Bell Tree Ringing with Children
by Dian Ruder
Dian Ruder directs three handbell teams at Canterbury Christian School in Los Altos, California, and one of four teams at the Valley Handbell Academy in Cupertino, which she and her husband David founded. She is a solo ringer and bell tree ringer, teaching a variety of classes at the local, national, and international levels. Dian and her husband have traveled to many countries to bring the joy of handchimes to many children and adults. During the pandemic, she organized and taught solo ringing and bell tree techniques to sibling groups and added bell tree accompaniments to the church’s recorded services whenever possible. She accomplished a B.A. and M.A. in organ performance during her nursing career.
There are many ways to involve youth with handbell ringing. Some full children’s ensembles play with 2-3 octaves of bells or chimes, but smaller groups of four to eight can start with chording sing-a-long melodies, or learning to change ring in patterns. All of those will interest and excite curious minds. Add some organization and camaraderie with friends, and you will have a committed team of budding musicians eager to invite friends and learn more skills.
Another tool I use in my beginner to advanced system is teaching them to play a bell tree. The name alone catches their attention, skepticism, and curiosity; then, when they see that they can play several bells at once, they volunteer eagerly. Add some special equipment—mallets, a stand, or a pole—and they will be competing to do it.
Working the bell tree technique into their skill set is key and must fit the children’s ability and the music’s aim. Some examples for ideas: For the younger kids, a small or any size group can play chords on chimes and add a simple melody played on the bell tree. That works well with songs like “This Little Light of Mine.” A bell tree can introduce a simple song, using higher bells than used within the song. A descending eighth-note or even sixteenth-note pattern can make a good introduction to songs such as “Joy to the World.” The descending first four notes of the scale can be used as a measure or two of introduction and possible interludes. Repeating obligato lines or countermelody can be added to some hymns or songs for something a little more complex. Short phrases that repeat are ideal. These can be created without needing a published arrangement. For a more somber song, consider a simple bass bell drone. Putting a large bell on a tree stand gives small people the fun of playing a really big bell! Consider starting a performance with a bell tree processional, using any simple pattern. The fun escalates if you can work in two or more trees processing!
The beauty of starting small and simple is that, first of all, it takes little equipment to accomplish. A four-note bell tree can be hand-carried by a child, with higher octaves (and thus smaller bells) working better for smaller children. The wooden dowel bell tree pole, designed for processionals, is simple to make and enables carrying three to eight bells. Karen Van Wert has made a short YouTube video showing the dowel pole. Go to https://bit.ly/DowelBellTree or search “dowel bell tree processional holder.”
If you have a bell tree stand, you have more options. One is being able to hang large bells for that drone pattern. Or, a bell tree melody can be divided between two people, putting one part of the tree on one side of the stand and the other on a different arm. Bell tree stands can have the disadvantage of being too tall for short children, even at their lowest setting. If standing on a box isn’t safe, adding extra non-playing bells to the top of the string will bring their needed notes into reach. Mallets are a requirement, as is teaching mallet technique. That is another class of its own, but the minimum requirements are balancing the mallet in the hand, using a short stroke, and bouncing it off the bell at the correct spot.
Malleting the bells without missing the target requires the ringers to memorize the music so they can see where to aim. Don’t be afraid to challenge your younger ringers to memorize; they are much better at that than we adults are! To aid memorizing without actual bells, I always teach my bell tree students to draw a bell tree on paper, as large as possible, so that they can practice the patterns at home. With the bells on paper in the correct order, pencils can serve like mallets to practice, reinforcing muscle memory. Small assignments that can be mastered quickly provide the motivation to try something more complex next time. Then, when you later add some little extra to the arrangement, the ‘wow” factor pops in.
Some of my more experienced youth ringers have accepted the challenge of playing an entire published arrangement for bell tree. Duets are popular with youth, a shared experience. When you can enlist two ringers who are siblings or good friends, scheduling the rehearsal gets easier.
Duets can involve two bell tree ringers, or one on bell tree and one solo table ringing. Music written for a solo can be divided into two or more parts if the notes don’t overlap. If they do, a double set of some notes makes playing easier. More experienced youth ringers can reach onto the other person’s bell tree to play shared notes.
Best advice: find a way to add bell trees to your bag of tricks for youth. Start very simply, even without poles or stands. Increase the complexity as occasions and equipment enable, and the students will be eager to accept the opportunity to learn this new fun skill.
There are many ways to involve youth with handbell ringing. Some full children’s ensembles play with 2-3 octaves of bells or chimes, but smaller groups of four to eight can start with chording sing-a-long melodies, or learning to change ring in patterns. All of those will interest and excite curious minds. Add some organization and camaraderie with friends, and you will have a committed team of budding musicians eager to invite friends and learn more skills.
Another tool I use in my beginner to advanced system is teaching them to play a bell tree. The name alone catches their attention, skepticism, and curiosity; then, when they see that they can play several bells at once, they volunteer eagerly. Add some special equipment—mallets, a stand, or a pole—and they will be competing to do it.
Working the bell tree technique into their skill set is key and must fit the children’s ability and the music’s aim. Some examples for ideas: For the younger kids, a small or any size group can play chords on chimes and add a simple melody played on the bell tree. That works well with songs like “This Little Light of Mine.” A bell tree can introduce a simple song, using higher bells than used within the song. A descending eighth-note or even sixteenth-note pattern can make a good introduction to songs such as “Joy to the World.” The descending first four notes of the scale can be used as a measure or two of introduction and possible interludes. Repeating obligato lines or countermelody can be added to some hymns or songs for something a little more complex. Short phrases that repeat are ideal. These can be created without needing a published arrangement. For a more somber song, consider a simple bass bell drone. Putting a large bell on a tree stand gives small people the fun of playing a really big bell! Consider starting a performance with a bell tree processional, using any simple pattern. The fun escalates if you can work in two or more trees processing!
The beauty of starting small and simple is that, first of all, it takes little equipment to accomplish. A four-note bell tree can be hand-carried by a child, with higher octaves (and thus smaller bells) working better for smaller children. The wooden dowel bell tree pole, designed for processionals, is simple to make and enables carrying three to eight bells. Karen Van Wert has made a short YouTube video showing the dowel pole. Go to https://bit.ly/DowelBellTree or search “dowel bell tree processional holder.”
If you have a bell tree stand, you have more options. One is being able to hang large bells for that drone pattern. Or, a bell tree melody can be divided between two people, putting one part of the tree on one side of the stand and the other on a different arm. Bell tree stands can have the disadvantage of being too tall for short children, even at their lowest setting. If standing on a box isn’t safe, adding extra non-playing bells to the top of the string will bring their needed notes into reach. Mallets are a requirement, as is teaching mallet technique. That is another class of its own, but the minimum requirements are balancing the mallet in the hand, using a short stroke, and bouncing it off the bell at the correct spot.
Malleting the bells without missing the target requires the ringers to memorize the music so they can see where to aim. Don’t be afraid to challenge your younger ringers to memorize; they are much better at that than we adults are! To aid memorizing without actual bells, I always teach my bell tree students to draw a bell tree on paper, as large as possible, so that they can practice the patterns at home. With the bells on paper in the correct order, pencils can serve like mallets to practice, reinforcing muscle memory. Small assignments that can be mastered quickly provide the motivation to try something more complex next time. Then, when you later add some little extra to the arrangement, the ‘wow” factor pops in.
Some of my more experienced youth ringers have accepted the challenge of playing an entire published arrangement for bell tree. Duets are popular with youth, a shared experience. When you can enlist two ringers who are siblings or good friends, scheduling the rehearsal gets easier.
Duets can involve two bell tree ringers, or one on bell tree and one solo table ringing. Music written for a solo can be divided into two or more parts if the notes don’t overlap. If they do, a double set of some notes makes playing easier. More experienced youth ringers can reach onto the other person’s bell tree to play shared notes.
Best advice: find a way to add bell trees to your bag of tricks for youth. Start very simply, even without poles or stands. Increase the complexity as occasions and equipment enable, and the students will be eager to accept the opportunity to learn this new fun skill.
Dian Ruder directs three handbell teams at Canterbury Christian School in Los Altos, California, and one of four teams at the Valley Handbell Academy in Cupertino, which she and her husband David founded. She is a solo ringer and bell tree ringer, teaching a variety of classes at the local, national, and international levels. Dian and her husband have traveled to many countries to bring the joy of handchimes to many children and adults. During the pandemic, she organized and taught solo ringing and bell tree techniques to sibling groups and added bell tree accompaniments to the church’s recorded services whenever possible. She accomplished a B.A. and M.A. in organ performance during her nursing career.
