Our National
Organization
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Tip of the
Month
Do you ever work with more than one set of bells? Loan your bells to any events? Make them easy to sort and get back in the right cases by wrapping a small colored rubber band around each handle up by the handguard. My church's bells have green and my personal bells have orange. Voil�! I go home with the right bells!
Have a tip to share?
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Back to Bells, Fall Workshops and Festivals, 12th Night Festivals, Spring Rings, Handbell Hops, it's all HERE in Area 12!
You have a concert or event to list? Send the details to Barbara Meinke at communications.area12@handbellmusicians.org and then be on your mark...Area 12 is on the GO!
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Message from the Chair - Mich�le Sharik
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Hi there, Area 12!
I've just come back from Pinnacle 2015, the event that periodically takes the place of National Seminar and focuses on giving attendees the tools to help our groups reach the pinnacle of their mission. Wow, what fun! The performances were incredible, with a wonderful variety of styles and repertoire and effective audience engagement from everyone. I left Dallas inspired! I can't wait to share what I learned with my groups this fall.
You, too, can be inspired! We have events coming up in nearly all of our regions, as well as our area conference next summer. We are fortunate in Area 12 because we have some of the handbell world's best teachers right here, ready and willing to share their knowledge and experience with all of us. Take advantage of these opportunities to learn how to grow your group and refresh your artistic endeavors. You will not be sorry! Best wishes to all of you, Mich�le Sharik
Chair
chair.area12@handbellmusicians.org
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Area 12 Ringers' Festival Conference - June 16-19, 2016
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Communiqu� - Barbara Meinke, Communications Director
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As the Communications Director, it is my job to get the word out and I cannot do that by newsletter alone! I need YOU to help spread the joy that is the art of handbell ringing! All the details are below and dates and locations are listed both in the regional columns here and on the Back to Bells website. Won't you please pass this on?
Handbell Musicians of America and Area 12 are offering FREE workshops (12 locations across our area alone!) to help you get your handbells out of the closet and restart your handbell program - or start a brand new program. A handbell program in your church offers numerous benefits for your congregation.
- Handbell choirs add a unique and glorious musical element to worship.
- Ringing handbells provides a great opportunity for intergenerational activity.
- Handbell programs create opportunities for lay members to contribute to worship and participate with the worship team.
- Handbell ringing is accessible to all levels of musicians - even those with no prior musical experience.
- Handbells can be used effectively in both contemporary and traditional worship.
- Handbell programs provide a fun way to work together and share fellowship.
- Handbell ringing provides additional opportunities for teach-ing the elements of music in a church environment.
- Handbell programs can be a traveling music ministries to other congregations and venues, providing the opportunity to practice evangelism without words.
- Handbells can easily be combined with other music ministries - handbells with choir, other instruments, or with youth, to provide a unique way to present favorite bible stories and lessons during worship.
Not sure how to get started? Don't think you have the tools to make your program successful? Then our Back to Bells workshops are perfect for you!
Each four-hour workshop will include instructions on:
- Ringing Techniques (and how to teach them)
- Recruiting Ringers for Your Program
- Handbell Maintenance
- Rehearsal Techniques
- Repertoire Selection
- Ringing with Less than a Full Choir
- Creative Use of Bells in Worship
At the conclusion of each workshop, you will have the opportunity to become a member of Handbell Musicians of America, opening the door to a wealth of benefits and resources to help you grow and sustain your program.
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER, VISIT
handbellmusicians.org/back-to-bells
Barbara Meinke
Communications Director
communications.area12@handbellmusicians.org
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So. California - COULD BE YOU!, Regional Coordinator
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in Escondido, CA
Saturday, September 12
First United Methodist Church
341 S. Kalmia St., Escondido, CA 92025
in Victorville, CA
Saturday, October 24
Trinity Lutheran Church
16138 Molino Dr., Victorville, CA 92395
These events are endorsed by Handbell Musicians of America
 So Cal Region is looking for a coordinator! Won't you please raise your hand?
Send email to Mich�le Sharik or Barbara Meinke. We'll treat you to lunch while we tell you all about it!
Southern California Regional Coordinator
socal.area12@handbellmusicians.org
This email address IS being monitored!
For information on Southern California's concerts, events, and other opportunities, click here.
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No. California - Nancy Schmitt, Regional Coordinator
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Hello Northern California Musicians!
BELL CHOIRS WANTED!
Do you know of any churches that have bells in the closet? Wouldn't it be nice if those churches could once again listen to the heavenly sound of handbells? If you know of any such churches, please tell them about the Back to Bells Workshops which are geared to helping those churches get their bells out of the closet and use them again!
Back to Bells Workshops
Saturday, September 12
1:00 p.m.
St. James Lutheran Church
Redding, CA
Saturday, September 12
9:00 a.m.
Northminster Presbyterian Church
Sacramento, CA
Redding Handbell Festival
featuring Tessique Houston, Massed Conductor
and Larry Sue, Red Zone Conductor
Saturday, October 31
Redding, CA
Classes include basic ringing, maori sticks, movement, beginning bell trees, advanced bell trees, processionals, percussion, bell maintenance, and JAM exploring Level 2-3 new music.
Registration forms are on the Northern California Calendar.
This event is endorsed by Handbell Musicians of America
As always, I would love to hear about your upcoming concerts and workshops so I can list them on the calendar. So now relax and enjoy the rest of your summer!
Ringcerely,
Northern California Regional Coordinator
For information on Northern California's concerts, events,
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San Francisco Bay Area - Kendra Scott, Regional Coordinator
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I am excited to announce that the 2016 Bay Area Spring Ring will once again be held at Valley Church in Cupertino on April 8-9, 2016!
The Intense Ring and Spring Ring will be led by our very own Barbara Meinke. Repertoire for the event is:
Spring Ring (Early Bird Registration $35)
Jazz Fanfare and Alleluia | Margaret Tucker
Level 3 Jeffers, JHS9275
10,000 Reasons | J. Myrin & M. Redman/arr. Peggy Bettcher
Level 2+ Agape/Hope, HP2694
�nergique | Matthew Prins
Choir 1, Level 3-; Choir 2, Level 1+
From the Top, FM20416
When In Our Music God Is Glorified | Arnold Sherman
Level 3- Agape/Hope, HP2414
Intense Ring (Registration $25)Pavane and Galliard | Michael Joy Level 5 AGEHR, AG57016
The Magnificent Seven | E. Bernstein/arr. Sondra Tucker Level 4 From the Top, FM20487
For more information, check out
I also had the pleasure of attending the Wesley Bell Ringers concert at San Jose First Methodist Church on Monday, July 20. Based in Salt Lake City, they were celebrating their 30th annual summer tour and brought with them 26 ringers and 11 octaves of bells, including Silver Melody Bells, Whitechapel cup bells, and a rack of Petit and Fritsens. The youth bell choir played every piece to a packed house with excellent precision, incredible dynamic contrast, and genuine expressions of joy for ringing. Their tour continues in the Pacific Northwest through August 2.
Back to Bells Workshops
Saturday, September 12
9:00 a.m.
Windsor Presbyterian Church
Windsor, CA
Saturday, September 26
9:00 a.m.
Los Gatos Presbyterian Church
Los Gatos, CA
AND
Walnut Creek United Methodist Church
Walnut Creek, CA
As your new Bay Area Regional Coordinator, I look forward to connecting with you all at Spring Ring and other local events! Please contact me with news of what YOU are doing!
Kendra Scott
Bay Area Regional Coordinator
For information on San Francisco Bay Area's concerts, events,
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LA Metro - Scott Leggett, Regional Coordinator
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Sharing the same sentiments as Olaf from the movie Frozen, I love summer!
I just returned from the national Pinnacle conference and came back energized with new ideas on teaching and executing some new bell techniques (who knew you could easily ring a bass bell straight up to the sky or play 8-in- hand)! Area 12 and L.A. Metro were well represented not only by attendees but also by event faculty Christine Anderson, Linda Krantz, Derek Nance, Michele Sharik, Jim Meredith and members of Sonos Handbell Ensemble. A special moment was a featured performance by L.A. Metro's own Dickens Handchime Choir from the HOPE Music Program in Garden Grove. The HOPE program, run by Dellene Harned, is a weekly music school for home-schooled children. The kids were amazing!
Back to Bells Workshop
Saturday, September 12
9:00 a.m.
First United Methodist Church
Glendale, CA
Fall Ringers' Workshop
Saturday, October 3
Glendale First United Methodist Church
8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Glendale, CA
I am thrilled to have Nancy Jessup as our clinician this year!
The focus for this event will be for level 1-2 choirs, (TINS from the older nomenclature), with massed ringing and education sessions. It will be a fun day for all and everyone is welcome!
This event is sponsored by Handbell Musicians of America
Till next time.
Scott Leggett
Los Angeles Metro Regional Coordinator
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Hawaii - Karen Carlisle, Regional Coordinator
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So. Nevada - Alison Pruett, Regional Coordinator
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I hope everyone's having a great summer!
As you start selecting your music for the upcoming season, be sure to check out what fall and winter ringing events are happening. Even if you're not attending, there are good repertoire ideas!
Back to Bells Workshop
Saturday, September 26
1:00 p.m.
Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas Twelfth Night Handbell Festival
January 9, 2016
Desert Spring United Methodist Church
120 N Pavilion Center Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89144
Clinician Barbara Meinke will direct four massed ringing pieces
and all groups will be invited to perform a solo piece.
This event is sponsored by Handbell Musicians of America
To receive updates on this event, email me and I'll put you on the direct contact list, making sure you get all information as soon as it's available.
Alison Pruett
Southern Nevada Regional Coordinator
vegas.area12@handbellmusicians.org
For information on Southern Nevada's concerts, events,
and other opportunities, click here.
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Central California - Lori Smith, Regional Coordinator
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Manteca, CA
Lori Smith
Central California Regional Coordinator
For information on Central California's concerts, events,
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No. Nevada - Barb Walsh, Regional Coordinator
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Back to Bells Workshop
Saturday, September 26
9:00 a.m.
South Reno United Methodist Church
Reno, NV
Barbara Walsh
Northern Nevada Regional Coordinator
nv.area12@handbellmusicians.org
For information on Northern Nevada's concerts, events,
and other opportunities, click here.
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International Symposium 2016
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