Twelfth Tone Enewsletter 4-01-11

Greetings!

There are still a few chances left to get to a Spring Ring. Several ringers traveled to attend events in the San Francisco Bay Area and LA Metro area. Don't let the distance keep you from enjoying a great day of ringing. Head on over to Reno (April 9), Temecula (April 9), or Atascadero (May 14) to ring in spring!

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A Message from the Chair

I just spent the weekend at the Bay Area Spring Ring and, once again, I found out something wonderful about handbells.

Not only did I have a BLAST, not only did I learn a lot (how could you not?), not only did I get to see old friends and make new ones...but I also discovered - or should I say RE-discovered - one of the giant hidden benefits of ringing.

Ringing is such an intense process, it takes over your whole being. It cleans your brain of all your "to do" lists, all your clutter, and all your worries. You can't think about ANYTHING else when you're engaged in bells. It's like a vacation for your frontal lobe. And that's a good thing. A lot of the brain-spinning we all do is a useless and unproductive stressor - a complete waste of energy. By spending my time ringing and teaching, I got a huge break from all the other nonsense in my life, and I'm able to approach my desk the following Monday morning with a fresh, new outlook.

Not only that, but on my long drive home, I felt so inspired that I was able to outline (in my head, anyway) my next three arrangements that will be used in the Handbell Theater track at Disneyland in 2012. Oh yeah, that reminds me...one of the great joys this weekend was seeing so many of your Area XII Board members (and others) wearing mouse ears! We did it to remind everyone to save the dates for the Disney conference (June 28 through July 1, 2012), but it also brought an extra level of fun to an already happy and lively occasion.

There are more spring rings coming up in the next few weeks. If you aren't already registered, check the calendar and go for it now - it's never too late! At the very least I'll see you June 28th in 2012 - and maybe you'll have your ears on, too!

Rima

Area XII Chair

chair@areaxii.org

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Communiqué (From the Communications Director)

What's the Buzz in Area XII?

The buzz is all about Disneyland! As Rima mentioned, the Area XII Board was channeling Mickey at the Cupertino Spring Ring last weekend, and if the comments I've overheard and that have reached my in-box are any indication, this could be the biggest handbell event Area XII has seen in some time.

But as my personal trainer tells me all the time: "Don't just talk about it - BE about it!" (Words to live by.)

As the Board begins to BE about it, you will start to hear more and more about Disney in 2012. There are postcards circulating now reminding you to save the dates (June 28-July 1). And yes, there are mouse ears at some of your Spring Rings. And even a few door prizes.

Speaking of prizes, next month we'll be revealing another incentive for you to attend the Disney conference in the form of a contest. "What?" you say! "I can win something?" Yes you can! You'll have to be the fastest to read your enews each month beginning in the fall, and you'll have to do some sleuthing as well. Oh, and you have to be an AGEHR member attending the conference next year. But hey...a little prize for attending a handbell event at the Happiest Place on Earth never hurt anybody! Sounds like a three-fer to me.

So go ahead and buzz. But don't just talk about it - BE about Disney in 2012.

P.L. Grove
Communications Director
info@areaxii.org

AREA XII HAPPENINGS

Patty Marquart Scholarship - Last Call!

Youg people apply all the time for scholarships to attend expensive colleges in this country. Well, before you decide you can't afford to attend this year's National Seminar in Minnesota, you should know that there are scholarships for attending handbell events, too.

The Patty Marquart Scholarship assists one director in attending the AGEHR National Seminar, usually held each summer. The scholarship funds include registration fee and room at half the double occupancy rate, as well as any meals provided as part of the registration fee.

Applicants must:

Reside within Area XII (California, Nevada, Hawaii, or Guam)
Be attending his/her first National Seminar
Be a member or associated with an organizational membership of AGEHR
Currently be a director, or have contracted to be a handbell director within Area XII

Applications are being accepted until May 1, 2011 for this summer's National Seminar in Minneapolis. To be considered, download the application form, fill it out, and mail it to the current Area XII Past Chair (see address on application form).

If you or someone you know is interested in attending the National Seminar and is in need of funds, click here to find out more about the Patty Marquart Scholarship, or send an e-mail to pastchair@areaxii.org.

DON'T DELAY! Download the form TODAY and send it in!

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SoCal - Michèle Sharik, Regional Coordinator

Hi, everyone!

This is it - the final countdown. Just 8 more days until the SoCal Bronze Vision & Spring Ring event begins! I am so excited about this event - it really promises to be a super-fun event, what with the great classes, the debut of Timbré and a final concert featuring massed ringing, as well as the Bronze Vision group, and performances by groups such as the San Diego Harmony Ringers and Velocity.

I also have some good news: there's still time to register! There is still space left on the ringing floor, so if you want to bring your group or register as an individual (or "orphan") ringer, please contact me via email and we'll get you signed up.

Looking ahead, don't forget to mark your calendars for the Fall Directors Workshop, which will be held Saturday, September 10 in Chula Vista.

Finally, don't forget to check out the Southern California Region - Area XII Facebook page for up-to-the-minute news about Spring Ring and other handbell happenings in SoCal!

My best,
-Michèle
socal@areaxii.org

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LA Metro - Debbie Shaw, Regional Coordinator

Wow! That is how I would sum up my March. A new adventure in attending our Area XII Board Meeting via Skype. Our LA Metro Spring RIng on March 19th and a trip north to the Bay Area Spring Ring and Intense Ring this past weekend. I have to admit my "non-handbell" friends really wonder about me this time of year! But, as you know, for a Handbell Addict there is no such thing as too much ringing or too far to travel.

Our LA Metro Spring Ring was a big success with 120 ringers attending in two divisions of rInging. Michele Sharik worked us to new levels, and we even rose to the challenge of "Beach Spring Stomp." Some of us were a bit nervous to start, but we ended up having so much fun!!!

Mass Ringing - LA Metro Spring RIng 2011

LA Metro Spring Ring 2011 under the baton of Michele Sharik

We had 14 classes offered by our talented teachers, Stan DeWitt, Ron Dotson, KatRyn Howell, Linda Krantz, Beth Mays, Barbara Meinke, Rudy Rodriquez, and Shannon Shaw. The classes were varied from "6 ways to 4 in Hand" to "Weaving and Passing" to learning "Speed Cup Stacking," which helps with eye-hand coordination and right-left brain stuff that we need for bells. All reports were that everyone had a great time. Many thanks to Michele, Pearl Marshall (Class Coordinator), and Scott Melvin, Director of Choral Music and Handbells at Mater Dei High School (our host), for all their work in making this event such a success! It is always wonderful to see everyone at these events.

I wll be attending the So Cal Spring Ring and Bronze Vision next weekend. If I missed you in March, please stop by and say hi! There are a few concerts in our area this month, so please check out the LA Metro page of the web site.

LIke everyone else on the Board, I am looking forward to Disneyland 2012. This is the perfect event for me because I can mingle my love of handbells with my love of Disney. This is a local event for us here in LA Metro, so I am hoping to see lots of LA/OC people at DIsneyland. Mark your calendars now for June 28-July 1, 2012. You will be glad you did!

Don't forget to let me know about your upcoming events. Our LA Metro Fall Workshop has been scheduled for October 15th in Glendale. More on that next time.

Debbie

lametro@areaxii.org

P.S. Check out our LA Metro Facebook page!

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CenCal - Kathie Mackie, Regional Coordinator

Greetings from Central California - Happy Easter, everyone!

I had a wonderful time at the 8th annual Bakersfield Spring Ring held in the new sanctuary at St. John's Lutheran Church in Bakersfield. Beneath a beautiful pipe organ of monolithic proportions, about 65 ringers from seven handbell ensembles attended the day-long event that included mass rehearsals, classes, individual ensemble performance, and an outstanding special performance by soloist Susan Hitch. The closing concert literally had standing room only (we should all be so lucky!).

Congratulations to Dianne Bryant, who coordinated and hosted the event, and to the day's delightful and talented conductor, Christine Anderson, for a very successful Spring Ring.

I understand next year's Spring Ring has been set for March 17, 2012, and Christine Anderson will be back to teach classes and perform a special solo concert.

So mark your calendars now for next year, and until then, happy ringing!

Kathie Mackie

cencal@areaxii.org

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SF Bay Area - Beckie Wiley, Regional Coordinator

The 20th annual Bay Area Spring Ring on March 25th and 26th was certainly one to remember! Organized by Dave Ruder and assisted by registrar Carol Smith, the 2011 Spring Ring at Valley Church in Cupertino drew a record number of participants - 270 ringers and directors from the entire state of California and northern Nevada.

Michael Glasgow of Raleigh, North Carolina, was the featured conductor. Michael's passion for handbells, his charismatic personality, and his abundant energy provided a fun and challenging ringing experience for all.

Cupertino Spring Ring - Michael Glasgow Teaching

The weekend began on Friday night with the 5th annual Intense Ring, an extra session that gave 42 ringers the chance to ring Hart Morris' arrangement of Ezekiel Saw the Wheel and Susan Sylvester's arrangement of The King of Glory under Michael's baton. With only 4.5 hours of practice together, the Intense Ringers performed these two selections in concert the next day, and received a rousing round of applause.

In addition to massed rehearsals on Saturday, an all-star cast of clinicians taught 15 classes. Michael was joined by Rima Greer, William Kyle, Dave and Dian Ruder, Michele Sharik, Larry Sue and Cheryl Woldseth as they explored topics such as stopped sounds, timbre control, basics revisited and many more. During lunch, Michele Sharik's solo concert, accompanied by Larry Sue on the piano, wowed the audience, who showed their enthusiasm with a standing ovation.

The day culminated in a concert extravaganza. Attired in a black tuxedo with tails, Michael directed four massed selections and the two Intense Ring songs. In rally ring format, eight invididual handbell ensembles also performed a variety of music including The Devil Went Down to Georgia (Bell Appeal), Renaissance (Tintabulation), and Gwerzy (Velocity).

Thanks to Dave and Carol for an awesome event! Mark your calendars now for next year's Spring Ring on March 23-24, with Deborah Carr as guest conductor.

In the meantime, to keep up on what's happening with bells in the San Francisco Bay Area, check out the Area XII calendar and the SF Bay Area web page. (And don't forget to send me information about your concerts and events so I can add them to the calendar.)

Beckie

bayarea@areaxii.org

ps. Check out the San Francisco Bay Area Facebook page!

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NorCal - Nancy Schmitt, Regional Coordinator

Dear Handbell Musicians,

Simpson University Handbell Choir and Carillons Handbell Choir will combine to perform a concert on Sunday, April 10 in Redding (see the calendar for more details). Lois Nichols, the Simpson choir director, and I started planning the concert back in January, and our planning conversations went something like this:

"Wouldn't it be neat to play a song with trumpets? Wouldn't it be neat to play a song with organ and piano? Wouldn't it be neat to play a song with harp? Wouldn't it be neat to play a song with violin and double bass? Wouldn't it be neat to play a song with flute, cello and percussion? Wouldn't it be neat to do a processional? Wouldn't it be neat to have time for the children to come forward and play the bells? Wouldn't it be neat to give each concert attendee something special as a token of appreciation for their attendance?"

Well, guess what? We are going to do all of that at our combined concert. The tricky part has been finding times for us to rehearse with each of the instrumentalists. That is why over the next two weeks we will have three rehearsals a week to accomodate all those special performers who will accompany our songs. Are we going to be tired? YES! Will it be worth it? I believe I can speak for all of the ringers in answering: YES!

The concert is a benefit for the Castle Church of Wittenberg, Germany, where the current music director has always had a dream of having a bell choir. This concert will help her fulfill that dream. Oh, and before I forget, each concert attendee will receive a crocheted cross made by a special lady who used to play bells. She has crocheted 1,200 crosses for us to be used as a fundraiser for our trip. It promises to be a very special concert.

Don't forget to check out the Northern California calendar for more events.

Ringcerely,

Nancy Schmitt
norcal@areaxii.org

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Nevada - Barbara Walsh, Regional Coordinator

As a Regional Coordinator, I find there are many people who help me make things happen in the handbell world, and they are often the unsung heroes of your wonderful ringing experiences. My friend and partner in ringing, Sarah Bigelow, is one such person, who has been helping me by writing this monthly article. I'd like to recognize her efforts in the future, so beginning this month, you will see the "by line" or signature from both of us. I'm happy to give Sarah the credit for her assistance and incredible writing skills.

Now, on to the heart of the matter: your top seven reasons to attend this year's Sierra Spring Ring:

No. 7: Make new bell friends!
No. 6: Catch up with old bell friends!
No. 5: Feel the adrenaline rush as you sightread the massed ring music. (Note: This is NOT recommended! But let's face it, we are human and a few people will not have prepared as well as the conductor would like. Those people will have the fun of enjoying the "I-have-no-idea-what-I'm-supposed-to-be-doing" adrenaline rush!)
No. 4: Feel the deep satisfaction of playing music that you have practiced forever, and hear the other bells around you singing the same tune, turning that one small melody into a triumphant chorus!
No. 3: Share a favorite song during the solo rings, and bask in everyone's applause.
No. 2: Hear new music as other bell groups share their favorite songs with the crowd. And hear a concert by a featured group or solo performer.

And the No. 1 reason to attend this year's Sierra Spring Ring: