Tips & Tools
Ringing at the Red Kettle
Here are a couple of easy pieces you can use to help your local Salvation Army kick off its Red Kettle campaign
Here are a couple of easy pieces you can use to help your local Salvation Army kick off its Red Kettle campaign
Tips & Tools
The Ringing in of Christmas Morning
Use this simple but effective resource to help make the handbells a meaningful part of your Christmas morning service.
Use this simple but effective resource to help make the handbells a meaningful part of your Christmas morning service.
Feature
After-School Bells
Training a New Generation of Handbell Musicians
The ‘ah-ha’ moment for our children’s bell program came as a result of three separate events. On a Monday morning in January, a friend sent me a quote from Ann Voskamp – “You can’t make a difference until you listen to the world differently than everyone else does.” I had that in the back of [...]
Community Connections
Playing It Again…
...and again, and again
Whether you are a member of Bruno Mars’ touring band, a student at a music school, or a bell ringer playing for a choir every week, playing the same music over and over can be tiring. Although we all strive to keep things interesting, we might find ourselves playing at a level that suits us [...]
Handbell Musicians Roundtable
What Would You Say?
What are some things musicians would like to tell their director?
This month we are asking some questions from the ringer’s side of the table. We sincerely thank our participants for their honesty on what can be a sensitive topic.
Handbells in Education
All the Difference
Part 2: Differentiation through handbell solos and small ensembles
True differentiation means understanding your ringers current levels and challenging them to learn and achieve new skills. Every semester, I encourage students in each of my ensembles to begin working on solos and small group pieces. Solos and small ensemble pieces add nice variety to any program and are frequently audience favorites. Instructionally, small ensemble [...]
Handbells in Worship
Avoiding Directing Traps
Or more foolish, haphazard, lazy, and scatterbrained traps
A couple of years back, I wrote an article for Overtones, an article that enumerated all the foolish, haphazard, lazy, and scatterbrained traps that I get caught in while directing my choirs—followed by my resolution to, you know, not do those things so much. So when I was asked to revisit that article for this [...]
Membership Matters
What Can We Offer Our Newest Musicians? A Toolkit
I have been asked recently what Handbell Musicians of America has that will help ensembles recruit new members, assist those new musicians to settle into the ensemble, and keep everyone enthusiastic.
I have been asked recently what Handbell Musicians of America has that will help ensembles recruit new members, assist those new musicians to settle into the ensemble, and keep everyone enthusiastic.
Executive Notes
Reflecting on Ten Years
As i write this, i am about to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of my first day as executive director of this organization. It is only natural to reflect on that time and consider its impact on my life and what I’ve learned from the experience. Here are some of my favorite highlights (in no particular [...]
As i write this, i am about to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of my first day as executive director of this organization. It is only natural to reflect on that time and consider its impact on my life and what I’ve learned from the experience. Here are some of my favorite highlights (in no particular [...]
From the President's Pen
Make a Statement: Activate Your Ownership
There is a wonderful quote by David Brooks about personal success that can very easily define the approach we as owners (yes, members of Handbell Musicians of America) must believe as we move toward a new year and an ever-changing organization: “Almost every successful person begins with two beliefs: the future can be better than [...]
There is a wonderful quote by David Brooks about personal success that can very easily define the approach we as owners (yes, members of Handbell Musicians of America) must believe as we move toward a new year and an ever-changing organization: “Almost every successful person begins with two beliefs: the future can be better than [...]
Chiming In
Welcome to Our New Website
Handbell Musicians of America has gone through many changes in the last decade, from the development of a new website and a name change reflecting the Guild’s presence in the current era, to a full-color magazine and a robust online membership system.
Handbell Musicians of America has gone through many changes in the last decade, from the development of a new website and a name change reflecting the Guild’s presence in the current era, to a full-color magazine and a robust online membership system.
