers and left with some ideas to take home. One instruction that was new to some was the concept of "warm" and "cold" ringing. Warm ringing is our typical ringing stroke with motion - moving the bell through space to create a resonant and alive sound. Cold ringing means to stop the bell after it is struck; no follow-through or arm movement, beyond damping when written. Other analogies include "robot ring" or "T-Rex ring" 🦖 An effective use is to cold ring a final chord, then move to warm on the director’s cue for a dramatic contrast. You could even add more levels by leveling a longer section from cold to warm, and then hot - try them all and see what sounds good!
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Another idea was to explore different levels of “dryness” in stopped sounds, particularly martellatos and thumb damps. If you have ever tried to thumb damp a bass bell, you know that more than just a thumb is required! Similarly, experiment with adding one, two, or more fingers to create a drier or more "clicky" sound. A muted martellato can also be achieved by adding a thumb and forefinger around the casting when performing the mart. This can affect both timbre as well as volume and can be useful when too much martellato might overpower a melody line, or when the piece calls for a softer tone. Of course, check in with your director first; and for directors, try different options - there’s no wrong answer!
I'd love to hear about your favorite techniques - official or not! - and what repertoire is on your spring concert programs. Send me an email or come chat with me at the upcoming Neon City Rhythms conference in June.
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For information on Northern Nevada concerts, events, and other opportunities,
click here.
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Howdy,
Most instrumentalists practice independently at home. Even without having a set of bells there are things we can do to improve as ringers.
Personal Practice Time
1. Proper technique – stance, seat, stroke. Stand up straight and use your core. If you can’t see your music, find a solution; get more appropriate glasses, blow it up to a size you can see, write in your measure numbers so they’re larger, or memorize it.
2. Know your set up. Write on your music and learn which and how you need to set up all your equipment – bells, chimes, music, page turns, mallets, etc. Stack the deck in your favor by being consistent and don’t waste rehearsal time by reinventing the wheel each time.
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3. Understand and use all markings on your music, both printed and handwritten.
4. Identify goal(s) for this practice session. Briefly write it out – what measure(s), techniques, page turns, dynamics, etc.
5. Do your own score study. Find alike and different patterns. If you can't play something, then determine what is the most important, what you absolutely must play. Usually the melody, accidentals, and tempo changes are the most crucial. Also, subdividing and being on time (the clapper hitting the casting on the front side of the beat) is crucial to the ensemble staying together.
6. Know the song. Be able to audiate it. Practice your part while you're audiating the song. Using a recording can be helpful in learning the piece.
7. Plan and practice looking up. Ideally, look down no more than every 2 measures for the majority of the song. Memorize the beginning and the end and tempo change measures.
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SAVE THE DATE: Handbell Summer Camp (for grades 5 - 9): July 6 - 10, 2026 in Irvine
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Dear Area 12,
I encourage you to invite any young ringer you know to attend the Concordia Handbell Summer Camp this July:
The Concordia Handbell Summer Camp is a week-long, fun-filled experience for kids grades 5 - 9. No handbell or music experience is required to attend. Attendees will spend the week experiencing our music facilities while improving their handbell skills and general music abilities. Registration includes daily lunches, five days full of music activities and learning, snacks, a mini golf outing, a closing concert for the family, and so much more! Optional dorm stays available.
Registration fee: $395
Dates: July 6 - 10
Registration Deadline: Register by June 8
Learn more at: simpletix.com/e/handbell-summer-camp-2026-tickets-260079
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Web Weavings
Are you excited for next month's conference? Have you ever wondered where past conferences/festivals have been around Area 12?
Check out https://area12.handbellmusicians.org/area-12-conferences/ which has a list of all the past conference (and a link to Neon City Rhythms so you can get information and register to attend!).
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SOUTHERN NEVADA
Alison Pruett
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Hello Southern Nevada,
Reminder that the Neon City Rhythms Conference is coming up this June 18-20 at Faith Lutheran Middle/High School in Summerlin. Michael Glasgow (renowned composer and clinician) will be our conductor as well as the clinician for the optional Director's Workshop. We will have divisional as well as massed ringing and classes. Registration and other details are at https://area12.handbellmusicians.org/ncr2026/.
Also, Area 12 is looking for folks to join the Area 12 Board. We have several positions available. If you'd be interested in joining us, having fun, and participating in the Area, reach out to Marci Nuoffer (Past Chair) to learn more. She can be reached at pastchair.area12@handbellmusicians.org.
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BAY AREA
Marquise Usher
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Hey Bay Area,
It was so great to have over 100 Bay Area handbell musicians at the Bay Area Spring Ring. The weather was beautiful and our clinician Brian Childers was amazing! The day started with Intense Ring rehearsals. After lunch the event was in full swing with massed rehearsals, solo group rehearsals, fellowship, and lots of snacks! The concert started off with prelude selections from the Messiah Brass Quintet. They didn't stop there! They also joined in on several of the massed pieces. Everyone played fabulously. And our audience of over 100 people seemed to really enjoy the music.
Two of the ringers that came from my church are new ringers and had never been to a Spring Ring before. They admitted to me that they were so nervous about it all, but by the end they were asking when the next event was coming up. Which of course is, Neon City Rhythms June 18 - 20, 2026 in Las Vegas. And if the pattern holds, the Bay Area Spring Ring will be April 10th, two weeks after Easter.
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Also, it's concert season! Make sure to submit your concerts to the Area 12 calendar and while you're there, check out what concerts will be near you. I can't wait to see you at these events!
Marquise
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Hello, SoCal!
As I write this, our clinician Barbara Meinke is just wrapping rehearsals for the SoCal Spring Ring in Oceanside. We’ve had a wonderful day with almost 60 ringers participating, 28 ringers in our Bronze Vision group, and another 30 in our massed ring. It's going to be a wonderful concert!
May is always a busy month for concerts, I know I'll be participating in several over the month, and am aware of several more happening locally. I encourage you check the Area 12 calendar to see what’s happening near you. And if you are starting to think about next year, I encourage you to look at events happening in August to kick off your season, including Rev Up Your Handbell Engines on August 15th. Events - South County Community Handbell Choir
Blessings,
Carol Pickford
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Hello, NorCal !
It’s always good to hear from ringers or directors in the Sacramento area sharing their bell news.
Here's a bit of news from the Woodland area. At Woodland United Methodist Church, the last school year saw the formation of a beginning bell choir. The impetus arose from a family in which the mother and three sons with great musical talent and interest asked, "Can you teach us how to ring bells?" It has been a wild year, as the flurry of creative questions never stops - like "can we play it again but swing it this time?" What a joy to welcome young ringers into the fold and keep the director on her toes as well!
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The Davis Community Church handbell choir has a delightful benefit of bridging with another bell choir at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis. Two ringers share in both groups. As the collaboration has developed, the resource for ringers who can sub for periodic rehearsal nights and worship sharing is a huge blessing! We encourage other groups to extend a welcome sharing across town.
Shared by Deb Grundman
Bell Director at WUMC and DCC
Thank you, Deb, for sharing your news. I'm sure that there are other ringers/directors who would like to share bell news as well.
Redding will be hosting the Redding Handbell Festival, October 24, 2026. Barb Walsh is the massed director.
Cindy Ksiazek
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SAVE THE DATE!
REDDING HANDBELL FESTIVAL 2026
Jump into fall with a festival in Northern California.
WHERE: Redding Christian Fellowship
2157 Victor Ave.
Redding, CA
WHEN: Saturday, October 24, 2026
9 a.m. through the final concert which ends at 5:30 p.m.
WHO: Full bell choirs and individuals are invited.
WHY: Because it will be fun and an excellent way to jump start your ringing season!
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There will be massed ringing, classes, and a concert open to the public. So let’s get started with more information.
Our massed director will be Barb Walsh, director of Tintabulations out of Reno, Nevada.
Massed pieces: The Star Spangled Banner, arr. John T. Bartsch
Ah, Holy Jesus, arr. Cathy Moklebust
Hashivenu (Rise Up and Sing), arr. Brenda Austin
Yankee Doodle Medley, arr. Patricia Hurlbutt
Classes: Brain Games, Shelley and 4 in Hand 101, 0-60 mph (perform a piece after one rehearsal), Bring the Music Off the Page!
Other opportunities: Perform a solo, duet, quartet, or choir solo at the concert. Shop for various wares at the vendors' tables.
This event is Endorsed by Handbell Musicians of America.
For more information or to register for this fall festival please contact Nancy Schmitt: schmitt@awwwsome.com
Happy Ringing,
Nancy Schmitt
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Our National Organization (click logos to get more info!) | | |
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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