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I am sure many of you can relate when I say, “Whew! December was busy!” I think this is the first time in three years that I was able to have a full spectrum of Christmas activities and ringing events. My ringers accepted and lived up to the challenge! Now, we begin a new year and a new season of bells as we look towards spring. I am fortunate to work alongside a very talented choir director at Faith Lutheran Middle School & High School in Las Vegas. For our combined choir/handbell concerts throughout the year, we have themes. For Christmas this year, we celebrated “Christmas Around the World” and for spring, we will feature a “Water” theme! I am excited to incorporate new techniques and play around with this. A technique that I learned a few years ago is one in which you literally dip the bell in a bowl of water to create a pitch changing effect. Here is a link to a short demonstration video. I have heard it called water dipping or aqua bending. We will be incorporating this technique as well as many of the other traditional techniques such as shakes and echoes in our concert. I hope you have as much fun exploring techniques with your choirs as I do with mine. I have found that no matter the experience level of the choir, whenever I add in fun techniques, it piques their interest and keeps them coming back for more. I hope your January rehearsals bring new excitement for spring ringing. Remember, if you have questions about anything bell-related, please feel free to reach out to a board member; any of us would be happy to help.
Happy Ringing!
Marci
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Area 12 leadership would love your help! |
We are searching for several locations throughout Area 12 to host medium size conferences, roughly 125 people. The ideal location would have one large room to host a massed ring, Eight-ten choirs, and two-four medium sized rooms to hold classrooms and sight reading sessions. Do you know of a community event center, hotel, small conference center, or church (with space that we could leave tables set up Friday – Sunday late afternoon)? If so, would you please send your suggestions to me (secretary.area12@handbellmusicians.org) or Tess Houston (events.area12@handbellmusicians.org). Added bonus, we might be hosting an event right in your back yard!
Area 12 is also looking for a couple new volunteers to help on our board. We are looking for a Central California regional coordinator, and an Events Coordinator. Please reach out to any member of the board if you would like more information about either of these positions.
Our next board meeting is January 21; please contact me if you would like the zoom information to sit in on our meeting.
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Hello, from your new/old Area 12 Webmaster, Gail Berg. I was the original “Electronic Liaison” starting around 1994 which was the position title before it became “Webmaster." Back then, one had to hand edit HTML code (pre WYSIWYG editors even). It’s a lot more user friendly to work on web pages with the expanded functionality available now.
Did you know that you can submit your upcoming event, like a concert or workshop, to be included in the Area 12 website calendar? Go to
and fill in the information.
Is your handbell group looking for some ringers, or a director? Do you have handbell equipment to donate? Go to
to submit a free ad to be published on the Area 12 website for 30 days.
Have some photos you’d like to share from a recent event, concert or fun/unusual rehearsal (with explanation/story)? Did you celebrate a ringing milestone with your ringers/director? Please send to webmaster.area12@handbellmusicians.org.
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Did you participate in the HMA Advent calendar? There's a $20 discount for new or renewing membership that's been extended until January 6, 2023!!
Gail Berg, Membership Director
Area 12, Handbell Musicians of America
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Next Area 12 Board Meeting: January 21, 2023 (virtual)
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to submit your event
for listing! (and get a social media push!)
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The National Guild has changed the way they do renewals, so be sure to check out all the membership options and benefits HERE.
Current Area 12
Member Count:
203
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Want to place
a classified ad?
Click on the
WANTED sign and
fill out the form!
Check out our
Classified Ads
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Order through Amazon? Make your purchases count when you shop AmazonSmile and select Area 12 as your nonprofit. |
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For information on Northern Nevada concerts, events, and other opportunities, click here.
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Whew! It was a hectic concert season playing with not only one local orchestra, but with two! Now it's time to start thinking about our Spring/Summer set, not only what rep we're going to play, but how I can improve my rehearsal technique. I'm one of those people who writes out rehearsal plans so that every minute counts (pun intended!) and so that I don't waste my ringers' time. However, toward the end of November's rehearsals I noticed that there was some grumpiness and frustration during the last 30 minutes or so of each rehearsal. I just couldn't put my finger on why this was happening until a couple of weeks later when we started working on our 12th Night music at the end of our December rehearsals. At the end of these rehearsals, everyone was enjoying themselves and joking around. What was the difference? We were now ending our rehearsals with the fun, less stressful stuff! As an elementary school music teacher, I always ended my classes with games or dancing or instruments - you know, the fun stuff. Why didn't I remember to do that this past Christmas season for our bell ensemble?! I guess I felt the clock ticking, but it was counterproductive and I should have known better! So, my New Year's resolution is to remember to put the more challenging music at the beginning of rehearsal (after a good stretch and warm up) and progress to the easier, more fun things at the end of rehearsal. I think this resolution will be easy to keep! Happy New Year! |
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A full-service handbell store
with music and accessories:
gloves • gifts
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bell tree items
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visit us at
612-208-1741
877-426-3235
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Richfield, MN 55423
ADVERTISEMENT 6/23
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For information on Southern California concerts, events, and other opportunities, click here.
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Spring Ring information and registration sheet is finished and available HERE for download. I have missed our Spring Rings so much and am hoping we'll have a "full house" of bell choirs at the event. Clinician Douglas Lynn has picked some wonderful music and I can't wait to hear them!
My best,
-Michèle
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The SoCal Spring Ring is sponsored 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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2023 Southern California Spring Ring |
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When: Friday, May 26 - Saturday, May 27, 2023
Where: St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 1450 South Melrose Drive, Oceanside, CA 92056
Who: Douglas Lynn, conductor
How: much fun!
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Repertoire List
Massed pieces:
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Three Processionals for Handbells and Handchimes, No. 2: Joyful Noise — Gail Downey, National Handbell Music NM HB416 (3-5 octaves handbells, 2 octaves handchimes), Level 2.
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Fantasy on 'Hyfrydol' — Hal H. Hopson, Agape Code No. 1048 (2 octave handbells); OR Code No. 2078 (3-5 octaves handbells) Level 2+.
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Laudamus — Arnold B. Sherman, Lorenz 20/1309L (3-5 octaves handbells), Level 3.
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Gaudio Exsultans — Valerie W. Stephenson, AGEHR AG35208 (3-5 octaves handbells, 2 octaves handchimes), Level 2.
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Free Fall — Jason W. Krug, From the Top Music FM20625-3 (2-3 octaves with optional percussion), Level 2; OR FM20625-5 (3-6 octaves with optional percussion), Level 3.
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Publisher's note: Both the 2-3 oct & 3-6 oct versions are fully stand-alone and may be performed separately or together in a massed ringing setting.
- Also available: full score (FM20625-M), percussion score (FM20625-P). Please note that the percussion part is NOT included in the handbell score. (It is included in the full score.)
Bronze Vision:
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Tapestry — Robert Scott Riker, From the Top Music FM20660 (5-7 octaves handbells), Level 3+.
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Contemplation on 'Ubi Caritas' — Catherine McMichael, AGEHR AG36036 (3-6 octaves handbells, 3 octaves chimes), Level 3+
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Let Freedom Ring — Dan R. Edwards, From the Top Music FM20456 (3-5 octaves handbells, with optional snare drum), Level 3.
- Also available: snare drum part (FM20456-P).
My best,
-Michèle
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For information on Bay Area concerts, events, and other opportunities, click here.
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The Bay Area Spring Ring 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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Bay Area Spring Ring Has a New Look |
Bay Area Spring Ring has been reimagined as a one day ringing centric event. Famed Sonos musical director Jim Meredith will take the podium this year for both the Intense Ring and the Massed Ringing. Below find the massed ringing selections. Registration will open in January. We hope to see you two weeks after Easter, April 22, 2023 at Valley Church in Cupertino!
Massed Repertoire:
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New Day Fanfare, S. Eithun, Jubilate Music Group, L3
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I Will Arise and Go to Jesus, C. Moklebust, Choristers Guild, L2
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When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, A. Sherman, Red River Music, L2+
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Freefall, J. Krug, From the Top, L2+
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Thaxted, arr. P. Roberts, GIA Publications, L3-
Your Regional Coordinator,
Marquise
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Our National Organization (click logos to get more info!) |
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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.
We have nearly 1600 contacts, a 40% open rate (17% higher than the industry average) and a 13% click rate. Book your ad NOW!
For advertising types and rates:
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Payment is due prior to publication. Submission DEADLINE is the 20th of each month. No issue in July.
Please submit your ads via email to:
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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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Elected Officers
Chair
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Chair Elect
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Past Chair
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Treasurer
•
Secretary
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We have an open position for
Webmaster. Looking for a behind the scenes job with a lot of impact? Have a basic understanding of drag & drop editing? This might just be the job for you! Contact Marci
if you want to know more
about this position.
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Appointed Officers
Communications
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Education
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Events
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Historian
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Membership
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Social Media
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Webmaster
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Vendor Liaison
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Regional Coordinators
Central California
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Far Northern California Liaison
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Hawaii
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Los Angeles Metro
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Northern California
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Northern Nevada
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San Francisco Bay Area
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Southern California
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Southern Nevada
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