Greetings Handbell Musicians.

     A few weeks ago, I received an email from someone teaching a class on new or unusual handbell techniques, interested in a technique she'd heard about one of my groups using.  I expect there are a number of undocumented techniques which are very unusual today, but will become more common in the years to come as we continue to evolve our art.  I still remember how unusual it was 15 years ago the first time I saw the Singing Bell technique used by Sonos at a concert in Spokane.  Today, the Singing Bell is in the Handbell Musicians of America notation booklet and is used in dozens of published handbell pieces.  I thought it might be fun to share a few unique techniques I've used with the various groups I've been involved with over the years.

     The first technique I will share is the "Benson".  A couple years ago, during a rehearsal with my youth handbell choir, I heard a very unusual sound coming from my bass ringers.  They were ringing the bell, holding it next to their face, and just opening and closing their mouth to produce a unique vibrato effect.  We named the technique the "Benson" after one of the bass ringers who discovered it.  The following year, I wrote a piece utilizing the technique for the group to perform.  We notated it with the letter B followed by the series of letter D's turned sideways (flat part up, rounded part down), so they look like an open mouth.

     The next technique I've used with a few groups is the "Mallet Pop".  Most handbell mallets have a plastic sleeve over the handle which provides a better grip and lists the range of handbells appropriate for the mallet.  If you loosen and remove the sleeve, you can achieve a "pop" sound.  I offer this technique with a word of warning.  If you teach it to young handbell musicians, you will inevitably hear the mallet pop far more often than you desire.  It is also likely that no matter how careful you are, the range of bells listed on your mallet handles will not be consistent with the bells for which the mallets were designed.

     The final technique I will discuss is the "Bell Toss", abbreviated BT.  This is not a technique I expect to catch on, for good reason.  I used it about 10 years ago in Seattle Bell Ensemble, when we encountered a situation where a traditional handbell pass was not practical.  Our solution was for one person to toss the bell into the air, and have the recipient grab it by the casting when it needed to be damped.  I would not recommend anyone try at home, especially on larger bass bells.  I also want to point out that the fact that the BT abbreviation for this technique matches the first and last initials of my name is purely coincidental.  I claim no responsibility for inventing the technique and claim no responsibility for any damage caused to handbells by someone improperly executing the technique.

     Have you ever used a new and undocumented handbell technique in any of your handbell choirs?  Or, have you seen an unusual technique in a handbell concert you've attended?  If so, drop me an email at chair.area10@handbellmusicians.org.  I will plan to include some of the submissions in my article next month.

Brian Tervo

Chair.area10@handbellmusicians.org

"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 ehodder@firstunitarianportland.org.

Sunday, June 2  5:00 pm. "Ring Around the Year" at College Church of the Nazarene, 504 E Dewey Nampa, with College Church of the Nazarene ringers and Ring Praise Music Ministry. It is a benefit to raise the money needed to finish refurbishing the 5th octave. An offering will be taken.

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, 8th Annual "Kettle Koncert" for the Salvation Army with Phyllis Tincher, handbells, and Sean Rogers, piano. Location TBA.

"Bells on Broadway", a concert presented by Rainier Ringers which includes a program of popular musical theatre favorites ranging from Gilbert and Sullivan, to Rodgers and Hammerstein, to modern hits like "Wicked". 

Friday, May 31 - 7:30 pm, St. Luke's Lutheran Church, 515 S. 312^th, Federal Way.

Saturday, June 1 - 7:30 pm, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1925 Boulevard Road SE, Olympia.

Sunday, June 9 - 7:00 pm, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 101 E. 38^th ST, Tacoma.

A suggested donation of $5, or $20 per family, will be collected at the door.

For more information visit us at www.rainierringers.org and Like Us on Facebook.