Regions and Teams
Starting a New Team PDF Print Email

Starting a New Team

Handbells, Handchimes or Belleplates®

Handbells may be available within your local church or school. Make some enquiries locally and talk to people who have been in the area for a long time to see if there is a tradition of handbell ringing. If you do find an old set they may well need to be refurbished.

If you can't find any instruments, you may have to buy new and you may need help with finance. Bells are the most expensive option and you can get quotations for various sized sets from suppliers.

Chimes are less expensive and lighter in weight - again the handbell suppliers can quote for these. Belleplates® are the newest addition to our range of instruments and are the least expensive. They are lightweight and ideal for older people or young children.

Go along to a handbell rally or event , listen to the differences and talk to the ringers before deciding.


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School Teams and Junior Ringers PDF Print Email

School Teams and Junior Ringers

Handbells for Schools and Junior Ringers

Handbell ringing is especially suitable for Schools, Youth groups and young people generally. The ability to read music is not necessary and results can be achieved very rapidly - usually a recognisable tune can be played with half an hour.

Handbell ringing is often included in school curricula in Japan where they value the way in which ringing develops team work, grace and a sense of timing and rhythm. HRGB members will sometimes be able to assist schools and other voluntary youth groups who would like either to try handbell ringing or to develop a new team.

HRGB encourages the introduction of young people to handbell ringing by offering:

  • Innominate membership for school and other youth groups at advantageous rates.
  • Junior membership for young people who are part of otherwise adult groups
  • The Crescendo scheme for monitoring and encouraging progress
  • Young Vibrations, part of the Society's journal
  • The loan of handbells, chimes and Belleplates to schools

Links of Interest for Young Ringers

  • Starting a new team
  • Fun and Games
  • Beginners Guide (Via the Downloads Page)
 
Finding a Handbell Team PDF Print Email

Finding a Handbell Team

The National Secretary holds a directory of all the registered teams in the UK.

A Team to Ring With

If you are thinking about joining a team, you need to be aware that there are many differences in ringing styles, type of music used etc. Some will use the English 'off-table' style while others will ring 'in hand'; many will ring from staff notation (so you may have to be able to read music) while others play from numeric or alpha notation - or perhaps from a single central score.

Even if you find a team whose style and music suit you, it may be that they are part of a school, church, U3A, WI or similar organisation and have restrictions on membership. But don't despair, you can try several teams and perhaps even start your own group

A Team to Ring at a Wedding

weddingHandbells are popular at weddings, particularly if it is a church ceremony and there are no tower bells. A handbell team may be able to provide the sound of bells pealing as the bride and groom come out of the church.

Alternatively a group may play during the signing of the register, or for the entrance or exit of the bridal party.

Fees and expenses are normally negotiated with the team concerned.

Please make arrangements well in advance - teams can get very booked up.

If you are interested in booking a team, please contact the National Secretary, or the appropriate Regional Secretary and they will try and find ringers in the area whom you may contact.

A Team to Play at Your Event

Handbell ringers may perform at concerts, for corporate events, in church, for demonstrations and workshops, at fetes and fairs, in shopping centres - to name but a few.

Things to consider:
  • Handbells are a more effective instrument INDOORS than out.
  • The SPACE you have available for a group to perform. A soloist might need just six feet of space for a table on which to play; small/medium groups of six to ten ringers may require up to twelve to twenty-four feet; a large group of sixteen or more players may need thirty-six feet of table space, often not in a straight line.
  • PARKING/UNLOADING/LOADING - is there reasonably easy access for ringers and all their equipment?
  • PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE - will your insurance cover visitors, or does the team need its own?
  • FEES/EXPENSES - usually negotiable with the team.
  • Try to book WELL IN ADVANCE to avoid disappointment.

REMEMBER - handbells are not just for Christmas! - teams perform all year round and seasonal entertainments often book up months in advance.

National Sectrtary, or the appropriate Regional Secretary for contacts in the area.

For the Media

When booking a handbell team to appear on radio or television, please remember that many ringers are amateur musicians and are not available for performances during the day due to work commitments.

It is appreciated that the media often responds to events and therefore timelines are short; however it can be difficult to engage a group of ringers at very short notice, although every effort will be made.

If a large group is required, the more notice the better, and an evening or weekend performance time is more likely to be successful.

Any fees or expenses are negotiable with the team.

National Secretary, or the appropriate Regional Secretary for local media.
 


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