Handbell Open House

[l...@lessenger.net]

Hello,

My group is hosting a “handbell open house,” inviting church members to come and “play” with no commitment or experience required. I figure once they get the basic ring motion, we’ll do some change ringing. Any other ideas?

 

Thanks,

Leslie Lessenger

Rolling Tones Handbells

Community Congregational Church/UCC of Benicia

[Barbara Robinson]

Hi,

Have any idea how many you expect.  You may want to end with a simple piece, like row row row your boat or Jesus Lives Me so they can see that counting to 4 is easy. You may need to mark the music ahead of time if they don’t read music and learn note values.  Go over note values ahead of time and dampening. 

Good Luck if you are trying to increase bell members.

Barbara Robinson

Clark, NJ

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On May 21, 2025, at 1:48 PM, l...@lessenger.net wrote:



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[Derek H]

Leslie -

I have done a few handbell open houses. Some of the best advice I can give is to provide food. Food, fellowship, and fun go hand-in-hand.

I would also provide some chordal music. Pick a simple hymn like "Amazing Grace" and introduce it something like this: if I hold up one finger, those who have an F, A, or C ring; if I hold up four fingers, those with a Bb, D, or F ring; finally, if I hold up five fingers, those with a C, E, or G ring. Practice first, then put words to music (e.g., the ringers would see one finger held up on "Amazing grace, how," four fingers on "sweet the," five fingers on "sound that," and so on).

I wish you success! Usually when I did open houses, I was able to get quite a few ringers. You might also find ringers who can't commit on a regular basis, but who you can add to your sub list.

All the best;

Derek Hakes

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Derek Hakes
("...people are beautiful.  Not in looks.  Not in what they say.  Just in what they are." - from "I Am the Messenger" by Markus Zusak)

[Carl Dierschow]

We did an open house last year, of course with plenty of fun and food. The best thing was pairing up visitors with experienced ringers, so they could talk through and see what the INDIVIDUAL experience is like without taking on risk. Then they upgraded to ringing a single bell, and a couple of people even tried two. It was fun!

Music was marked, of course.

Carl

[bonnie givens]

Thanks, handbell friends. Any suggestions for me regarding my current ringers to relax and feel the natural rhythm?  They get so caught up in “perfection”!

Bonnie G

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On May 21, 2025, at 8:37 PM, Carl Dierschow <carl.di...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Jennifer Stack]

Play music they are super familiar with and know how to sing.   Straighter rhythms for awhile.  I did point out to one of mine that I could see the way she was counting in her body, and that it was coming out of her arms that way too, and the piece was really soft and flowing.  Have them listen to the difference as you play something while focused on the rhythm, then play it focused on the music.  Maybe check out Kim Strepka's book-sometimes giving a name to the different strokes-glide, dab--can change the way they approach the music.  We played Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head for Christmas, and gentle remarks like "Jesus isn't putting his head on a spike..." and "Don't wake the baby" got laughs and results.  You can invite them to "play" more--when you lower the pressure, and say let's try it this way, if we hate it, we'll try something else...

Jenn

Enjoy the little things in life...for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things. -Antonio Smith

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[bonnie givens]

Thank you, Jenn!  Very helpful. I’ll implement your suggestions. 😊

Bonnie

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On May 27, 2025, at 5:33 PM, 'Jennifer Stack' via Handbell-l <handb...@googlegroups.com> wrote:



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