You are Invited to our first  online
Area 12 conference

 

Handbell Encounters of the Area 12 Kind!

Please join us July 25th at 9:30 AM PDT for our FREE online conference. Handbell Encounters of the Area 12 Kind will be a great opportunity to stay connected with friends and musicians from Area 12 and beyond.

This event features relevant and timely class topics on social distancing with handbells, handbell techniques, rehearsing and preparing music at home, and others. Fantastic teachers, including Stevie Berryman, Barb Walsh, Michèle Sharik, Tessique Houston, Elizabeth Mays, Linda Krantz, and many others will be presenting their topics and taking questions live during the event. Additionally, online handbell games will provide opportunities to win exclusive Area 12 prizes. Finally, attendees will enjoy a virtual concert of performances from a variety of handbell groups and artists. Enjoy social interaction and handbell education from the comfort of your own home or anywhere you have an internet connection.

We encourage you to invite your friends and fellow musicians to join us online on July 25th. You're just a click away from handbells online in Area 12 and we look forward to seeing you there!  

Saturday, July 25 at 9:30 AM PDT

9:30 -- Opening Bell
9:35-12:30 -- Morning Classes
12:30-1:00 -- Meeting of the Area 12
Membership and GAMES
1:00-4:00 -- Afternoon Classes
4:00 -- Concert and Closing Bell

For more details, such as class offerings and instructors, click HERE.
(While you're there, reserve your place by
pre-registering for this event!)

This event is sponsored by Handbell Musicians of America.

Cordially,
The Area 12 Board

Handbell Rehearsals In Crazy Times

Welcome to the crazy world of 2020 Handbells! As we get a grip on personal lives in this unprecedented time, we can look at the fun part of our lives and how we can still enjoy it safely.

First, be aware there will be different levels of comfort in your group. Some musicians will be fine with just returning and some will be afraid (and probably rightly so). Leaders, make sure you talk with your musicians and share what you are planning on doing to keep them safe and discuss what would help them feel comfortable.

There are some normal things you can do, such as: don't touch your face (with or without gloves), if you're feeling ill don't go to rehearsal (call a sub), don't lick your finger to turn the page, things like that. But there are a few other things that can help us all stay well.

1. Spread out. Normally we are close together so we can share bells and ring in a line. At this time, however, it is better to spread out the foam and tables so people are about 6 feet apart. Make sure the director is not so close to the ringers. 6 feet away is fine. This might mean you need a bigger room to rehearse in.
2. Don't share bells in a single song. Many pieces have accidentals that are shared by two people. This is a time to see if you can either borrow an Eb/D# from some other church or group or rehearse with a chime to stand in for a bell until you find another. Or, directors, choose a song that doesn't change keys every other measure. This might not be the best year to work on sharing and multiple key changes.
3. Wipe down the handles after each person has played them. "Isopropyl alcohol or rubbing alcohol with at least 70 percent alcohol -- undiluted -- will kill coronavirus on surfaces in about 30 seconds." (This is straight from UCHealth.org (Colorado).) This is better than the five minutes the Clorox wipes takes, but either are fine and do the job. Make sure you get the handles wet and let them dry. The CDC says, "It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes. This is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads," which is nice to know. The virus can not live on an object for days on end. So if you rehearse once a week and stay with the same bells, this should be safe.
4. Set up and break down. Make sure anyone setting up washes their hands before starting. As handbell ringers, we like to get in and get ready, but it is important to stop and wash our hands when we first get to rehearsal. And then, wash your hands again before you start the break down. Directors, you might have to cut a little rehearsal time so that the group can do these extra steps. This will help keep everyone safe and germs to themselves.
5. If you can't play separately (or even if you can) wear masks. Remember, masks aren't about you, they are about your fellow ringers. Whether they are nervous or compromised or both, wearing a mask is about helping the entire ensemble play as one instrument.

We all love to ring and I, personally, can't wait to get back to the crazy, fun, and challenging music my director picks out. In these crazy times, whether we are an ensemble, group, choir, or a ringer, we are musicians who need and want to be in a community and enjoy making music with this crazy company of individuals.

Enjoy and be safe ringing and making amazing music!
-- Cyndi Tully