Author: Kathy Ebling Shaw

Handchimes with Choral Music

Handchimes accompany voices beautifully.  Even if you own handbells, consider using handchimes with a choral anthem.  Their resonant sound will lead to a powerful performance when added to a choral ensemble.  Undeniably, there are times when handbells are more appropriate as on Easter Sunday with SATB voices, brass and organ however, there are times when the simplicity of handchimes is the perfect choice.

 

Because of their design, handchimes produce the purest of tones.  Depending on the tube shape (square is best), no other instrument has so few overtones.  This is a useful quality when working with younger musicians as children will be able to hear the pitch of the handchimes easily and this will be helpful with intonation.  Sometimes, when handbells are used to accompany choral anthems, the overtones present in the handbell sound may confuse the children when finding pitches.

 

The softer, vibrating aluminum tines of handchimes produces a mellower tone which does not overpower the youngers voices.  The tone of the handchimes is ever present but not too bright or obtrusive.

 

In a two-part or SSA choral setting with handbells, the prominent fundamental pitch may be welcome without the overtones to “ground” the sound, providing a richer foundation.

 

SATB voices will welcome the sustain of handchimes to their music when singing slower tempos with sustained phrases.  The ethereal sound of handchimes will provide musical line and add a rich thread of sound.

 

If you have a favorite anthem with a simple keyboard part, consider replacing the keyboard setting with handchimes as in this setting of Babylon Canon arranged by Roger Emerson as performed here by the Westminster Choir College Concert Bell Choir.

Choosing the Right Repertoire for Handchime Ensembles

One of the keys to having a successful handchime program is the repertoire that you choose.  Handbell literature is used with handchimes however, not all music written for handbells can be rung on handchimes.  Two main factors to consider are:

  • Tempo – Because of the pure tone and resonance of handchimes along with their design, moderate tempos are most desirable on handchimes. The mellow tone of handchimes takes a bit longer to “speak” than handbells.  Quicker tempos will also cause the handchimes to sound too percussive with undesirable sounds of the attack of the clapper head.  Quicker tempos can also lead to incomplete damping which will cause unwanted dissonance.

 

  • Ringing Techniques – Not all ringing techniques and articulations that are performed on handbells may be performed on handchimes due to the design and fragile nature of the tines of the handchime tube. The following techniques that may be used are:  Ring, Damp, Finger Damp, Gyro, LV, Swing, Vibrato and a Mallet Strike (while the handchime is held) in the air.  Click here to learn more about ringing techniques on handchimes.  Other considerations in choosing repertoire for a musical result are:

 

Octaves Used and Assignments

Each piece in handbell literature designates the size set of instruments for which it is written.  Be sure to choose repertoire that your number of ringers can play musically rather than by the set of instruments you have available.  For instance, if you own a three octave (37 note) set of handchimes but only have 8 ringers, choose music written for 2 or 2 – 3 octaves to ensure that your group can ring musically and not “juggle” instruments just to “get” all the notes.  Once you have chosen a piece, the director should prepare the score and assign the handchimes so that all notes can be rung musically.  Learn more about handbell assignments here.

 

Level

Handbell music is graded by six different levels so that it is easier for a director to choose repertoire.  Directors are encouraged to choose music levels that meet the skills of their ringers so that musical results are met and that the ringers have an opportunity to enjoy their own performance.  To learn more about the Handbell Difficulty Level System, click here.

 

Genre and Topic of Music

When choosing a score, take in to account the age and experience of your ringers as well as their personalities.  Consider that perhaps based on life experiences, adults may relate to a somber piece better than a child.  With training, almost any age should be able to ring almost anything but sometimes, it is best to meet your group at their comfort level to create success and introduce the unknown as your group progresses.

 

Composers and Arrangers

Do you have experience with a piece that “rang itself off the page?”  If so, it may be the skills of the arranger/composer.  Ringing a piece by someone who really understands the instrument makes all the difference in the world!  Look to other compositions they have scored for further success!

 

For suggestions of repertoire that your handchime ensemble will enjoy and meet ringing success with, browse the titles that we, at ChimeWorks, recommend!

 

Share and Earn

Earn Extra Income for Your Expertise

As the school year is winding down and you begin to assess the year, are there lesson plans that stand out as winners?  If so, consider sharing them with ChimeWorks for possible inclusion in our store and begin to earn.  ChimeWorks pays 40% royalty on each lesson plan sold.

What Types of Lesson Plans?

Our focus here at ChimeWorks is offering resources for music leaders who use handchimes.  However, we’ve designed our lesson plans so that they will also work with KidsPlay® Bells and Boomwhackers® adapting the Chroma-NoteTM system.  Additionally, many are Orff-based lessons with the ostinati played on handchimes and non-pitched percussion added in.  So, if you have lessons for other instruments as mentioned above, consider the option of your lessons being used with handchimes.  A little flexibility will pay off!

Our goal is to offer lesson plans that offer easy adaptation in the classroom offering as many students as possible hands-on learning experience while meeting the NAfME National Music Standards of – Create, Perform, Respond and Connect.

Variety of Methods

ChimeWorks uses a variety of methods to teach music skills and music literacy.  Consider using one of our approaches – Icons (using the CW Icon Legend here), Chords, Ostinati, Ring & Sing or share a different one. We are always seeking new and creative ways to teach the joy of music.

What Should be Included

Musical examples used in each lesson plan should be in public domain.  Include historical information about the musical selection, objectives of the lesson, how it meets National Standards and the process by which the lesson is taught.  If accepted, ChimeWorks would have the ability to edit the lesson plan accordingly so that our products are comprehensive and consistent.

 How to Submit

The privilege to share and earn is available only to ChimeWorks members.  Join us and submit your plans at www.chimeworks.com/members/share-a-lesson-plan and start earning today!

Summer Continuing Education – A Garden of Plenty

May is here and the academic year is winding down while your summer plans are heating up.  You may be already daydreaming about the beach or your mountain hike and productive goals are popping into your head as well – nurturing a spectacular garden, organizing your home, getting back on your exercise plan, creating new and delicious meals – all essential to helping you recharge for fall.

 

As your schedule slows down and you make plans to refresh your personal life, have you given thought to revitalizing your vocation through continuing education?  Consider taking time this summer to refresh your professional skills.  Without a doubt, it will lead to an improved program year starting in the fall.

 

Here are some reasons why it will be worth it:

 

Gain Inspiration

Whether you are a music teacher or a church musician, you inspire through music.  You cannot continue to impart without being refueled.  By attending a conference or workshop, you will not only gain information and motivation from the instructor but you will be stimulated by your fellow attendees.  Through them sharing their experiences, you can gain ideas and enthusiasm.

 

Try Something New

So, you are a veteran teacher who has had years of success and have attended countless conferences.  You’ve heard it all!  Explore – no doubt there is something you haven’t tried.  You will learn something new and better yet, you may be able to transfer those skills to your expertise to better yourself and your students.   One of the greatest examples of this is Alan Gilbert, Conductor and Music Director of the New York Philharmonic, suggesting that every conducting student learn how to ring handbells to improve their ictus.  Who would have thought!

 

Learn to Say It Differently

You may be at the top of your game in your discipline and think that you have little to learn.  This may be true but you may also be surprised.  Your musical skills alone don’t make you a great teacher and director.  How you communicate those skills to others makes all the difference!  You may have taken countless Conducting classes and know all about gesture but don’t discount going to one more class.  It is unearthing when you attend a class and hear something basic said differently and it opens a whole new dimension in your teaching.

 

Get Away

You may choose to leave the comforts of home and experience a new environment for vacation.  You leave your daily tasks at home and explore the new to revive yourself.  Consider traveling to nourish your professional life.  Likely, when you are in a different environment, you will be able to “think outside the box” and be more open to new ideas.  A true retreat for your vocation!

 

Whether it is a half-day music reading session an hour from home or a two-week immersion in Europe, consider doing some professional development this summer.  There is no knowing what you will reap from the garden of knowledge and music!

Ode to Music

Children will remember the songs that we teach them throughout their lives. Be it a catchy tune, silly lyrics or an engaging movement, the music that we teach will impact our students in different ways but the end results are the same – lifelong memories.

As teachers of music, we hope to instill an appreciation, love or passion for music into our students. We do this best by actively involving them in the music-making process allowing them to be creative as they go and encouraging them to connect their experiences to the world around them. We also know that music will stimulate the intellectual, emotional, spiritual and social growth of our students affecting their lives in so many ways.

We balance our choice of lessons and repertoire to broaden our students – classical, folk, world and nonsense songs fill our teaching space – all to provide our students with a varying wealth of repertoire. Along with our singing, we introduce drums and other percussion, recorders, Orff instruments, ukuleles, Boomwhackers®, KidsPlay® bells and handchimes all in effort for our students to find their voice. In the end, our hope is for well-rounded young musicians leading to accomplished adults who are kinder, gentler and welcoming.

How often do we stop and sing about it? Music, that is. As we close the school year, we have an opportunity to sum up all that we offer with songs that praise our beloved art. Words that express how wonderful music is that our students will remember for a lifetime.

Share the joy of music with some of the following ChimeWorks lesson plans that will allow your students to sing and ring about it!

Merrily, Merrily Greet The Morn (LP00053)

Music Alone Shall Live (LP00043)

O Music, Sweet Music (LP00021)

Sing Together (LP00055)

Viva La Musica (LP00065)

Welcome Ev’ry Guest (LP00072)

O, How Lovely (LP00066)

Adaptable Lesson Plans for KidsPlay® Bells, Boomwhackers® and More!

The ChimeWorksTM library of lesson plans is not just for those who use handchimes!  While these lesson plans have been developed as an ever-growing resource for those who have access to handchime sets in the classroom and rehearsal, they are easily adaptable to be used with KidsPlay® bells, Orff-style instruments, Boomwhackers®, handbells and other pitched percussion instruments.  You can even double a melody with recorders!

 

In fact, the lesson plans using Icons and Chords have been developed using a system incorporating colors so that users of KidsPlay Bells and Boomwhackers will now have a new dimension of resources available to them.  Handchime owners can purchase colored bands here to wrap around the chime tube to give your students another feature in the learning process of becoming music literate.

 

In these lesson plans, we use a second component (shapes, pitch names, etc.) for those who suffer from color vision deficiency along with the Chroma-note® colors so that every child can be engaged in learning, developing eye-hand coordination and ultimately, music literacy.

 

Who are these lesson plans written for?

 

  • Music Education teachers who want to energize their classrooms and concert stages by increasing music literacy, creativity and collaboration.

 

  • Choir Directors who want to create meaningful rehearsals by implementing music reading, rhythm and exploration into their choral rehearsals leading to greater participation.

 

  • Music therapists who desire more resources in teaching non-music readers and giving them profound experiences.

 

  • Home Education leaders who are looking for resources with which to create musical experiences for smaller groups and will accommodate your educational needs at any level.

 

Are you one of these leaders?  Here’s what’s in the store for you – lesson plans using:

 

Icons

Icons are non-traditional symbols used to notate music.   They allow students to quickly “read” music without the worry of not knowing standard musical notation.   They also allow students to quickly express themselves at an early-learner stage with known symbols rather than struggling with music notation.  The use of icons develops eye-hand coordination rapidly allowing students to quickly adapt to numbers, pitch names, solfege and then standard music notation.

 

The ChimeWorks lesson plans use a standardized group of icons combining shapes and colors. The shapes have been adapted loosely from those used in shape-note singing.

 

Since icons are used with non-music readers, they can be utilized with younger children.  These same children may not yet be literate and understand how to track from left to right.  We suggest that great success will be met when the icon chart is presented through a computer-generated slideshow presentation or interactive whiteboard so that the teacher may point to each shape tracking for the students in tempo and rhythm.

 

Once the students master the melody using icons, they may continue with the Chroma-note score.  Several methods may be used to achieve success in helping the students to associate their handchime or other instrument with the appropriate pitch. Older students may meet success by just having the location of the pitch on the staff on the note designation label which is standard on all brands of handchimes and may be able to move quickly to the handchime score which is in standard music notation.

 

Chords

Students may quickly harmonize the songs which they sing by using chords.  The ChimeWorks chordal lesson plans using two to seven chords are adaptable to lower and upper elementary school students alike.

 

Each lesson plan includes the melody and text of each song with chords indicated over the melody.  For older students, the text of the first verse is presented with chord names and associated colors over the text.  The students may sing the text and chime the associated chords as they progress through the text.  For younger children, a chord chart with associated colors is included which may be displayed through a computer-generated slideshow presentation or interactive whiteboard so that the teacher may point to the appropriate chord while singing tracking tempo and rhythm.

 

 

Ostinati

Harmonize your songs with ostinati patterns.  All the ChimeWorks ostinati lesson plans are easy to teach by rote.  Each lesson plan includes the melody and text of each song along with a series of patterns that can be taught on any number of pitched instruments.  Distribute non-pitched percussion too and have your students improvising rhythms in no time. This is creative music-making at its best!

 

 

Share your Success

Earn some extra cash! How many countless hours have you spent writing lessons? Submit your successful lesson plans for possible inclusion in the ChimeWorks lesson plan library and earn 40% royalty on each lesson plan sold!  Read more here.

 

Log on to www.chimeworks.com for a free two-week trial period and three free lesson plans today!

Using Handchimes in the Classroom

You, like many general music teachers, may have a set of handchimes in the instrument cabinet of your classroom that have been sitting for years. Now’s the time to open them up and get them into the hands of your students and begin reaping the benefits of using handchimes in the classroom.

Why?

Using handchimes in the classroom offers bountiful benefits in teaching music skills that will bring excitement to you and your students. Handchimes create a beautiful tone – they have been said to create the purest tone known to mankind. Children do not have to master the instrument to create this beauty – they hold the instrument and snap their wrist – no worries about embouchure, fingerings and being in tune – the beauty is instantaneous using the wrist to create the sound and the arm to sustain it.

The music skills that can be taught by ringing are many. Students can learn about note duration, rhythm, harmony and melodic line though the mental and physical aspects of ringing. Through ringing, students will increase their independent thinking, listening skills, attention span, physical coordination, self-discipline and personal expression. They also gain positive social and emotional skills through collaboration and the development of self-esteem. Working with a group of ringers teaches tolerance, patience, support and cooperation to name a few.

How?

Using handchimes in the classroom does not require all the equipment that goes along with a handchime ensemble – tables, foam and music. Distribute one handchime to each student and allow them to sit at their desks, sit in a circle on the floor or stand. With a chime in hand, the students can learn to ring and damp, ring note durations, scales, chords and melodies all by rote.

If you desire to start slowly, use your handchimes along with your Orff instruments allowing students to double ostinati on handchimes. If Kodaly is your method, use the handchimes to intone a song by ringing a chord, accompany a modal melody by choosing the pitches of the mode on handchimes and have them ring randomly throughout the piece. If you have students who are not successful in playing the recorder, have them ring chords on the handchimes to accompany the melody that the students on recorders are playing. The incorporation of handchimes into your existing lesson plans is easy and will embellish your teaching!

Once you have experienced the positive benefits of using handchimes with your existing lesson plans, expand your curriculum by engaging your students with more ringing! Through the ChimeWorks® Online Resource Community at www.chimeworks.com, you have access to over a hundred lesson plans using icons, chords and ostinati. Use these lessons to accompany singing or to teach music literacy. Add in non-pitched percussion for students to improvise rhythms along with the singing and handchime parts. All your students will have hands on experience!

When?

Begin or finish the school year with ringing success – it’s never too late in the academic year to introduce handchimes. Because of the instant success in creating beauty of tone by ringing a handchime, your students will have the opportunity to jump right into the music!