Handbell Workshops Available
Philadelphia Bronze offers private workshops for your handbell groups. Contact us to find out more details of what we offer and to arrange for a date.
Typical topics we cover at our workshops:
Basic Bell Ringing and Special Techniques - This class will cover the basic movement needed to obtain the best ringing sound while keeping ringers safe from injury. Special techniques to be covered will include malleting, martellato, and plucking. We will also cover notation for these techniques.
Bass Bell Technique and Special Issues - This class will cover the special considerations for safe, proper ringing of the heavier bass bells down to C4. One session will also cover ringing techniques for the 3s for choirs that have them. Special issues will include safe body position to compensate for the extra weight of the larger bells, best arrangement of the bells for each piece, and proper damping among other things.
Battery Technique and Special Issues - The battery section of our instrument presents its own special challenges including weaving for those quick accidentals, how to four-in-hand the larger bells safely (with locked and unlocked handles), and counting challenges that seem to plague us. This class will address those issues as well as a few others. Come with questions if you have them!
Treble Techniques and Special Issues - The treble section of our instrument has its own special set of challenges. Fast bell changes, quick rhythms, exposed melodies, four-in-hand. We’ll cover these challenges and more in the treble techniques class.
We’ve Got Rhythm! - Handbells need so much more than simply counting to 4! Picking one note out of the run and playing it at the right time can be difficult! This class will cover some special ways to conquer those rhythmic challenges.
Solo and Small Ensemble Ringing - Sometimes we simply can’t pull together a full choir for a particular performance. In comes the alternative - the small ensemble! This class will cover challenges specific to ringing pieces with only a few ringers - ringing off the table, traveling, the ensemble sound, playing without a director. Come and see what it’s all about!
For the Directors: We can offer special roundtables that will cover specific topics. These topics can include: Score Analysis, Bells in Worship.
