Have you ever heard a handbell choir play? Many handbell choirs are part of church music programs, but you can use handbells to play any kind of music. A set of eight colorful handbells is another fun instrument that can be used with the Up-a-do Unlimited song pattern books. Most handbells will not match the colors of the Popular 8 Note Songs |
You can play handbells on your own by picking up each bell and ringing it, but it can be more fun to form a handbell choir with your classmates, family or friends. One way to think of a handbell choir is like a piano where each person controls only a few keys. With four people, each person can ring two bells, and all the eight notes songs can be played.
The bells should be kept in keyboard order, lowest to highest when going left to right in chromatic order, as much as possible. Inside the bell is the clapper which is the part that strikes the bell and causes it to produce sound. To start playing, pick up two bells and hold them in front of your chest with the bells facing straight up. Ring one bell by |
If you do not want the bell to keep ringing, stop the vibration by touching the bell lightly to your chest. This is call “damping the bell.”
In the Popular 8 Note Songs music patterns, the colored blocks are different sizes to indicate the different time lengths that the notes are held. If you have a long note to hold with your bell, you can make a bigger circular arm motion. If you are playing short eighth notes, the bell will not move far from your body. |
Most of all, enjoy the community building experience of making music with the wonderful people in your life!
Wishing you joy on your musical journey,
Debra Newby