Hand Bell Ringing Techniques

Handbells 101 the basic ringing stroke damping and understanding handbells as an instrument.

Hand bell ringing techniques.

Bell matters is a series of videos developed by blanche marie lewis handbell specialist to demonstrate a variety of handbell techniques. Plucking is a stopped sound technique used primarily in the bass clef c5 and lower. The effect simulates a forte piano. Change ringing is a form of traditional music based on sequences permutations and patterns.

This technique may be used when a soft ring follows a loud ring with the same handbell s. Change ringing can also be performed on handbells where it becomes a contrast to the melodic music of handbell choirs. Because in addition to general music notation markings dynamics slurs articulation accidentals accents etc handbell music includes special technique specific markings things like thumb damp echo and martellato. This video shows t.

It is most familiar to the public as the sound of church bells. Practice with two small bells in ring and knock configuration in your right or dominant hand. Varying degrees of pressure will control the diminuendo. Throw the clapper down using the hand while the thumb guides the clapper against the strike point.

With bass bells lying on the foam pads grasp the clapper with the fingers keeping the thumb on top. Ring the primary bell. To ring a handbell the ringer moves it in such a way that the clapper strikes the inside surface of the bell usually holding it against his or her shoulder bell upwards and then swinging the bell through an elliptical shape to cause the clapper to strike the casting. Demonstrate the ergonomic execution of each of the four in hand techniques for handbells parallel ring parallel push aka shelley ring and push british japanese style reverse stacked ring and push interlocked ring and push and interlocked british japanese style aka campanile including ringing together and separately damping articulations and changes to the primary and secondary instruments.

The cd is executed after ringing a handbell particularly a large handbell slide a gloved hand or finger s up the outside of the handbell toward the rim of the casting. This produces a crisp percussive sound.