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RAACHE Youth Handbell Teams moved this year! We are currently practicing at Assisi Heights and we are enjoying their wonderful facility. Practice times this year are: 11:30 - 1:00 for the Sr. Team, and 1:15 - 2:30 for the Jr. Team. We practice every Wednesday. You can visit us! Just come to the door on the northeast corner of the main complex at the beginning of a practice. Or you can enter Assisi Heights from the front door, check in as a visitor and they will direct you to our practice area.
We DO need new ringers! If you are interested in handbells, please contact one of the directors immediately. We will send you info about practices, fees, etc. (Contact info is listed below.)
Our Spring Performances are not yet arranged. Watch the RAACHE News for information regarding our ringing schedule. And watch this site for new articles about ringing. It's a great skill to learn, an inimitable teaching tool, and ... we have fun :-) .
Just for fun...and inspiration! We want to share the value of handbells! Watch the following VIDEO.
HANDBELLS
Kathy Lytle - 507 529 1169 / rklytle@charter.net
Karen Buchs - 507 289 6438 / whapolmoo@gmail.com
What do you know about handbells? Most people know
that they don't know much about handbells, but in fact they know
less
than that! Bells have been part of society for literally thousands
of
years, ringing out news of fire and flood, birth and bereavement,
and
war and revival for people from ancient China to the new world. So,
when a mere
five years ago, RAACHE purchased a set of handbells it set us on an
exciting learning adventure! Handbells have proven to be an
excellent
avenue for home educated students to learn something that is truly
impossible to replicate at home!
When I began homeschooling in 1987, home education was marginally
accepted, legislatively questioned, and socially isolating.
Needless
to say, music
opportunities were very limited. Traditional schools had become the
accepted provider of music education in any kind of group setting;
community choirs, bands and orchestras were just beginning to
materialize, while churches didn't consider music education their
realm. The music landscape has changed a lot over the past 25 years
and homeschooling has played a role in that. Why? Because
necessity
truly is the mother of invention! It's good for kids to experience
music together, and RAACHE has provided some excellent means for
accomplishing just that.
So why consider handbells? Handbells teach every skill that music
offers: rhythm, reading music, instrument technique, and teamwork.
Very little "talent" is needed to get started. Working together to
present a program of music and movement makes facing an audience a
group accomplishment. Yet every ringer is vitally important. We
often
make the analogy to the piano: you can no more pull out one ringer
from
a handbell team than
you can pull 4 keys off the keyboard and hope to have a workable
instrument. Commitment as a ringer is extremely important.
The national and international handbell associations work hard to
bring
the fun and benefits of ringing to kids everywhere. Seminars and
even
handbell camps are available for those who wish to expand their
experience. The use of handbells in teaching children is growing,
and
the value of the skills gained as a ringer are embraced by more and
more colleges.
Conversely, handbells don't necessitate an investment in an
instrument
that your child may or may not like. The bells, chimes and other
equipment are maintained by RAACHE through the reasonable fees, fund
raising efforts, and occasionally awarded grants. In fact, since
the
bells were first purchased, we have added another half octave of
bells,
three octaves of chimes, new foam pads and covers, five portable
tables, and a brand new set of port-a-bell cases which make taking
the
show "on the road" much easier! But none of this happens without
the
help of parents and students working together. It's a very
worthwhile
endeavor.
Presently, we have two handbell teams. The junior team practices 75
min/week and the senior team practices 90 minutes on Tuesday
afternoons
at Calvary E. Free Church. Karen Buchs, another former homeschool
mom
and a piano teacher, directs the junior group and I take on the
senior
group.
If you think handbells are what you're needing, contact either Karen
Buchs or me, Kathy Lytle as noted above. Or better yet, come visit
us
during our practice times -- you are welcome to visit any Tuesday
afternoon. Watch the newsletter for performance times and
locations...we'd love to have you in the audience!
Sonorous music filled the room, its spindly fingers stretching out to the far corners. As the final hushed notes of the song reverberated throughout the room, the audience did not even dare to breathe. The song that the choir played was "Compassion" An original composition by Jason Krug, it was one of the three songs that were performed by seventeen others and me in Minneapolis July 17th, 2011.
Distinctly Teen was a three-day handbell festival exclusively for teenagers, which was filled with ringing, classes, concerts, and more ringing. Though my poor arms, and everyone else‘s, were tired by the concert on Sunday night, we rang the music that we had practiced for days to the best of our abilities. It seems all of our rehearsals paid off, for we received unexpected thunderous applause at the concert. I have to say, I was anticipating having an awesome time at Distinctly Teen, but I never thought that it would be such an unforgettable experience.
For most, it all started on Friday afternoon with auditions. I, however, had the opportunity to attend a class and a lunch concert before auditions since I had arrived early. After that, the rest of the time was packed with fun. Being in, as my chaperone put it, "Handbell Heaven," was one of the best things that had happened to me all summer. It gave me an opportunity to connect with people from all over the nation. And I will never forget my director or my fellow ringers. I was not expecting the talent that was in my choir. It was truly phenomenal to be ringing with teens of that caliber.
When I flew home, I really missed everyone that I rang and talked with. To all the other teens out there reading this, you need to come next year! You will not regret it. Getting to ring songs like "Pirates of the Caribbean" by Kevin McChesney, "Exultate," by Josh Bauder, and "Compassion," by Jason Krug, with other teens from all over the country is an amazing opportunity.
Distinctly Teen was not just a fun experience, it helped me to realize that music is powerful. It helps us put aside our differences so we can connect with our fellow ringers, our audience, and even ourselves. When that beautiful and emotional song ended and the audience applauded our efforts, it was one of the best feelings in the world. To have the gift to be able to share music with others is priceless, and I am immensely grateful that I had the chance to do so through Distinctly Teen.
About Melissa
Melissa is a homeschooled freshman and enjoys being at home with her family and three rambunctious cats. She started playing chimes about six years ago with Homespun Ringers. After a short while her choir switched to handbells, and she has loved it ever since! Along with bells, she also enjoys playing piano, violin, and guitar. In the near future, she plans to attend college and major in some form of music. In the meantime, starting next year, she hopes to take my general education courses at Carroll Community College. She wishes to thank Debbie and Larry Henning for teaching her everything she knows about bells and giving her their support.
This article is reprinted with permission from the Handbell Musicians of America.
Their website is located at: Handbell Musicians
Remember the first time caroling with the handbells?
