8-note handbells

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Home : 2003 : September : 22

8-note handbells
By Bonnie

I found this message board while doing some research for how to teach 8 note handbells.

I am a piano teacher, both at a Christian school and also in my home. I also am a homeschooling mother. Our homeschool group has
asked me to teach handbells to the children in our group. I have 15 children signed up and I am desperately searching for help. I played the brass handbells in high school so I am somewhat familiar with the technic, even though you have to continuously ring these bells for a note instead of only ringing once like you do with the brass bells. One of my problems is coming up with the music.

I first got the idea from a homeschool convention I went to in June of 2002. There was a family there from Texas who plays these handbells. The father writes hymn arrangements in one, two and three-part harmony. The material is well done but I have not had much success contacting them recently - they don't answer their phone and e-mails have gone unanswered - so I am desperately searching for music. I have three hymns I can start with: Jesus Loves Me, Saviour Like a Shepherd and Count Your Blessings.

Also, I am not sure how to best get started with this. Right now I have the children divided into two groups: one group of 8 who has a little bit of music knowledge (1-2 years of an instrument) and the other group of 7 who have 3+ years of an instrument. At this time I have two sets of the 8-note bells. I am interested in obtaining the chromatic bells and the add-ons. Any advice you could give me would be appreciated. We have our first rehearsal on Friday.

It sounds like the ideas for music you have come up with are wonderful. Would you be willing to sell any of these arrangements?