My name is Lisa Wells and I teach music to students in grades K-8 at a public charter school in rural Hawaii. Our remote area and school have been in the national news a lot recently due to the active lava flow that is threatening to engulf our school and drastically restrict access to the rest of the island for many of our students. You can learn more about our situation at hopeforhaas.org, a webpage created and maintained by a few of our high school students.

 

I have used the bell set with a fifth grade class, a sixth grade class, a 5-6 combo class and a middle school (grades 7 and 8) elective class. All classes received the bells well, especially since most had never experienced them before! A favorite is an original arrangement of Carol of the Bells for bells and Orff instruments. We also have played processionals and holiday music.

The fifth grade class will be using the bells to perform a processional to open their holiday concert and will perform our arrangement of Carol of the Bells. The middle school class will use the bells during a performance at the Yukio Okutsu State Veteran's Home in a couple of weeks. All teachers and aides who have experienced the bells are enchanted by them, and we're looking forward to a good reception when we take them out into the community.

 

The most rewarding aspect of the bells has been how completely engaged all students are while using them. Many students who struggle in other aspects of school feel successful while playing handbells. It's been amazing to see a classroom full of diverse learners come together to make beautiful music with handbells. Students know they are experiencing something special and are making the most of it!

 

 

 

Kari Jacobs

Southern California Regional Coordinator

socal.area12@handbellmusicians.org       

 

   

                                            

lametro.area12@handbellmusicians.org    

 

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Hi, CenCal folks!

 

I had a wonderful time playing Christmas concerts with my  ensemble and I trust you all had some great ringing opportunities! A few months ago, I wrote that I was challenged by several measures needing chimes stacked in 4-in-hand style, and I was forever clanging the handles together. Barbara Meinke had a great solution in her "Tip-Of-The-Month" column. The stretchy first-aid tape wrapped around the chime handles worked beautifully! Easy to apply and remove, no sticky residue, and not bulky. (Now, if it just came in silver/grey, as well as black...)

 

I also attended two Christmas concerts in the Bay area.  Tapestry was in fine form. Cindy Krausgrill put together a wonderful program with lots of enthusiasm. And their processional entrance was enchanting!

 

Bay Bells also had a delightful presentation. Director Kendra Scott has quite a talent for arranging pieces to accommodate their current ensemble of six ringers. What first appeared to be smaller in numbers proved mighty in sound, texture, rhythm, and dynamics. There's a nice advantage to being a smaller group - the opportunity to watch and hear each other, builds cohesiveness almost automatically! I saw a technique used that was new to my eyes. There was a piece that required an extended mallet roll on the bass bells to emulate the growing timpani roll in the original orchestral setting. Along with gradually increasing the intensity of the roll, they also delicately started the roll further down the casting toward the handle, then worked their way up to the commonly malleted spot on the bell. It was quite effective visually and aurally!

 

Looking forward to lots of good ringing in the New Year!

Central California Regional Coordinator

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Howdy!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! The narration for Tintabulations' recent concert focused on sharing a special Christmas memory.  It was such a special gift to both our audiences and to each other to hear about each individual's special Christmas memory. Do you have a special/fun bell memory you'd like to share in this space next month? If so, please send me and our fabulous 12th Tone editor, Barbara Meinke, your memory. Also, don't forget to send us your bell happenings so that we can post them on our calendar.

Have a Happy and Blessed New Year!

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