VERMONT 33rd Annual SPRING RING and DIRECTORS’ WORKSHOP 2014

“Champlain Valley Rings in Spring” ”

Directors Workshop: St James Episcopal Church Friday, April 25, 2014

4 St. James Place, Essex JCT. VT. 05452 6:00 PM-9 PM

Spring Ring: Albert D. Lawton School Saturday, April 26, 2014

104 Maple Street, Essex JCT, VT 05452 8:45 AM-5PM

Michael Glasgow, Clinician

Massed Choirs Repertoire

Peal Con Brio Karen Thompson AGEHR Level 1 MAG23042 2-3 oct.

MAG46029 4-6 oct.

Keep Your Lamps Michael Glasgow Hope Publishing Level 3 MHP2586 3-6 oct. Song of Gladness Arnold Sherman Red River Music Level 2+ MRRHB0064 2-6 oct. Still, Still, Still Sandra Eithun AGEHR Level 2 MAG35301 3-5 oct.

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Biographical Notes – Michael Glasgow

Michael J. Glasgow holds B.A. degrees in music and in journalism; as well as a Master of Church Music degree, in both choral and handbell music.

He serves in leadership roles with the North

Carolina Master Chorale and the Tar River

Orchestra & Chorus.

An award-winning composer, he strives to

creatively advance the art of handbell and

choral music, through special projects,

assignments and commissions.

Michael is proud to have served as the

inaugural conductor for the annual Anthornis

advanced-ringing event in Minneapolis; and in

2013 conducted his first international

engagement, in Sheffield, England (a repeat

engagement was almost immediately confirmed

for 2015). He also serves as the editor for the

Handbell Musicians of American Area 3

newsletter, The Bell-O-Gram, and is a member

of ASCAP, American Composers Forum, Mensa

and several other professional organizations.

Additional information and samples of

Michael’s work may be found at

www.michaeljglasgow.com.

Friday, April 25, 2014 Directors’ Workshop

The Workshop will be held at St James Episcopal Church,

4 St. James Place, Essex JCT. VT. 05452

Directions and other information will be included in the confirmation letter which you will get

when we receive your registration and check. The time is 6:00 PM until 9:00 PM.

The registration fee remains at $10/director - which is collected at the door. Directors must pre-

register to ensure that enough meals, bells and photocopied materials can be prepared

Directors Workshop Topic: How Am I Supposed to Ring THAT?

- Michael Glasgow

This workshop addresses creative “outside the box” solutions to common ringing challenges in

beginning-level to mid-level choirs (mostly chromatics, but also some discussion on multiple

mallets, etc.) using “standard” Allured-method assignments. Weaving, Four-In-Hand Ringing,

Bell Displacement, Bell Reassignments, Duplicate Bells, and “Neighbor Favors” are all

discussed.

Overnight home-stays will be arranged for directors attending the Directors' Workshop upon

request

Lunch Options for Spring Ring:

A bag lunch , priced at $7.00 is available by pre-registration only. The lunch includes your choice of sandwich as well as a yogurt, chips and fruit ; please specify: roast beef, Italian, turkey or vegetarian

Or you may bring your own lunch and enjoy a sunny spot on the grounds.

VERMONT SPRING RING 2014 Class choices

Saturday, April 26,2014 classes

Morning classes

Basic Skills of Ringing and Damping – Karen James

For beginning and veteran ringers: We all learned how to ring bells from different people. This

is such a new art, that handbell directors become the handbell teachers, and they learned how to

ring either by watching or listening to some other person who taught them what they knew. (and

it probably wasn’t all very standardized). From basic stance to holding the bells, to using your

whole body, we will explore ways to make your ringing look and sound better!

Beginning Solo Ringing - Sue Chamberlin

Are you looking for a challenge? Ready to move beyond your two assigned notes to playing the

whole melody by yourself? This hands-on class will give you the chance to use your weaving

and table-damping skills to ring a solo. We will talk about many things that you will need to

keep in mind as you start solo ringing.

Malmark Maintenance - bells and chimes - David Wurth -

Get to know your instrument! We'll disassemble and reassemble a bell so you will know the

parts and their function. Learn how to make adjustments and keep your bells in smooth,

effortless working order. Bring problem bells to class (along with your screwdrivers) and we'll

work on them.

Musicality: What are you doing the rest of your life? -Phil Brown

Musicality is the goal that all musicians continually attempt to grow into. Musicality is a full-

being experience incorporating your mind, your body and all of your senses in the continual

attempt to respond to EVERYTHING that is on the printed page and EVERYTHING that is

happening around us. Musicality is hard work, but it makes all the stuff we usually work on

much, much easier! Musicality is what “feeds” us as musicians. Musicality is what we are

searching for when we show up for rehearsals every week. Bring your gloves and your massed

ringing music and we will begin – or continue – our life-long journey toward musicality.

Tai Chi for Bell Ringers - Jenna Dixon

"This is my body. There are many like it, but this one is mine." Over the years of our life, we all

accumulate a "body story" that includes the good, the bad, and the injured. Our body story can

seem pretty fixed, but really it is not. Tai chi is a thousands-year-old approach to daily movement

practices and habits that, day by day, build and rebuild a body that moves more effectively and

with less effort, for all the activities that a day might hold. We practice slowly, effortlessly, and

evenly, to create the coordination of body and mind.

The body is amazingly accommodating: what you do today creates the body you'll have

tomorrow — for better or worse. It's what you do every day that matters; how you do anything is

how you do everything. Tai chi allows us to build better movement habits, one bit at a time, in a

process of continuous improvement. We can choose to spend some time each day creating a

body that will be more pleasant to be in tomorrow, next year, and for the decades ahead we may

have. The alternative? A body that is less and less enjoyable to be in and less able to show up for

life's activities.

We're offering tai chi twice at the 2014 Spring Ring: a morning introduction for first-time

attendees and an afternoon session for folks who have taken the introduction in previous years

are interested in taking it to a new level and learning enough to begin a simple daily movement

practice.

“Introduction to Tai Chi “ -- The morning session is aimed at folks who are new to the Spring

Ring tai chi (returnees also welcome for the review!). We'll give you a chance to taste what

moving in a taichi-ish way feels like with classic movements like Cloud Hands, Heaven and

Earth, and White Crane Spreads Its Wings. Your body will get a pleasant chance to move. We'll

finish by looking at some low-hanging fruit from tai chi specifically for the physical aspects of

bell ringing: grasping with our hands, lifting with our arms, taking care of our shoulders, and

standing well.

.

What Do You Hear? What Do You See? – Rick Wood

Are you hearing the entire music composition when you ring or conduct? This workshop will

examine the important role of "critical listening" in the handbell musician’s bag of tricks. It will

also look at how "seeing" the whole piece of music can affect what you hear. The workshop will

include practical suggestions for improving both listening and seeing skills that lead to a greater

enjoyment of the music and therefore an improved performance. This class will benefit ringers

and directors of all experience levels.

Afternoon classes

Basic Music Theory – Michael Glasgow

This class includes construction of simple intervals and triads,

work with scales and key signatures, enharmonic equivalents (why a D-flat and then

a C-sharp? Or why an E-sharp and not just F?), and rhythmic concepts. Since this

isn’t a “music fundamentals” course, but a music theory course, participants must be

able to read notes (pitches as well as basic note values/rhythms).

Duets and small ensembles - Sue Chamberlin

In this hands-on class, you will use your skills of general bell ringing, music reading, table

damping, weaving and team work to play a complete song with only 2, 3 or 4 people. We will

talk about things to consider in ensemble ringing and look at examples of published ensemble

music.

The Meaning of Life and Music in the Battery: – Phil Brown

We all know that the basses and trebles get all the glory; but like any good sandwich, it's the

stuff in the middle of a handbell ensemble that brings the whole thing together. If you're living

your musical life in the battery this class hopes to make that life richer, more rewarding and full

of purpose. (The handbell “battery” is loosely defined at B4 through B5, but we'll share our

secrets with folks on either end of that range as well.) We'll discuss – and practice: how to

distinguish melody from accompaniment – both on the page and in your ringing; how to

contribute to exciting crescendos and decrescendos; how to find comfort in arpeggios; how to

live in the off-beats and how to do two things at the same time. Bring your massed ringing

music with you and be prepared to discover HOW IMPORTANT YOU ARE!

Tai Chi advanced - Jenna Dixon

“ Building a Morning Practice” The afternoon session will offer a series of tai-chi based

movements that could form the basis of a daily movement practice. The series is suited to people

of all ages and can be done in just a few minutes each day, tailored for folks without a local tai

chi class in their town. The movements *won't* be complex patterns that will be difficult to

memorize; they *will* take our bodies through a full range of natural movement that cultivates

more vigor and flexibility, better balance and mobility, and a sense of well-being. You'll receive

a handout with the exercises to take home to jumpstart your new morning practice. New Spring

Ringers who attend the morning introduction are welcome to attend the afternoon session as

well. (See the morning tai chi session description for more information.)

Treble Bell Techniques – Karen James

How do those treble bell ringers hold all those bells and ring them so fast and clear? Holding two

bells in each hand, we will experiment with the various methods of ringing each bell alone, as

well as simultaneously. We’ll open the door to four-in-hand, and share ideas on how and when to

use it. Please bring 4 bells, C6 and higher to class.

What Do You Hear? Hands-on - Rick Wood

Do you hear what I hear? Do you hear what others hear? Do you hear what all the ringers are

doing? This hands-on ringing workshop will delve into the nuances of musical lines, patterns,

and harmonies. The session is designed for all levels of ringers and directors. Whether you are a

seasoned musician or new to reading music, we will find new ways to bring the music alive.

Participants should bring Spring Ring music, a music binder, and gloves

Please keep a record of who will attend each class:

Morning Classes

Basic Skills ____________________________________________________________________ Beginning Solo Ringing __________________________________________________

Malmark Maintenance __________________________________________________ Musicality __________________________________________________

Introduction to Tai Chi ________________________________________________________________________ What Do You Hear / See? __________________________________________________

Afternoon Classes

Basic Music Theory _____________________________________________________________________

Duets and Small Ensembles _____________________________________________________________________ Music in the Battery ___________________________________________________

Tai Chi - advanced ___________________________________________________

Treble Bell Techniques _________________________________________________________________________ What Do You Hear ? – Hands –on ___________________________________________________

Vermont Spring Ring, Albert D. Lawton School April 26, 2014

REGISTRATION FORM (p1)

Please return both pages of this completed form by March 1, 2014 to:

Dolf Wirsing, 44 Whipple Road South Hero, Vermont 05486

(802)372-5415 vtspringring@gmail.com

Please send only one check, payable to: “The Vermont Handbell Association “

due to the necessities of planning and budgeting for this event there can be no cash refunds after April 1st.

Church/Organization: ___________________________________No. of Octaves: ______Bells / _______Chimes Ensemble Name: ______________________________________ Ensemble Town: __________________________ Director’s Name: _________________________________________________ is this your 1st Spring Ring? _____ Director’s Address ______________________________________________________________________________________ Director’s Phone: __________________________ Email: ___________________________________________________ Are you a member of Handbell Musicians of America? Yes ______ No ____ HMA Number________

REGISTRATION FEES

There will be an additional charge of $25 for late registrations sent after March 1st

Administrative Fee per Group: $ 15.00

Late Registration (add $25) $ 25.00

No. Participants @ $14.00 each: ___________ $_________

No. Table Rentals (8’) @ $12.00 each __________ $__________

No. Lunches @ $7.00 each __________ $__________

( ____roast beef / _____Italian / ______turkey / _________vegetarian )

TOTAL AMOUNT DUE: $__________

TABLE INFORMATION:

We need floor space for : 2 octaves/16ft ______; 3 octaves/24ft_______; 4- 5 octaves /32 f t_______

We will bring our own tables: Yes _______ No _________

We will need to rent tables: Yes _______ Number of 8’ Tables Needed ______________

DIRECTOR’S WORKSHOP – will be held on Friday, April 25, 2014 from 6-9pm ($10.00 at door)

The Workshop will be held in Essex JCT , VT at St James Episcopal Church I plan to attend: Yes ______ No _______I will need housing for Friday: Yes _________ No________

Vermont Spring Ring April 26, 2014---- REGISTRATION FORM (p2)

SATURDAY CLASSES: How many from your group plan to attend the following classes? A person should sign up for only one class per session. Directors should keep a record of their ringer’s class choices, as they often forget this at Spring Ring.

Morning Classes

Basic Skills _________

Beginning Solo Ringing ______

Malmark Maintenance _________

Musicality ________

Introduction to Tai Chi _________

What Do You Hear / See? _________

Afternoon Classes

Basic Music Theory _______

Duets and Small Ensembles ________

Music in the Battery _________

Tai Chi (advanced) _________

Treble Bell Techniques ________

What Do You Hear? Hands-on _________

SOLO PRESENTATION REGISTRATION

You must complete and return this form no later than March 1, 2014 if you wish to present a special selection in the final concert. NOTE: The first 12 registrants will be scheduled for the concert. RETURN YOUR FORM EARLY TO ENSURE YOU HAVE A SPOT RESERVED! Please Place Check Mark by One Item: Solo by: ____ Small Ensemble ____ Choir ____ Not This Year

Name of Church/ Organization :

Ensemble Name:

Director:

Title:

Composer:

Arranger:

Publisher / Publisher No.:

Name(s) of Soloist/Ensemble Ringers:

Describe any special needs for solo (table space etc): __________________________________________

Please submit one check payable to “The Vermont Handbell Association”

and mail with completed form by March 1, 2014 to:

Dolf Wirsing, 44 Whipple Road, South Hero, Vermont 05486

(802)372-5415 vtspringring@gmail.com