February 2008
Volume 33, Issue 2
the bell-o-gram
www.areaiii.org
Area III of the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers
HOW TO HAVE A HEALTHY FESTIVAL
Tips for Ringers and Directors p.
p. 16
16
DELAWARE
MARYLAND
METRO DC
NORTH CAROLINA
VIRGINIA
STUFF MORE IN!
Area III Explodes with
Brand New Events
beginning on p. 6
PATTERN SEQUENCING:
Understanding Muscle Memory Improves Ringing p. 4
SPRING CONCERT
Sunday, June 1st – 4:00 pm
Meymandi Concert Hall - Raleigh, North Carolina
Tickets available April 1st at the Progress Energy Center Box Office
and Ticketmaster (919-834-4000 or www.ticketmaster.com)
THE RALEIGH RINGERS, INC., PRESENTS
THE 15th ANNUAL
CAPITAL AREA YOUNG
RINGERS FESTIVAL
Especially for Ringers Ages 9 to 14
Upcoming Concerts:
April 19, 2008 – 3:00 pm
First Evangelical Lutheran
Ellicott City, Maryland
410-465-2977
Saturday, February 23, 2008
April 20, 2008 – 3:00 pm
Pinecrest High School
Southern Pines, North Carolina
910-692-4356
Repertoire Information and Registration Forms
available at www.rr.org
May 3, 2008 – 7:30 pm
Ashe County Civic Center
West Jefferson, North Carolina
336-846-ARTS
Clinician: Nancy Cappel
Soapstone United Methodist Church
Raleigh, NC
For information, email [email protected]
________________________________________________
The 20th Annual
CAPITAL AREA
HANDBELL FESTIVAL
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Kerr Scott Building, North Carolina State Fairgrounds
Raleigh, North Carolina
Karen Buckwalter
Guest Conductor
May 4, 2008 - 3:00 pm
Lincoln Theater
Marion, Virginia
276-783-6093
June 1, 2008 - 4:00pm
Meymandi Concert Hall
Raleigh, North Carolina
David M. Harris, Director
8516 Sleepy Creek Drive
Raleigh, NC 27613
phone/fax: 1-866-637-7464
email: [email protected]
www.rr.org
Area III
Board of Directors
CHAIR
Charm Peterman (2009)
113 Melvins End
Yorktown, VA 23693
757-766-8658
[email protected]
CHAIR-ELECT
Linda Simms (2011)
205 Carnoustie Road
Dover, DE 19904
302-677-0187
[email protected]
TREASURER
J. Stanley Schmidt (2009)
303 Redland Blvd. #204
Rockville, MD 20850
301-519-8905
[email protected]
Ken Bissell (2011)
5416 Sequoia Farms Drive
Centreville, VA 20120
703-751-2151
[email protected]
Nick Hanson (2011)
7735 Inversham Drive #228
Falls Church, VA 22042
703-207-8626
[email protected]
Melissa Nobile (2011)
10230 Stillhouse Road
Delaplane, VA 20144
540-364-3699
[email protected]
Edmund F. Tompkins (2009)
4291 Canewood Lane
Indian Trail, NC 28079
704-821-8392
[email protected]
Kathleen L. Wissinger (2009)
1050 Cemetery Road
McGaheysville, VA 22840
540-289-6973
[email protected]
ON THE WEB
National AGEHR Website
www.agehr.org
Area III Website
www.areaiii.org
Area III Webmaster
Stephen Nash
[email protected]
PATTERN SEQUENCING
Appointed
Administrators
Ever wonder why some ringers are
more challenged to “get it right?”
DELAWARE CHAIR
by Charm Peterman, Area Chair
Judy Moore
[email protected]
Generally, ringing handbells requires muscular responses
to visual or auditory cues. People refer to learning parts
and getting them into “muscle memory.” The term often
implies that some muscular responses bypass the brain and
function on their own, such as the involuntary act of
blinking. Ever had an experience when your arm moved
and the bell rang – and you had no idea where you were in
the music? Information goes in, the message is secured in
the brain, and then information is recovered and applied
when needed. By analyzing movement in ringing handbells
and using problem-solving tools, ringers can be successful!
MARYLAND CHAIR
John Rudy
[email protected]
METRO DC CHAIR
Rob Kobus
[email protected]
NORTH CAROLINA CHAIR
Karen Strausser
[email protected]
Have you ever been going somewhere for the very first time
and discover that you have to get there yourself without the
aid of a map? Hopefully you pay close attention to
surroundings and land markings. What is it like when you
play a piece of music for the very first time? Make any
mistakes? Have any problems with playing the rhythms
accurately – even after reading through the part more than
once? I experienced this situation in one choir with an
individual who had a doctorate in performance. We were
all puzzled as to why this very educated musician had
problems ringing accurately. At first we thought it was
because as an organist, this ringer was used to playing
chords without really thinking about individual notes.
Identifying two individual notes in chordal structures —
trying to override analytical skills and focus on the visual
cues in the music — was a challenge. Then we discovered
that the real issue seemed to be the patterning of the
muscular response of the rhythm. This lead to the
conclusion that there are two primary elements that affect
ringing the correct notes and note values: the duration of
notes (especially repeated notes) and the complexity of
involving both the right and left hands. Identifying these
elements will be referred to as pattern sequencing.
VIRGINIA CHAIR
Ned Davis
[email protected]
CHIME LOAN PROGRAM
Elaine Myers
[email protected]
EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH
Linda Simms
[email protected]
EVENT COORDINATOR
Lisa Woerner
[email protected]
EVENT REGISTRAR
Bettsy Wermine
[email protected]
GUILD STORE MANAGER
Susan Butler
[email protected]
HISTORIAN
Missy Cernigliaro
[email protected]
Our muscles readily repeat patterns. Like finding your way
to a new location a second time, the brain immediately
begins to create new pathways of information (synapses)
that connect certain stimuli with neural responses. When
identical muscular responses are repeated, the stronger
this connection becomes, with new dendrites in the brain
reinforcing the newly established “path!”
MENTOR COORDINATOR
Ingrid Bowers
[email protected]
MEMBERSHIP
Fran Hoadley
[email protected]
By "retraining" our mind-to-muscle connections, better
habits and techniques begin to replace previous ones. This
is why the most effective practice is done slowly and
correctly, and then strengthened with repetition. Example:
if the length of a repeated note is consistent (i.e., quarter
notes), it is pretty easy to be consistent. The muscles have
established a response pattern and are quick to repeat the
quarter notes. However, if the note values are not
consistent, the muscles must then adapt to the new
sensation of longer or shorter note lengths. How many
times has a ringer played on a rest? Did they play just prior
to that rest? The muscles may be responding to the
sensation of repeated sensory motion.
SECRETARY TO THE BOARD
Lynn Bogovich
[email protected]
SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE
Edmund F. Tompkins, Chair
[email protected]
VIDEO LIBRARIAN
C. Milton Rodgers
[email protected]
4
It therefore becomes critical to involve the cognitive
functioning of the brain. Many ringers are taught to ring close
to the body for short notes and to extend the arm for longer
notes. This is a great learning tool that adds the dimensions
and sensations of space to note-value identification. Varying
note values in the same hand may be a stumbling block until
the correct muscular-response pattern is identified. Some
ringers will adapt more readily than others to the sensation of
long/short responses, but the critical element is to identify
what the body involuntarily “wants” to do (based on the
previous muscular response), versus what should be done!
PATTERN SEQUENCE EXERCISES
Add to this mix the intricacies of left and right (not to
mention a variety of techniques), and a ringer ends up with a
challenging complexity! If a ringer is unable to identify the
rhythm, that obviously needs to be quickly resolved. Once
resolved, if ringers say “We are counting…” but there is no
outward vocal evidence, then their internal counting
processing may be counterproductive. By counting aloud, a
greater portion of the brain is involved using not only visual
identification and muscular response, but additional output
(speaking) and input (listening). Now the brain is more fully
involved in the muscular-response learning process.
If ringers are experiencing difficulties with a specific passage,
first identify the note duration issues and then hand pattern
sequences. Be alert as to whether the muscles seem to “want”
to respond based on a previous sequencing of left/right. Once
the hand pattern is identified, then address the rhythm and
determine if the note duration(s) in question are also
adversely affected by what the body naturally “wants” to do.
To discover how effectively a ringer responds to a pattern, try
it first in one hand, then the other hand, then a mixture of
left, right, right-left combinations, or variations of hand
sequencing. Take short patterns (sub-patterns) and
incorporate the sequence to create a longer sequence, or unit.
This approach is especially helpful from Level I music to
mixed meter. It is important to identify the visual and
muscular responses, find the “hiccups” that cause the
incorrect responses, and resolve them! Most ringers can
discover their pattern challenges once they understand that
these are not merely rhythm identification issues, but
muscular-response challenges as well.
The following pattern-sequence exercises should be played
with one hand (no counting aloud at first, to experience the
muscular responses), with increasing tempo to confirm the
pattern-sequence changes. If a ringer has difficulties in
processing the muscular patterns, then identify the correct
counting (or use the concept of short/long) , slow the tempo
and count aloud. Employ the cognitive! Remember, muscles
most readily want to repeat whatever they have just done to
strengthen the synapses. Go through these exercises, identify
the pattern changes and work through them!
Your current repertoire probably has several pattern-sequence
issues that can be extracted and used as exercises. If you
prefer using a method book, Valerie Stephenson’s
Coordination Conundrums is an excellent resource for
muscular response, complexity and technique variations.
Have fun locating “hiccups” and helping yourself and other
ringers become more skilled in problem-solving and accuracy
by understanding muscular-response and pattern sequencing!
5
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_ _K _ ¶ K ¶ BRAVISSIMO!
AREA III OFFERS NEW EVENT FOR PERFORMING ENSEMBLES
June 6-7, 2008 & June 12-13, 2009 • Gaithersburg, Presbyterian Church • Gaithersburg, MD
by Linda Simms, Event Chair
What? Another event in Area III?
Community and performing groups…
get out your calendars now! Plans are
underway for a unique event to help
network all styles and sizes of
community and performing groups.
This event will focus not on
performing, but practical and creative
solutions and ideas for the challenges
unique to performing ensembles.
Directors will lead the reading sessions.
The New Event Committee is in the
process of selecting faculty.
This year’s BRAVISSIMO! Committee
includes: Lisa Woerner, events
coordinator/registrar; Linda Simms,
event chair; Dottie Tweedie, program
chair; Rob Kobus, local liaison; Ann Y.
Schmidt, event advisor; Stan Schmidt;
Lynn Bogovich and John Rudy.
In addition to classes, all participants
will be invited on a private tour of the
Washington National Cathedral to see
the tower bells! Rob Kobus, our Metro
DC Chair, is a change ringer at the
Cathedral, and will guide us through
this gorgeous facility to observe change
ringing “up close and personal!”
Classes will be geared toward topics
that are relevant to performing groups.
If you are interested in joining other
performing groups at this event, please
look at the class topics suggested and
let me know which ones are of interest
to you. Additional suggestions are
welcome: please let us know what you
want so we can make this your event!
The proposed schedule appears below.
Meanwhile, suggested classes include:
Especially for Ringers:
• Bass Bells and Chimes (including 2’s)
• Can You Share?
• Four-in-Hand/Six-in-Hand Ringing
• Marking Scores
•
•
•
•
•
Music Theory
Refining Your Bell Assignment
Shelley/Advanced Shelley Ringing
Stopped Techniques
Using percussion
For Directors and Ringers:
• 501(3)(c) and What it Means
• Area III’s Resources and Pitfalls
• Auditions & Bell Assignments
• Bell Trees and Processional Ideas
• Branding Your Organization
• Christmas: Surviving the Season
• Contract Writing
• Creative Ideas and Props
• Directors’ Roundtable
• Fundraising and Grant Writing
• Repertoire Selection
• Royalties
• Stage Presence
• Using Your Logo & Marketing Tips
• Venues
• Videotaping & Photographing Your Group
• Websites
PROPOSED BRAVISSIMO! SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 2008
1:00
Registration/setup begins
3:00
Opening Bell
3:30-5:00
Reading session 1
5:15-6:30
Dinner
7:00
Trip to Washington National Cathedral
10:00
Reception
SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 2008
Breakfast on your own
8:30-9:30
Class 1
9:45-10:45
Class 2
11:00-Noon
Class 3
12:15-1:30
Boxed Lunch
1:30-2:30
Class 4
2:45-4:00
Reading Session 2
4:15-5:00
Wrap up and closing bell
Please contact Linda Simms at 302-677-0187 or
[email protected] to ensure that you are on the mailing list
for this event. We’ll send information as it becomes available,
including nearby lodging, registration fees and procedures.
If you are interested in attending this event and have other
ideas, please send them! We’re designing this event to be
helpful and relevant with no competition or pressure, and lots
of networking! Help us help you by offering your ideas and
suggestions! We’ve already booked Gaithersburg Presbyterian
for June 12-13, 2009, and look forward to this annual event!
6
LAUNCH INTO THE FUTURE!
Area III Prepares to Celebrate 50th Anniversary
Ringers Travel.
Mark your calendars for November 13 & 14, 2009 for a new
event in Area III that will "launch into the future" as we focus
on our children and youth!
So should their info.
AGEHR celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2004. Since Area III
became incorporated in 1959, our 50th anniversary
celebration will begin with the Youth Festival in 2009 and
continue into 2010 with the spring festival. The 2009 Youth
Festival in Richmond is going to be for youth groups (grades
7 - 12) and children's groups (grades 4 - 6)! Additional space
has been contracted in the convention center especially for
the younger ringers, who will get to work with their own
clinician and have a variety of activities! We are planning for a
maximum of 100 children for this special new young ringers’
event, so if you are interested, keep an eye out for more
details as everything comes together. We plan to continue
children and youth events into the foreseeable future, and the
festival committee is exploring ideas and clinicians to
continue offering exceptional educational opportunities for
our area!
Vacationing?
Moving?
Running away from home?
For information and newsletters
from the other AGEHR areas
across America, log onto
www.areaiii.org
More details are on the way. If you have questions or ideas in
the meantime, please contact Area III Event Coordinator Lisa
Woerner at [email protected] or 704-517-4954.
Bellhaven2008
10/3/07
9:57 AM
and click on “Useful Links”
to link to other area sites.
Page 1
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Bellhaven
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At your facility - or ours
Pickup and delivery services available
Bellhaven
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3020 Lizzie Melton Road, Chester, SC 29706-5722
Phone: 803/789-7464 • Fax: 803/753-9582
Toll-Free: 800/691-7464 • Email: [email protected]
7
____________________________
What ’ s Shakin ’
UPCOMING AGEHR EVENTS
When
February 23
What
Where
Capital Area
Young Ringers’ Festival
venue TBA
Raleigh, NC
Who
Nancy Cappel
Contact Ruth Brown at 919-610-1692 or [email protected]
February 29 - March 1
______________________________________________________________
2-3 Octave
Festival
Mechanicsville Church of Christ
Mechanicsville, VA
Mark Gourley
Contact Dottie Tweedie at 804-357-9810 or [email protected]
March 7-8
______________________________________________________________
Area III
Spring Festival
Roland E. Powell Conv. Center
Ocean City, MD
Contact Linda Simms at 302-677-0187 or [email protected]
March 29
______________________________________________________________
Young Ringers’
Festival
Cranberry Station Elementary
Westminster, MD
Susan Berry
Kath Wissinger
Larry Henning
Contact Debbie Henning at 410-848-5482 or [email protected]
April 11-12
______________________________________________________________
Area III
Spring Festival
Hampton Roads Conv. Center
Hampton, VA
Contact Nick Hanson at 949-278-8560 or [email protected]
April 20
______________________________________________________________
Children’s
Melody Madness
St. Matthew’s UMC
Annandale, VA
Jason Wells
Kath Wissinger
Nancy Cappel
Contact Nancy Cappel at 703-978-3500x32 or [email protected]
April 25-26
______________________________________________________________
Blue Ridge Area
Handbell Festival
First United Methodist Church
Hendersonville, NC
Tim Waugh
Contact Connie Engle at 828-692-4910 or [email protected]
June 6-7
______________________________________________________________
BRAVISSIMO!
Gaithersburg Presbyterian Church
for Performing Ensembles
Gaithersburg, MD
various
Contact Linda Simms at 302-677-0187 or [email protected]
August 4-8
______________________________________________________________
International Symposium
Rosen Shingle Creek Resort
Orlando, FL
various
Contact the AGEHR National Office at 1-800-878-5459
August 6-8
______________________________________________________________
Distinctly
Teen
Rosen Shingle Creek Resort
Orlando, FL
Contact the AGEHR National Office at 1-800-878-5459
August 8-11
______________________________________________________________
National Seminar
Rosen Shingle Creek Resort
Orlando, FL
Contact the AGEHR National Office at 1-800-878-5459
8
Tim Waugh
Jason Wells
various
AREA III MENTORING INITIATIVE
Michael J. Glasgow
Are you an experienced director?
• Do you have knowledge and experience that you can
share with new handbell directors in our area?
• Would your choir enjoy meeting and assisting new
ringers at an Area III festival?
• To be a mentor, sign up on your Area III festival
registration form!
composer · arranger · conductor
Are you a new director?
•
•
•
•
Would you like an experienced director to talk to?
Need someone to answer your questions?
Does your choir need a workshop on bell technique?
To request a mentor, sign up on your Area III festival
registration form!
Are you planning to attend an
Area III festival for the first time?
specializing in music
for advanced ensembles
• Would your choir enjoy meeting another choir?
• Area III ringers and directors can answer your questions
about classes and/or tell you and your ringers what to
expect at the event!
• To request a mentor, sign up on your Area III festival
registration form!
919.844.3298
[email protected]
For more information, contact
Ingrid Bowers at [email protected]
or your state chair (see p. 4)
Brochures • Newsletters
Booklets • Folders
Post Cards • Business Cards
CD/DVD Duplication
Direct Mail • PURLs
And Much More...
Double Data is big
enough to handle
any size project and
small enough to
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Double Data gets to
know you and your
project, offering
suggestions and
allowing you to
benefit from our
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DESIGN COPY PRINT
Proud Printers of The Bell-O-Gram for Area III
10501 Ligon Mill Road, Suite 102
Wake Forest, NC 27587
www.double-data.com
Double Data
provides a wide
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so you can get
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Working twice as hard for you!
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9
THE MOTION
OF THE
OCEAN
Information on the Area III Spring Festival in Ocean City, MD • March 7 & 8
by Linda Simms, Event Chair
Your Area III Festival Committee has been diligently
preparing for another great year of festivals, starting with
the Ocean City Spring Festival, March 7 & 8.
Scheduled Classes and Instructors: Ocean City Festival
ABC’s of Music Theory — Frances Vaughan
Advanced Conducting — Michael Keller
This year’s guest clinician is Sue Berry, who will help us to
be healthier ringers with her Healthy Ringing® expertise.
On Friday evening, Sue will share her knowledge with us on
the many ways we can avoid some of the problems that
plague ringers. You’ll have ample time in the subsequent
rehearsals to apply all that you learn from Sue!
Area III Forum — Charm Peterman
Banging Buckets: Beyond the Basics — Paul Kingsbury
Becoming Bronze — Paul Kingsbury
While Sue is busy in the ballroom, Kath Wissinger, our
Genesis Track clinician, will be leading the Genesis ringers
through rehearsals that enlighten and educate. You will be
amazed how much progress you will make in the short
weekend you spend with Kath! Genesis ringers will receive
some “Healthy Ringing” tips from Sue on Saturday, and also
have the opportunity to attend a class, present a concert
and attend the closing concert.
Beginning Conducting — Ken Bissell
Change Ringing From The Tower To Table — Rob Kobus
Cleaning Up The Basics — Melissa Nobile
Community Handbell Ensemble Forum — Larry Henning
5678/Cup Game — Larry Henning
The opportunity to learn and network is enormous at these
events. The camaraderie is both enriching and priceless. If
you have attended festivals, you know what I mean. If this
is your first festival, you are about to experience something
very special and unique. Ringing with hundreds of other
ringers is amazing! See you there!
I’ve Got a Screw Loose; Now What? — Sheena Hunter
Intermediate Conducting — Michael Keller
Learning How To Sightread — Ken Bissell
Making Music Personal — Nick Hanson
Massage – It’s Nice If You
Need To Be Kneaded! — Sharon Baker
Negotiating With Difficult Personalities: Understanding
and Coping With Whiners, Know-It-Alls,
and Other Frustrating People — Jim Simms
Pretzel Logic: Weaving 101 — Melissa Nobile
Put The Beat In Your Feet! — Linda Simms
Repertoire Based on Levels 1 to 3 — Nick Hanson
The Roland E. Powell Convention Center
Ocean City, MD
Repertoire for Advanced Ringers — Ann Y. Schmidt
Repertoire: Area III Composers — Ned Davis
BUY ME.
Ringing 102 - Stretching Your Skills — Rob Kobus
So Many Bells, So Few Hands… — Risë Kagan
Last issue began our new publication year, but the
opportunity to establish or renew advertising is available
at any time. If you are interested in receiving rates,
dimensions and mechanicals, please contact Michael
Glasgow at 919-844-3298 or [email protected].
Trouble with Trebles? — Carol Feather Martin
“Whack” and Roll — Ned Davis
What's the Score? — Ann Y. Schmidt
The Bell-O-Gram (and advertisements provided in color)
is now in full color on our website, www.areaiii.org.
Young Ringers: Our Handbell Future — Frances Vaughan
10
WHAT’S HAPPENING
WITH
HAMPTON?
Information on the Area III Spring Festival in Hampton, VA • April 11 & 12
by Nick Hanson, Event Chair
Greetings, members of Area III!
The Spring Festival
registrations are well underway, and I am very excited for
this year's Hampton festival, April 11 & 12. We have an
extensive class lineup, and our guest conductors are sure to
provide excellent teaching, leadership, and an overall
amazing experience for everyone. In addition, we are
moving upstairs to the ballroom, promising better
acoustics, and there’s a nice large service elevator!
Scheduled Classes and Instructors: Hampton Festival
Area III Forum — Charm Peterman
Banging Buckets: Beyond the Basics — Paul Kingsbury
Basic Conducting 101 — Ed Tompkins
Becoming Bronze — Paul Kingsbury
Jason Wells, known throughout the handbell community for
the energy and passion that he brings to every group he
leads (not just youth!), will definitely spread this “fire” to
the massed ringing floor. As for the Genesis track, which is
a tremendous experience for ensembles who are new to
festivals or perhaps new to handbells altogether,
Kath Wissinger brings leadership and enthusiasm to help
these ensembles enjoy the music they make together, and to
push them to the next level.
Beyond The Notes — Ken Bissell
Community Choir Forum — Carol Feather Martin
Conducting — Ned Davis
Music Theory: Can It Be Practical? — Sandra Matthes
Put the Beat in Your Feet! — Linda Simms
As for our classes, we definitely have something for
everyone. Do you have ringers who need to work on their
skills and techniques? These classes are for them: Banging
Buckets, Ringing 101, Ringing 102: Stretching Your
Skills, So Many Bells, So Few Hands.…, Stop That
Sound, and Trouble with Trebles?
Repertoire: Area III Composers — Frances Vaughan
Repertoire for Advanced Ringers — Ed Tompkins
Rev the Rep (Repertoire Levels 1 – 3) — Nancy Cappel
Ringing 101 — Rob Kobus
Maybe your ringers have a good understanding of the
basics, but you are ready for them to expand their
musicality (or perhaps your own!). If so, then give these
classes a try: Basic Conducting, Becoming Bronze,
Beyond the Notes, Music Theory: Can it be Practical?,
Put the Beat in Your Feet, and Score Study For
Ringers.
Ringing 102: Stretching Your Skills — Rob Kobus
So Many Bells, So Few Hands…. — Risë Kagan
Stop - Look - Listen - Then Ring — Frances Vaughan
Stop That Sound — Ed Tompkins
Looking for the right pieces of music for your ensembles?
Be sure to check out: Repertoire for Advanced Ringers,
Repertoire: Area III Composers, and Rev the Rep
(Repertoire Levels 1-3).
This Thingie Fell Out, Now What Do I Do? — Ellen Moretz
Trouble with Trebles? — Carol Feather Martin
Finally, we have our “specialized” classes for various
needs: Area III Forum, Community Choir Forum, This
Thingie Fell Out - Now What Do I Do?, and Tuning
Teens. We have found the best of the best in our area to
lead these classes, and they are ready to share their
knowledge with all of you!
Tuning Teens — Nancy Cappel
I encourage you to check out the Area III website at
www.areaiii.org for more information about the Hampton
festival. All of the necessary forms are there for you to
print, fill out, and send in once you've decided to
attend! You should easily find the answers to most of your
questions there, but if not, I urge you to contact me directly
at [email protected].
I hope 2008 is off to a great start for all of you, and I look
forward to seeing many of you at our spring festivals! This
year promises to be a great experience for everyone!
The Hampton Roads Convention Center
Hampton, VA
11
A NEW YEAR
OF
RINGING
FRESH START
by Rob Kobus, Metro DC Chair
IN A
FRESH YEAR
by Karen Strausser, North Carolina Chair
Now that 2007 has passed and the new year is here, we
should take time to look back and reflect. November and
December of 2007 were very busy months in the life of Metro
DC. So many great handbell choirs offered their art and hard
work to parishioners and concert patrons all over the area.
The holidays are behind us and I am sure many of you and
your ringers are “rung out!” It is such a blessing to be able
to share our instrument with so many different groups
throughout the holiday season — school groups, churches,
Christmas parties, community venues — the list goes on.
And it is so nice when the holidays are over!
Some of the very memorable concerts included Nancy
Cappel and her choirs from St. Matthews United Methodist
Church in Annandale, VA, performing at the Kennedy
Center’s Millennium Stage. St. Matthews’ choirs have been
performing on the Millennium Stage every Christmas since
the early 1980s. The concert opened with the Carol Ringers,
a group of high school students in Northern Virginia. It was
my first time hearing this group, and I was knocked off my
feet; such wonderful musicianship and technique combined
with a true love of handbells made for a very enjoyable
concert. Next on the program were the Peace Ringers, St.
Matthews’ advanced adult group. Both choirs played with
great style and accuracy, so it was really like two concerts in
one. Great job, ladies and gentlemen!
With the start of the new year, this is a good time to reinforce
basic handbell group requirements: be on time, no
unnecessary talking, review music and ask your questions
before rehearsal begins, call the director if you will be out
and make every effort to be at all rehearsals and
performances as scheduled. Directors, make sure you let
your ringers know how much they are appreciated!
This would also be a good time to try something new at your
rehearsals – maybe a short sharing time about what is going
on in your ringers’ lives, maybe some “brain games” or some
handbell exercises to warm up before you ring.
With the many festivals and events that occur during the
spring, it is important to learn the music and be prepared for
the event — but not at the expense of stressing out your
ringers! One solution for church ensembles is to choose a
Sunday your choir would normally ring and have a
“volunteer” choir play, choosing music that is easily learned
by those with little or no ringing experience. This creates an
opportunity for those who can’t make a year-long
commitment to the group but really want to “give it a try.”
On the community front, I was fortunate enough to perform
with Capital Carillon at the Festival of Lights in Kensington,
MD. I also had the opportunity to hear Virginia Bronze. As a
choir director, it is especially difficult to take in concerts
during the Christmas season; however, after taking off my
director hat and hearing the Virginia Bronze play, I was left
breathless. Keep up the great work!
As the new year gets into full swing and we look toward the
future, I hope to meet each and every member in the Metro
DC area sometime in 2008. I have contacted many of you,
and truly look forward getting to know the rest.
Try ringing along with a hymn sung by choir and
congregation. Let them try change ringing as a chiming of
the hour, or play a simple song that could be used as an
offertory or benediction. Be creative; your options are
limitless!
I am still searching for two district chairs to help me with
membership services. If you are interested, please let me
know. I would also like to extend an invitation to the Metro
DC members to contact me about your upcoming events. I’d
love to hear about major milestones and special events, so
that Area III will know about your great accomplishments!
I look forward to seeing you at upcoming festivals and
events. Have a happy and healthy 2008!
12
SECOND “NEW
TO
THIS” REPORT
MEET MARYLAND’S DISTRICT CHAIRS
by Judy Moore, Delaware Chair
by John Rudy, Maryland Chair
It is a new year, and getting the old year tucked away has
been a chore so far for me. We not only pack away Advent
and Christmas at home and at church, but I am in the midst
of packing the whole music department to move to a new
church facility. We also welcomed a new pastor on Epiphany
Sunday. The bell choirs and vocal choirs, the children and
youth, the old members and new members have all been
preoccupied with meetings and excitement, saying hellos
and goodbyes, completing year-end reports and planning for
Lent (which is only days away) and Easter!
Well, Christmas is over. Part of me wants to jump for joy,
and another part me is feeling down because even though it
is probably the most hectic time of year for a church
musician, Christmas is my favorite time of the year. I hope
you and your ringers all had a joyous Christmas, and I wish
you all a very prosperous New Year.
This Christmas I had the pleasure of helping out a local
church handbell choir here in Hagerstown. Their music
director resigned suddenly, three weeks before Christmas.
As they were scrambling to find someone to play the organ
and direct the adult vocal choir on an interim basis, I
stepped up and offered to help by directing the handbell
choir for their Christmas Eve service. I just could not stand
for the fact that there was a group of ringers out there that
wanted to ring but couldn’t because they didn’t have a
director. Helping this choir out was an absolute joy, and I
am glad that I was able to fit it into my busy schedule.
It reminds me of just how much is involved as each of our
bell choirs prepares for our participation in worship, gets
ready for a concert, rehearses for an upcoming festival,
makes substitutions, reworks bell parts for absentees, calls
on ringers to solidify schedules, welcomes new ringers,
reworks scores, and just gets things organized! Add to this
the quest for patience in the midst of the preparations:
someone needs special attention about which hand picks up
what bell, on which “and” a note needs to be played, how
one plays chimes and bells at the same time, and the host of
choreography challenges that eat up rehearsal time.
“Nice story, but where are you going with this, John?” you’re
asking. I want you to know that your District Chairs and I
are here to help you. If you know of a church or
organization with handbells and ringers and no director, let
us know. If we can’t personally help out, we can help find
someone who might be able to. The same goes for people
who want to ring but have no place to do it: let us know! We
can help find a place for them to ring. So that you know
who to contact, let me introduce your District Chairs to you:
Our adult bell choir has an Epiphany Bell Party, where we
get together to eat homemade chili, polish all the bells, and
share a gift exchange (yes, we do the kind where you get to
“steal” a previously opened gift from someone!). The fun,
food and fellowship reminds us of the teamwork involved in
playing in a bell choir, giving us an opportunity to recommit
ourselves to one another and to improve our playing.
Anne Arundel
Joyce Terry
6526 Wilson Road
Friendship, MD 20758
301-855-2461
[email protected]
I am looking forward to our Area III festival in Ocean City.
Many of our Delaware choirs attend, and I look forward to
interfacing with more choirs.
I am still working on
contacting all of our Delaware members by phone or e-mail
to get a good picture of the “state of the art” in Delaware. By
the next Bell-O-Gram, I’ll be able to be more regional in my
scope, and not quite so “BOG-ed” down.
Calvert, St. Mary, & Charles
Linda Lamb
Lexington Park Baptist
22035 Three Notch Road
Lexington Park, MD 20653
[email protected]
Happy new year from “bell aware” Delaware!
Virginia Handbell Consort Cecil & Harford
Terri Vito
4817 Harford Creamery Road
White Hall, MD 21161
410-557-9736
[email protected]
Carroll & Howard
Berta Sabrio
8300 Old Columbia Road
Fulton, MD 20759
410-960-0226
[email protected]
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Eastern Shore
Randy Bachand
Easton COB
109 Stewart St.
Easton, MD 21601
[email protected]
Western Maryland
Ruth Louise Bileci
828 Mulberry Ave.
Hagerstown, MD 21742
301-797-5864
[email protected]
Notice that we still need District Chairs for Frederick and
Baltimore counties. If you or someone you know is
interested, please contact me. We are anxious to get these
positions filled. As always, we are here to help and support
you, so if you need us, let us know! If you would like to talk
to me directly, please contact me at 301-733-2878 or
[email protected]. I will also be at the Area III Spring
Festivals in Ocean City, MD and Hampton, VA, so please look
for me. I am anxious to meet you!
A Community Handbell Performance Organization
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13
HANDBELLS
AT THE
HOLIDAYS,
AND
RESOLUTIONS
FOR
2008
Reflections on Virginia’s Success and an Invitation to Create Even More
by Ned Davis, Virginia Chair
Happy New Year! I hope that the first
month of the year has been a good one
for each of you, and that the rest of the
year will be filled with rich blessings
and success in your endeavors. As we
enter a new year we have much to be
thankful for and at the same time many
new goals to reach. All of the officers
of Area III are thankful for each of you
who have helped to make this past year
a great success in our area. Many have
volunteered and participated in
multiple events and functions, which
has made our jobs easier! One of our
goals for this new year is to make your
organization more beneficial to you.
One way of doing this is sharing more
of your news with your fellow
members. If you have any news you
would like to have included in the
Bell-O-Gram, please let me know by
emailing me at [email protected].
Here are some of the things that have
taken place in recent months, as well as
some things to keep in mind in the
months ahead.
As is the case with many of you, the
James River Ringers (Richmond area)
had a busy holiday season. They kicked
off the season on December 2 with a
benefit concert at the historic St John’s
Episcopal Church in Richmond, made
famous by Patrick Henry’s fiery “give
me liberty or give me death” speech.
The following week they had their
annual holiday concert at Epiphany
Episcopal in Richmond. On February
17 at 6 PM, they will perform at the St.
Andrews Episcopal (Richmond) “Music
with Grace” series.
If you have a 2-3 octave choir, you will
want to mark the dates of February 29
and March 1; the James River Ringers
will host a special workshop featuring
Mark Gourley as clinician at the
Mechanicsville Church of Christ in
Mechanicsville.
The James River
Ringers will celebrate their tenth
anniversary with a special concert in
May. You may check their website,
www.jamesriverringers.org, for further
information on both of these events.
The Virginia Handbell Consort, which
is located in the Tidewater area of
Virginia and has just celebrated its
tenth anniversary, was also busy,
playing 10 concerts during the
holidays, including a concert with the
Virginia Wesleyan College choir where
they accompanied the choir and also
played several pieces on their own.
The conclusion of their season found
them at “First Night” in Colonial
Williamsburg on New Year’s Eve. This
is an evening of musical performances
spread throughout various locations in
Williamsburg. They performed three
times during the evening to more than
700 people.
For those of you who live in and
around the area of Waynesboro, you
may want to mark your calendar for
this: each year prior to the Spring
Festival in Hampton, VA, Main Street
United Methodist Church holds a minifestival for those who want to work on
the music for festival (or, if you’re not
attending the festival, to come enjoy
the fun and fellowship ringing with
other choirs). This year it will be held
on April 4 and 5, and there will be a
concert to conclude the workshop. For
further information contact Donald
Dollins at 540-649-0312 or at
[email protected].
On the Eastern Shore of Virginia, an
area dominated by agriculture and
dotted with smaller communities, there
are a lot of good things happening with
handbells. At this point we know of
only two groups who are part of
AGEHR, but they are both busy. In
December, the Market Street Ringers
from Market Street UMC in
Onancock — in addition to their
regular responsibilities at the church —
played for and accompanied the
Eastern Shore Madrigals at their annual
Christmas concert. In addition, The
Graceful Ringers of Grace UMC in
Parksley participated in Peter Meyer’s
“Star and Promises Alive!” annual
Christmas tour when they appeared
with him and his band at Nandua High
School in December. One of the most
exciting pieces of news comes from
Lana McKenzie, who is the District
Chair for the Eastern Shore. This past
fall, in conjunction with a group called
the “Academy for Lifetime Learning,”
Lana offered a six-week beginning
14
chime class, anticipating four or five
participants. Much to her surprise, she
ended up with a full class for three
octaves of chimes! Subsequently she
offered a second six-week class. Many
from the first class signed up again,
giving Lana another full class and the
chance to further hone ringers’
abilities.
As a result of this success, Lana will
offer two more classes, although this
time one will be an advanced class
which will present a concert at the end.
She already has a good number preregistered, anticipates two full classes,
and hopes that this will help found a
new community choir. Not only have
the classes been successful, but she has
also made contact with a couple of
other churches in the area who have
bells or chimes, and are not currently
members of AGEHR. What’s more,
several of her students want to start a
group in their church!
As I mentioned at the beginning, we
have a number of goals we want to
achieve this year. Among the most
important is expanding the influence
and membership of Area III.
The
account of Lana’s success on the
Eastern Shore has hopefully stirred
some thoughts about what can be done
to expand the joy and challenge of bell
ringing to other individuals or groups
in your area who may not have
“discovered” handbells yet. Also, the
example of the folks at Main Street
UMC in Waynesboro and their minifestival is another way to encourage the
art of bell ringing. Maybe you have
other ideas to share and we would be
more than happy to hear from you, too.
Whatever the case, in order for the art
of handbells to thrive and grow, we
need each of you who love handbells to
get involved and pass on to others,
young and old, what you have found to
bring so much joy into your life.
Hopefully you will make a New Year’s
resolution to encourage just one
person to try handbells, or find one
church or group who is not part of the
Guild and encourage them to get
involved in our organization. Have a
great New Year!
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LETTERS
Michael J. Glasgow, Bell-O-Gram Editor
This is the place where I have pledged
to print your letters to the editor, yet
since our last issue I haven’t received a
single one! I wonder if the people at
Cosmo and GQ ever have this problem?
sophisticated and knowledgeable. But
in AGEHR, particularly in Area III, it’s
not just an act: people are actually
dreaming big dreams and, more
importantly, acting upon those dreams.
Actually, I see it as an opportunity,
because now the space is all mine, and
I can use it for my own ponderings.
I had fun shooting this month’s cover
art. What do we most often associate
with stuffing? Turkeys? Too seasonal.
Our faces? Too gluttonous. Certain
unmentionables? Too, well,
unmentionable.
As I’ve put together this issue, I’ve seen
n u m e rou s “a ct i on i t e ms” t hat
encourage me to “mark my calendar.”
Some of these things, like our 2009
Launch Into the Future event and the
second annual Bravissimo! event in
2009, are so far in the future that I’ve
had to mark a reminder in my 2008
datebook to mark the date in my 2009
datebook — because I don’t own it yet!
A common theme evolved among the
articles in this issue...new happenings.
Sure, it’s trendy to look at future
trends.
We get to call ourselves
“forward thinkers” and feel
However, we can all relate to stuffing
the washing machine. Fit in as much as
possible, and you’ll save water,
detergent, time and electricity, right?
Sounds like a good idea...until the
washer gets overloaded and you have a
colossal mess on your hands and wet,
dirty clothes — at best. (Random trivia
question: what does this story have to
do with Bell Jubilee by the late Ellen
Jane Lorenz? The first correct response
will get a “shout-out” in Letters in May.)
15
The point is, Area III is definitely
moving forward with all sorts of new
and wonderful events, not to mention
new members!
A s you feed
information into your datebooks,
calendars, PDAs, scheduling software,
spouses, or whatever else keeps track
of when you need to be where,
remember that the dozens of people
working on these events are doing so
with great purpose. We don’t want to
just “stuff your calendars.” We want to
fill them with meaningful events that
provide practical and relevant
information and experiences for you
and your ringers. So if you have any
ideas, don’t hesitate to contact any of
us. We’re here to help, and don’t take
that responsibility lightly.
In the meantime, I wouldn’t mind
some folks “stuffing my mailbox” with
letters to the editor! I always welcome
your feedback and comments. Contact
me at [email protected], or see my
“snail mail” at the bottom of page 19.
BEYOND
THE
NOTES
Preparing to Participate in a Festival
by Susan Berry, Ocean City Spring Festival Clinician
Excerpts from Healthy Ringing® by Susan Berry, 2000. Dearborn, MI: Handbell Services, Inc. (www.handbellservices.com). Reprinted with permission.
Are massed rings hard on your body?
Do you walk away from a ring musically
content but physically spent, with your
entire body sore? This state of affairs is
common among handbell ringers,
unless they make a conscious effort to
ring the healthy way. A massed ring is
a wonderful way to meet people,
immerse oneself in handbells, and have
fun playing great music in a unique
setting, often with dramatic results. On
the other hand, a massed ring is much
more ringing than most ringers are
accustomed to doing at one time. A
festival of this sort is definitely not
something to take lightly, especially if
you’re a bass ringer. Extended
rehearsals with maximum playing time
and minimum attention to ringers’
bodies can be quite taxing. Therefore,
it’s a good idea to keep several issues in
mind, to not just make beautiful music,
but to make the massed ring a more
enjoyable and comfortable experience.
RINGERS’ PREPARATION
At home: Just as a once-a-week runner
will have trouble finishing a marathon,
a ringer who rehearses once a week
may have trouble making it through a
massed ringing festival. Maintain a
good fitness program!
Unless you
prepare your body with daily stretches
and a walking or resistance training
routine, you may not have the
endurance necessary for day or two of
ringing.
Before the ring: To avoid muscle strain,
warm up before the initial downbeat of
the first rehearsal. The massed director
should take you through basic stretches
and warm-ups, but if this doesn’t
happen, you should do a few simple
stretches and warm-ups on your own.
During the Ring:
Practice gentle
stretches throughout the day as well.
Hand and upper torso cool-down
stretches are a good idea after every
rehearsal or during breaks in ringing. If
a muscle feels tired or sore, stretch or
massage it lightly. If a muscle seems
tight, gently stretch and hold it for a
few moments, then relax. If done
correctly, you should feel a pleasant,
soothing sensation. This will only take
a couple of minutes and is well worth
your time. If you are rehearsing and
start to feel pain, stop immediately and
rest! Continued ringing will only
aggravate the problem. Even if the rest
of the choir is still ringing, have a quick
stretch break. If nothing seems to
alleviate the pain, stop ringing
altogether.
Proper dress and footwear: Comfort is
key! Wear clothes that give you a full
range of motion and comfortable shoes
with arch support. Foot fatigue may
also be minimized by keeping knees
relaxed, shifting weight from one foot
to the other, doing static stretches, and
standing on carpet squares or an
Greetings to Area III
Malmark Handbells
Choirchime® Instruments
Ringing Accessories
Malmark, Inc. - Bellcraftsmen
Bell Crest Park
P. O. Box 1200
Plumsteadville, PA 18949
800- HANDBEL (426-3235)
215-766-7200
www.malmark.com
Choirchime® is a registered trademark by Malmark, Inc.
for its hand-held chime instrument.
16
interlocking foam puzzle mat.
Nutrition: Drink water throughout the day! Water will refresh
you, keep you from feeling lightheaded, keep your brain active
and prevent dehydration, which causes energy levels to drop.
Avoid caffeinated beverages during the rehearsal as they are
diuretics and will actually deplete fluids in your body. Also,
have healthy snacks on hand: eat foods with natural sugar and
protein: both are nutritionally important to give you the
necessary energy when ringing.
Avoiding stress: When you start feeling anxious about a section
in the music, take a series of deep breaths and try to relax. You
want to do your best, but worrying may cause you to ring with
less confidence and make more mistakes. The best policy is to
tell yourself that if you make a mistake, go on. The note is
gone; you can’t get it back, so move ahead. This doesn’t
diminish the need for excellence, but rather tries to move you
into forward thinking.
Worry is counterproductive, but
laughter is a wonderful stress reliever – have fun at a festival!
Enjoy the fellowship – meet new friends, and smile. Remember
that everyone, including the massed director, is on your side.
After the ring: To avoid unnecessary muscle soreness, do a
short series of stretches to allow the muscles and ligaments to
cool down and return to normal. If muscle soreness continues
following the concert, get some rest, and, if able, take an antiinflammatory drug such as ibuprofen or aspirin.
Departure: Lifting cases is when most injuries occur. Rather
than hurrying to load and leave, slow down and be conscious
of your body as you pick up that heavy equipment. Bending
over to put bells away, moving cases, and twisting to move
foam off the table and into a vehicle all contribute to body
strain, especially following an active concert when you’ve spent
much of your “reserve” energy. Remember, slow and steady
wins the race!
HINTS FOR DIRECTORS PRIOR TO A FESTIVAL
Study the clinician’s rehearsal notes in advance of your first
rehearsal with your choir and communicate the ideas as you
introduce each piece. When preparing for rehearsal, study
each score, look over every ringing position, marking all
awkward bell changes, entrances, tempo changes, etc. Look
over page turns and what happens musically before and after.
Then introduce pieces by dissecting each section, mentioning
key changes, time signatures and ringing technicalities. Don’t
allow complacency, even during the initial read-throughs.
Begin rehearsals with a simple run-through of one of the easier
festival pieces at a slow and gentle tempo. Let the ringers’
muscles start to work without strain. The ringers should
underplay dynamics and special techniques like shakes, marts,
and ring-touches. Once the ringers gain confidence in their
ringing, the music will begin to take shape and the tempo
should fall into place.
Get ringers in the habit of a pre-rehearsal warm-up of at least
five minutes. Static stretches and breathing exercises are
essential. Good habits will pay off at the actual ring – less
fatigue and potential physical strain will result. (For further
reference, see Part 3 in Healthy Ringing®.) Healthy Ringing!
We look forward to seeing you at a future festival.
17
Got Buckets?
104 pages of techniques
& progressive photos
to help you swing those
buckets like the pros!
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1-877-DEADRINger
Westminster Ringers
presents
Young Ringer’s Festival Conference
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Cranberry Station Elementary School in Westminster, MD
9:30 a.m. set-up and rehearsals ƒ 4 p.m. public concert
Full or partial choirs may attend
Clinician: Larry Henning
Fee: $20 per director/ringer, $7 per chaperone by February 16, 2008
Fee: $25 per director/ringer, $7 per chaperone by March 1, 2008
Fee: $30 per director/ringer, $9 per chaperone after March 1, 2008
Open Rings
COME RING ALONG WITH THE WESTMINSTER RINGERS!
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Westminster COB ƒ 5 Park Place, Westminster, MD
7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Auditions
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Email Larry Henning for an audition time.
Ringer’s Workshop
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Calvary UMC ƒ 405 Main Street, Mt. Airy, MD
8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Clinicians: Michael Joy, Debbie & Larry Henning
Full or partial choirs may attend
Fee: $35 before August 22, 2008
Fee: $40 before September 5, 2008
Fee: $45 after September 12, 2008
For more information about any of the above events, please contact:
Debbie Henning
737 Holland Lane, Westminster, MD 21158
410-848-5482 ƒ [email protected]
AREA III WELCOMES 24 NEW MEMBERS
BUSY HANDCHIMES
SPREAD THE ART OF RINGING:
JOIN OUR CHIME LOAN PROGRAM
(October - December 2007)
Total membership as of December 2007 is 868
Fran Hoadley, Area III Membership Chair
828-685-1478 • [email protected]
by Elaine Myers, Chime Loan Program Coordinator
DELAWARE (4)
Linda Oliver Hazeltine, Wilmington
Karen Tull, Seaford
New Covenant Presbyterian Church, Middletown
St. Augustine of Canterbury Roman Catholic Church, Middletown
Our Malmark and newly refurbished Schulmerich
handchimes have been put to great use this school year!
They are currently chiming away at Grace and Glory
Lutheran Church in Palmyra, VA.
MARYLAND (3)
Kyler Brengle, Westminster
Rod Comeaux, Pocomoke City
Immanuel Baptist Church, Baltimore
We are anxious to have our handchimes
used as much as possible, especially in
schools. A good assortment of music and
instruction material is included with the
chimes. After borrowing Area III’s chimes,
Leeds Episcopal Church in Markham, VA.
has purchased a set of their own!
METRO DC (5)
Jerry Hill, Alexandria (VA)
Hope Malcolm, Great Falls (VA)
Marta Ochoa, Silver Spring
Fran Waddell, Arlington (VA)
Lewinsville Presbyterian Church, McLean (VA)
Handchimes are beautiful to use by
themselves and are an excellent
complement to English handbells. With a
price that’s about a third of that of
handbells, chimes are more accessible for
tight budgets.
NORTH CAROLINA (7)
Fran Hoadley, Hendersonville
First Baptist Church of Elon, Elon
Good Shepherd Moravian Church, Kernersville
Palestine United Methodist Church, Albermarle
Pitts Baptist Church, Concord
Rock Creek Baptist Church, Nashville
St. Mary’s Church, Asheville
My school, Old Donation Center, has just
purchased three sets of the third octave of
handchimes, and now I have 37 students
involved in our handchimes program.
They recently performed for the opening
ceremonies of the Sandler Center for the
Performing Arts in Virginia Beach. It was a
fantastic experience for them, as was
performing for our holiday program.
VIRGINIA (4)
Barbara Carnevale, Virgilina
Covington Baptist Church, Covington
Fort Defiance High School, Fort Defiance
Spotswood Baptist Church, Fredericksburg
We like to keep in touch with our members!
If you have moved or your information has changed,
please contact Dan Virzi in the National Office
(1-800-878-5459x112 or [email protected])
to ensure that we have the most current information.
Please tell a friend and spread the news!
Our handchimes are available for loan each
school year.
Fill out the application from our website (www.areaiii.org)
and send it to me at [email protected].
the bell-o-gram is published in February, May,
September and November by Area III of the American Guild
of English Handbell Ringers. AGEHR is a non-profit
organization dedicated to advancing the musical art of
handbell and handchime ringing through education,
community and communication. The editor of this
publication reserves the right to reject or modify copy.
2007-2008 Advertising Rates (per issue)
Full page: $105 Half page: $75
Quarter page: $55 Eighth page: $35
If you are interested in receiving information and
mechanical specs, please contact the editor:
the bell-o-gram
American Guild of English Handbell Ringers, Area III
Michael J. Glasgow, editor
7505 Post Oak Road, Raleigh NC, 27615
[email protected]
THE DEADLINE FOR CONTENT FOR THE
MAY ISSUE IS MARCH 20.
Please send news, articles, and photos to our editor,
Michael J. Glasgow ([email protected]).
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the bell-o-gram
American Guild of English Handbell Ringers
Charm Peterman, Area III Chair
113 Melvins End
Yorktown, VA 23693
WE’RE GLAD YOU VISITED US ONLINE!
If you would prefer to view the color edition of
the bell-o-gram
online rather than receive the black & white version in the mail,
please contact Charm Peterman at [email protected].