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AGEHR Area XII Newsletter
Southern California
August 2008
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Hello on a warm August Southern California day. I
imagine most of you have had a few weeks' break from playing
handbells. For a few of us, I suppose we needed a break. For
many of us, we're missing the comradarie of our bell choir
friends and the pleasure of creating beautiful music with
our unique instrument. Either way, I hope you're ready to
launch a fall season of great ringing.
Southern California and Area XII offer many ringing
opportunities in the next few months. Please consider
participating in as many as possible. It's such a growing
experience to play with different ringers under various
directors. We each carry many new techniques and inspiration
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Directors'
Seminar:Back to the Basics
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Directors of all levels of experience will want to
attend the seminar at First United Methodist Church in
Escondido on Aug. 16. Whether you're a new director having
risen through the ranks of ringing but with no formal music
training, a professional musician with no handbell
experience, or an experienced ringer/ director, there will
be something for you at this workshop.
Karen Zerlaut, director of the handbell choir program
at San Dieguito United Methodist Church in Encinitas, will
conduct a Directors' Seminar at the First United Methodist
Church, 341 S. Kalmia St. in Escondido on Saturday, August
16, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.Note:
last month's newsletter had the time in error. The
seminar will consist of basic information to set up a
handbell program including equipment and resources, material
and music selection, choir formation and organizations,
recruiting, basic bell notation and assignments, bell set
up, basic techniques for ringing and stopped bell sounds,
mallets and hands-on experience. Karen brings extensive
experience with both youth and adult bell choirs and has
served in several Area XII positions.
The cost is $45.00 per person. Contact D.L.Shearer at
dls@fumcesc.com or (760) 745-5100, ext. 19. Or send a check
payable to FUMC to Karen Strakon, 27120 N. Broadway,
Escondido, CA 92026-8319
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Read and Ring
Sept. 20
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For those of you who feel that our Spring Rings are too
challenging for your choir, please join us at the Read and
Ring Sept. 20. Whether you bring your whole level I or level
II choir, or bring a few newer ringers, this will be a
growing experience for all who participate.
Lee Waggener will be the clinician at a "Read and
Ring" Seminar on Saturday, Sept. 20 at Chula Vista
Presbyterian Church. Registration begins at 8:30 and the
downbeat will be at 9:00, concluding at 3:30 p.m.. Lee is
widely respected throughout Area XII and excels as a teacher
of handbell techniques. In this seminar, handbells will be
provided on site. Music titles featuring various techniques
will be sold at approximately $16.00 per packet upon sign-in
and will not need prior preparation. Breakout sessions will
give participants an opportunity to learn beginning
four-in-hand strategies, sight reading, or bell changes.
Cost for the day is $15 per ringer or $85 for an
entire choir. Lunch will be provided at an additional cost
of $5.00 each.
Contact Elizabeth Laboda at melandptl@netscape.com
for further information
or email registrar Ruth O'Neil at ruthrings@hotmail.com for
a registration form.
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Spring Ring, March 21, 2009
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Set aside budget and mark your calendar now for
our Spring Ring, March 21, 2009, location to be announced.
It will be unlike any Spring Ring you've attended in the
past!
Our clinician will be
Larry Sue, driving
force behind the "Low Ding Zone" bass ensemble. (See below.)
Larry is an multi-talented individual who brings many unique
talents to the dais. Who else do you know who can ring those
huge bass bells four-in hand? He is a vocalist, a composer,
....a renaissance man with a great sense of humor who will
make the day a memorable experience. Don't miss this great
event!
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Low Ding Zone auditions, Sunday, September 14, 2008, Palo
Alto, CA
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Low Ding Zone, the World's First Bass Handbell Ensemble and
a part of Bay Bells, Inc. (soon to be Handbell Ventures), is
having auditions for the 2008-2009 season.
Where: Grace Lutheran Church, 3149 Waverly St., Palo Alto,
CABrown Hall (enter by the doors on Loma Verde Ave.)
When: Sunday, September 14, 2008, 3:30 p.m.
Particulars:
- Required skills: Bass ringing (bells and chimes),
willingness to try new techniques, high "ham" quotient. Some
possible percussion involved. Previous ensemble ringing
experience a definite plus. Creativity and low sanity
quotient even bigger plusses.
- If you let us know what other musical skills you have,
chances are we'll find some bizarre way to incorporate them
into what we do. Well, if you're game...
- You'll be performing with us in concerts, both on our own
and as part of a "bass support" unit to help other
ensembles.
- You'll get the opportunity to teach with LDZ as part of
a complete clinician package for handbell workshops.
- And: you'll have a great time!
If you'd like to audition, please send a reply to larry@choraegus.com and
tell us why you would make a great addition to the Low Ding
Zone team . We need to hear from you by Sunday, September
7, 2008 so we can anticipate getting together!
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Start Thinking Christmas
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Plan your Christmas music early! Chula Vista Presbyterian
Church is presenting a marvelous opportunity to get a head
start on your Christmas music and to benefit Interfaith
Shelter at the same time. Prepare a song of your choosing
and bring your choir to a concert on December 5. Enjoy the
music of other choirs, experience the blessing of helping
others, and relax knowing that at least one of your holiday
songs is already polished. Contact Elizabeth Laboda,
melandptl@netscape.com.
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Events Far
and Wide
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September 27, 2008
9:00 am - 3:00 pm, Fall Ringer's Workshop. Lake Avenue
Church, 393 N Lake Ave, Pasadena, CA. Contact Linda Krantz,
ringwithme@sbcglobal.net
September 27, 28, 2008
- Area XII Board Meeting, Pasadena, CA. If you would like a
matter brought to the attention of the Board, please contact
Shirley Werner, Central CA Regional Coordinator, cencal@areaxii.org
October 2-5, 2008
Distinctly Bronze, New Bern, North Carolina. Contact AGEHR
at agehr@agehr.org
October 4, 2008 Las
Vegas Ringers Workshop with Michele Sharik. First
Presbyterian Church, 1515 W. Charleston Blvd, Las Vegas,
NV. Contact Dixie Bailey at dxbail@embargmail.com
October 25, 2008
Redding Handbell Festival with Shosh Meyer, conductor.
Simpson University Heritage Life Center, 2211 College View,
Redding, CA. 9 a.m. set up, 9:45 a.m. opening bell followed
by massed rehearsal. $10 per ringer. Contact Nancy Schmitt
at schmitt@awwsome.com.
January 3-10, 2009
Bells of the Cascades - Cruise of the Bells X. Eastern
Caribbean itinerary. David Harris, clinician. Contact:
Bells of the Cascades cruise-info@bellsofthecascades.org.
Info at www.bellsofthecascades.org.
January 10-11, 2009 -
17th Annual Las Vegas 12th Night. Conductor Monica McGowen.
Contact Janet Ty, JYTY@aol.com 702-363-7428
January 24, 2009 -
Handbell Event for Youth & High School Ringers 9:30 a.m. -
3:30 p.m. St. Callistus Catholic Church & School, 12921
Lewis Street, Garden Grove, CA. Registration Materials &
additional information available online at www.areaxii.org
by Sept. 1, 2008 or by mail. For more information contact
Debbie Shaw, LA Metro Regional Coordinator at lametro@areaxii.org.
February 12-15, 2009
Distinctly Bronze, West Katsap Convention Center, Bremerton,
WA. Forms available in September 2008. Contact AGEHR agehr@agehr.org
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Discussion topic:
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Last month I suggested a "Discussion Topic of the
Month," the first one being how to provide for substitute
ringers, whether for a rehearsal or for a performance. I
wish I could say I was flooded with solutions. All I got
were more descriptions of the problem! It certainly does
seem to be pervasive! Some directors put the onus on ringers
to find their own substitutes; others
had rehearsals without filling the position. Generally,
substitutes are hard to find and create a stressful
situation for both the ringer and the director. I would
still like to hear from more of you on the subject.
For a new topic, how about some suggestions of ways
to accomodate the growing trend of comtemporary praise
music in worship with fewer opportunities for the more
traditional handbell music. Please email me at ruthrings@hotmail.com.
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Bell Flowers
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This last part of our monthly newsletter will indulge my
"quirk" of having a "bell garden." It occurred to me on one
of my visits to the local nursery that many of the plants in
my cart were either bell shaped or had bell names. I decided
to just "run with it;" so now one entire flower bed is
devoted to these beautiful blooms. This one is called
Canterbury Bells. It is a perennial that comes in various
shades of pinks and purples. It blooms in early summer on
two foot spikes. It likes some sun and good soil.
Next month: Jingle Bell penstemon
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