Greetings, All!

It's that time of the year again where there just are not enough days or time to perform or practice as we would like to in order to share our bell artistry with so many who enjoy it this time of year. 

I hope that, even if you are very busy performing this month, you take time for yourself to attend a concert or service as a spectator, enjoying and receiving the musical gifts of others; 'tis the season for giving and receiving!

Our registration is now open for our July conference in Las Vegas and I encourage you to explore the many offerings available for you from the many educational and ringing classes, conference choir participation, certification courses, youth choir events, and massed ringing. I hope you will register as early as you can and spread the word.

Besides our July conference, there are Spring Rings and other guild sponsored or endorsed events on the calendar so please look for them and try to come to the ones in your regions.

Our events are gifts to our bell community, and gifts need to be received.

'Til next time,
Scott

Getting Ready: The Road to Vegas 2020

Area 12 Conference in Las Vegas, July 2-5, 2020

Reaching for Bronze: An Event for Intermediate Handbell Musicians Aspiring to Become Bronze-Level Ringers

February 28 - March 1, 2020

New Bern, North Carolina

Have you wanted to apply for Distinctly Bronze but worry you are not yet at the skill level to be accepted? Then this is the event for you. Scheduled concurrently with Distinctly Bronze East, this event will give participants the opportunity to learn three pieces from the DB East rep list under the direction of master teacher and conductor Monica McGowan and perform them with the DB musicians on their final concert. During the event, instruction will be offered in building skills in treble, bass and battery techniques, as well as improving all aspects of musicianship.

Monica S. McGowan took her music education background -- Bachelor of Science, Music Education, Chadron State College, Chadron, Nebraska -- and found her life's passion in handbells. She has taught and conducted handbell choirs and students in churches, schools, and community groups throughout the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Puerto Rico, and Hong Kong. Monica conducted the All-Star Choir at the 2017 Handbell Musicians of America National Seminar in Anaheim, California. and was Festival Conductor and Adjudicator for the 14th Hong Kong Handbell Festival in 2019.

Sheri Roach, an attendee at the 2019 Reaching for Bronze event says, "Don't let the name Reaching for Bronze fool you. Although this event gives intermediate ringers an inside peek at what a Distinctly Bronze event is like, it is not just for those ringers who hope someday to ring at the bronze level. Last year I rang in the inaugural Reaching for Bronze event. The top clinicians in the country often direct the big festivals, where you are one in possibly several hundred ringers, and the most advanced choirs. Reaching for Bronze is one of those few opportunities for intermediate ringers to ring with one of the best clinicians in a relatively small group, where the focus is on each individual ringer learning how to advance to his or her next higher level of ringing ability."

Learn more about this exciting opportunity to hone your handbell skills and take your handbell musicianship to the next level at the  Reaching for Bronze event page.

 

Greetings, CenCal!

Have you registered for Red, White, and Bells yet? I'm already excited about one of the best conferences we will have ever had! 

Here's a heads up for one of the classes I get to teach: repair and maintenance. If you have any problem bells, maybe an issue you can't resolve, please bring the bell(s) to class. We'll be working on both Malmark and Schulmerich handbells, teaching tricks for repair and maintenance you may never have heard of.

Remember to check the calendar for events coming up. Don't just check your region, but take a look at other regions around you. I hope everyone will take time, in this busy season, to reflect on our many blessings and why we celebrate Christmas.

With a Joyful Ring,
Christine Anderson
cencal.area12@handbellmusicians.org

Howdy!


Here is the second installment of Into the Great Unknown: Preparing for a Handbell Event On Your Own by Genevieve Parker and myself. 

   So, you've registered for that bell event, you know which bells you're playing and you have your music. Now what? Probably the first thing you should do is to find good recordings of all the pieces. Some good places to try are the publisher's website, YouTube, and online digital music services such as Spotify or Pandora. For each piece, listen to the recording a few times with the music score in front of you so you get an idea of how the whole piece looks and sounds together. From a musical standpoint, this will help you understand what message the composer is trying to convey. From a practical standpoint, it will help you from getting lost, or if you do, you'll find your place quickly. Next, listen again, but follow just your part. This will help you figure out how your bells fit in - such as: Where are you part of the melody? Do you help with tempo and/or key changes? Knowing these sorts of things will help you be a better ensemble player and will help with the next step, marking your music.

Marking your music before you pick up your bells (or substitute bells) will help save rehearsal time and will help you understand better how your part fits into the whole ensemble. Here's a list of suggestions for marking your music:

1. Look over the whole piece. Mark (underline, circle, etc.) any repeats, endings, D.S.,codas, etc. Read the fine print and *. Look at the bells used chart to know which bells you'll need. If there are chimes, note where they are. See if you need mallets, singing sticks, etc., and write that on the front page to remind yourself.
2. Find the alike and different sections (form). Find the melody(ies) in each section.
3. Note all tempos. Mark watch boxes around all tempo changes, fermatas, caesuras, etc.
4. Note all dynamics including accents. Draw in 'hairpins' for crescendos and decrescendos.
5. Note the time signature and if there are any changes. Write in the counting where you think you might need it or to remind you what others are playing.
6. Look at the key signature. Does it change? Do you have accidentals? Mark your bell changes throughout the piece. What notes do you start with? Write it down on the first page and underline them. Draw a diagram on a Post It and put it on the first page or inside cover if your set up is different from usual.
7. Note articulations (R, LV, mart, TD, etc.).
8. Prepare page turns. Mark where you'll be turning. Write down the next measure after the page turn so that you continue to read ahead.
9. See if there's anything special to note. Are you playing the melody? Make sure to mark it so that you'll play it louder and to be aware of what the other melody people are doing so that it sounds like one musical line. Are you playing an interesting inner line that needs to be brought out? Look for scale-wise passages to bring out, too. Do you have an accidental? Bring that out and be sure to damp out the "other" bell. In the bass line - are you the root of the chord? That also needs to be played louder. Do you have a "timekeeper" part or note? If so, make sure you're looking up at the conductor.
10. Don't over mark your music. It'll be distracting.

Next month, we'll continue talking about how you can successfully prepare/practice at home. Until then, have a Happy Hannukkah and a Merry Christmas!

Barbara Walsh

nv.area12@handbellmusicians.org

Save the date:

Fri, March 20 &
Sat, March 21, 2020
LA Metro Spring Ring
Ringin' at Red Hill

Clinicians: Matthew Compton and Erik Der
Red Hill Lutheran Church
13200 Red Hill Avenue
Tustin, CA 92780 

Additional information and registration form can be downloaded here.

This event is sponsored by Handbell Musicians of America.

May your holiday ringing be filled with joy and handbell music.

Sincerely,
Sharon Guilliams
lametro.area12@handbellmusicians.org

For information on LA Metro's concerts, events,
and other opportunities, click here.

Save the date:

Sat, March 14, 2020
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Area 12 Directors Workshop

Clinicians: Tessique Houston & Barbara Walsh
Walnut Creek United Methodist Church
1543 Sunnyvale Avenue
Walnut Creek, CA 94597

Additional information and registration form can be downloaded here.

This event is sponsored by Handbell Musicians of America.

Hey, Bay Area!

Advent Season is upon us! I know you and your directors have been working very hard at preparing music for the season. Unfortunately, we all experience issues and sometimes require substitutes at the last minute. Please reach out to your Area 12 family -- you never know who might be able to fill in and save your advent celebrations!

Your Regional Coordinator,

Marquise Usher

bayarea.area12@handbellmusicians.org

For information on San Francisco Bay Area's concerts,
events, and other opportunities, click here.

Aloha!

It's a busy time of the year and w e were fortunate to have Ellie Hodder fly to Oahu last month and spend some time with us for our Annual Aloha Ring. Ellie shared her talents teaching workshop classes and incorporating the information we learned into our ringing. She brought fun games for us to do and had some nice Christmas music to work through. She did a mini workshop for our membership friends at Kawaiaha'o Church, which they really enjoyed!

Ringers of all levels can benefit from basics and the progression of information that others have to share, but should also look at improving on some of the simple to advanced techniques that are continually changing. Our Area 12 Board makes a point to have workshops all over California, Nevada, and Hawaii, to make sure that our whole area is covered with learning opportunities from different sources for everyone.

Check out the Area 12 Conference which is a great way to learn and make connections this summer in Las Vegas, "The Ninth Island". And don't forget to check out the Area 12 calendar for handbell concerts and events in your region.

Mahalo,
Karen Carlisle
hi.area12@handbellmusicians.org

For information on Hawaii's concerts, events,
and other opportunities, click here.

Clinician: Douglas Lynn

Want to attend, but don't have a choir to go with? Our clinician Douglas Lyn has offered to help a "pick-up choir" of individuals rehearse before the big day. Please contact him for more information.

Registration forms will be available in January!

This event is sponsored by Handbell Musicians of America.

Happy holidays, Northern California!

Happy holidays, Southern Nevada!