Greetings, all!

How much has changed in just one month, it's unbelievable. I hope this finds you, your families, and communities managing ok through this crisis. We are all going through so much in our work, church, and home lives, and obviously our handbell world is turned upside down as well.

What I've been pleased and comforted with so far is the social media handbell communities that are keeping us connected with each other, some even trying to do virtual handbell choirs; this is one good thing about social media! I encourage you all to stay connected that way, and if you are someone who has avoided places such as Facebook, perhaps you would give it try and find one of the many handbell spaces you can connect with other handbell musicians.

As you know, we have had to cancel many of our Spring Rings, and as the situation unfolds there are likely to be more, but we will keep you updated on our web site and here in the Twelfth Tone. Our Las Vegas conference is still on schedule and moving forward, and as we get closer to July we will have a more certain determination, but for now, let's stay hopeful and look forward to a great time together.

Please all be safe, and if you personally are having issues managing through this crisis, please reach out to others in our community; we are a caring and close family in many respects, and people will bend over backwards to help each other out.

'Til next time,

Scott  

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

Hi, CenCal!

Here's an idea if you're stuck at home, can't go out to handbell events and rehearsals: learn how to solo ring -- that definitely qualifies as "social distancing"! Please be careful, and remember you might be young and think you're just fine, but even if you are -- stay away from us older folk who are vulnerable. I'd love to find a handbell jigsaw puzzle.... Anyone know if one exists?

Please be safe, stay well!

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

Hello, LA Metro --

Unfortunately, some LA Metro events have had to be canceled:

• LA Bronze concerts on April 26, May 2, & May 31 have been canceled. 
• Cathedral Bells' May 3rd concert has been canceled.

I had expected to be writing what a wonderful weekend the LA Metro Spring Ring had been, but... I am reminded of the saying that "Life is a journey not a destination." So what did I learn from my journey to prepare for the Spring Ring? Let me start with how wonderful handbell people are. Barb Walsh got in contact with Karen Buckwalter for me when I was preparing my remarks about Soliloquy. (Those director notes for Soliloquy  are available HERE.) Feeling a little nervous about my remarks during the "concert," given that the whole Area 12 Board would be there, Scott Legett and Barb quickly volunteered to review them and make sure that I included all the right information. Michèle reviewed the program, ... and it goes on. We had come up with a way to board the Board members at folk's homes and Red Hill Lutheran Church had gassed up the barbecue. Many thanks go out to the staff at Red Hill (especially Cyndi Tully) for all their help. It may be small and not bell related, but I was so excited about making this southwestern salad for the barbecue -- it is hearty and vegetarian!

Sincerely,
Sharon Guilliams
lametro.area12@handbellmusicians.org

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

Howdy!

So, we're all hoping that we'll be able to attend Area 12's conference in July, but with all these missed rehearsals, how can we still prepare for it? Tintabulation's president, Elizabeth Eggleston, and I came up with some ideas to help all of us in Tintab prepare at home, and when we do get to rehearse together again, how to maximize our time together.

You'll need your music, bells/chimes and mallets (or use props like salad dressing bottles and pencils), and any videos/recordings of the music, preferably with the option to slow down the tempo, like YouTube. Finding a recording for Fervent Freedom will be tough. If you have someone in your group with a music composing program, they can input the score and then you'll have a recording. (Musescore is free and has some really cool features!)

Here's a learning sequence that we think will help:

1. right note at the right time
   • right note duration/damp at the right time
   • with the right articulation (eg. R, LV, mart, mallet, etc.)
2. at the right tempo
3. awareness of your functionality within the piece (eg. melody, countermelody, harmonic importance, are you the metronome, do you provide the new tempo, do you control the tempo/dynamics/stylistic changes, etc.)
    The above should be practiced on your own so that rehearsals can be more efficient and spent on the next steps when you're altogether:
    
4. awareness of the ensemble/director
   • are you with the ensemble?
   • are you playing the same style/phrasing?
   • are you playing with the same physicality? (eg. bell height, fluidity, strike intensity, motion, etc.)
5. Can you respond and adapt to the ensemble/director? This is where we make music!

Directors should also follow these same steps as conductors/leaders in order to provide a good example for the ringers. Be aware that the group will need elements from all the steps in each rehearsal. The goal of each rehearsal should be an enjoyable, musical experience.

Being aware of how you feel when you're practicing/rehearsing is also important for learning. I'm paraphrasing Tom Senninger's Learning Zone Model:

• Comfort Zone: no risks, familiar, not much learning
• Learning Zone: stretching limits, curiosity, new skills, most focus and attention, maximum learning
• Panic Zone: curiosity and learning shut down, very little retention

Knowing which zone you're in at any given time in a piece allows you to grow musically and make choices. For example, if you're in your comfort zone and bored, how can you push yourself musically? Maybe try a different hand, use finger damping, memorize, figure out what the composer is doing, etc. Especially good would be to open your awareness to a musical line outside of your own and your neighbors'.

If you're in the panic zone, think about if you should alert the conductor because it's becoming destructive. Or, is this the time to make a note that you need to look at this on your own and let it go for now? (This is a very important skill to learn!) Are you able to go back into the learning zone and play only what's important for now?

If you're in the learning zone, stay with it!

Hopefully, you'll be in each of the zones at some point during rehearsal. No performance is perfect, and you may experience all the zones there, so learning how to manage them during rehearsal is a good thing. Remember that the goal is to enjoy making music!

Barbara Walsh

nv.area12@handbellmusicians.org

Clinician: Douglas Lynn 

REGISTRATION FORM AVAILABLE NOW!

This event is sponsored by Handbell Musicians of America.

Aloha!

I know this is a trying time for everyone. As Hawaii is on lockdown, no bells have been performing or rehearsing anywhere. Churches had handbell groups scheduled for worship services for Lent and Easter, but all churches have closed for this pandemic. So, the bells have gone into closets to return at an unknown time. I watch as many friends around the world are heart broken, performances have been canceled, and our form of music has suddenly stopped. 

The bright side of this event is that the foundation of our community - the love for our instrument and our support for one another - is being exposed as the vibrant thing it is. The bells will ring again, we will be able to perform for our churches and at our venues, and it will be great. Now, if I could just figure out what day of the week it is without my usual activities and rehearsals keeping me on schedule!

Be safe, shelter at home and, in time, this too will pass.

Mahalo,
Karen Carlisle
hi.area12@handbellmusicians.org

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

Hello, Northern California! 

Stay safe and well during this trying time.

Hey, Bay Area!

Unfortunately, the Bay Area Spring Ring & Intense Ring on April 24 & 25 has been canceled.

I hope you are looking forward to  Red, White, & Bells this summer! Be sure to register soon -- the Early Bird deadline has been extended!

Stay safe.