Welcome to the February 2007 issue of RingTouch, the Area III Electronic Newsletter available by free subscription or in archives at either areaiii.org or at the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers national website - agehr.org

Each month’s issue includes current news of Area III (Maryland, Washington DC, Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina) happenings, new members, concert, workshops and up to date information on Area III events (such as the upcoming Spring Festival Conferences in Ocean City, Maryland and Hampton, Virginia.)

For more information on the Spring Festival Conferences go to areaiii.org and click on “2007 Festival information” or go to http://areaiii.org/events/festivals2007/spring_brochure.htm#Genesis

In this issue:

• Spring Festival Repertoire
• Spring Festival Classes
• New Members in Area III
• Upcoming Workshops and concerts in Area III

Massed Ringing Selections

Bronze Division Selection

The American Guild of English Handbell Ringers supports the copyright laws, and NO photocopies of music will be allowed at Area III festivals without written permission from the copyright holders. Thank you for your cooperation.

Area III 2007 Genesis Track Repertoire

A “festival within a festival” (additional form required and included in the spring festival brochure)

•  The Genesis Track will be conducted by Zana Kizzee. 
• These choirs rehearse separately and will perform their selections at the festival concert.
• This track is for advanced-beginning adult choirs ringing primarily Level 2 music.
  The required repertoire is listed below:

This Little Light of Mine - Valerie W Stephenson
MCGB423 – Level 2+
3-5 oct. with optional chimes

Great is the Lord - Michael W Smith (arr. Douglas Wagner)
20/1356L – Level 2
3-5 oct. bells or chimes

Allegro Spiritoso - Greg Underwood (Composition Contest Winner)
*double choirs for massed ringing with Genesis Track
AG23028 (2-3 octaves)
AG352361 (3-5 octaves)
2-3 oct. with opt. 2-3 oct. chimes (or 3-5 oct. handbell choir with opt. 2-3 oct. chimes)

Greensleeves - Cathy Moklebust
*double choirs for massed ringing with Genesis Track
CGB322 – Level 2
3-5 oct. and 2-3 oct. chimes

Toccata - Michael Helman
*double choirs for massed ringing and Genesis Track
 CGB335 – Level 2 handbells: Level 1+ chimes
 2-3 oct. and 2-3 oct. chime choir or solo handbell choir

Classes for the 2007 Area III Spring Festival Conferences

Listed below are the Festival classes, current as of Jan. 24, 2007. Changes may occur. Please check your event brochure for changes upon arrival at the Festival.

Plan ahead and decide which classes you want to attend during the Festival! Choirs might divvy them up, to make sure someone from their choir goes to each class!

As a rule, bring gloves, mallets and music notebooks to every class which features ringing. Other needs are specified in the class description.

Please contact the Program Chair listed with any questions.

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Class Descriptions
2007 Area III Adult Festival Conference in Ocean City, MD
March 9-10, 2007

Roland E. Powell Convention Center, Ocean City, MD
Arnold Sherman, Guest Conductor
Zana Kizzee, Genesis Track Conductor
Joybells, Guest Choir from Berwyn, Pennsylvania

Program chair – Debbie Henning debbiehen@earthlink.net
For more information go to   http://areaiii.org/events/festivals2007/ocean_city.htm

Area III Forum - Peterman
We encourage at least one member from each choir to attend this lively discussion. Stay in touch with Area III activities and services, and share your own ideas.

Bass Bells - Bissell
This class will cover all aspects of ringing bass bells.

Beginning Recorder - Carrico                     
For those who have never played the recorder. Learn the proper way to hold the instrument, produce sound and play a tune. (Recorders and method books for beginners can be purchased at the store prior to class.)

Conducting – Did My Hands Say That?! - Schmidt
Beginning conducting can be very scary.  If you need to be reminded about the basic patterns and how to indicate dynamic levels, this is the class for you!  Bring your questions and concerns so that we may address them.

5678! - Henning
Let’s come together and move to music. In this class, you’ll learn a simple combination or movements to get you to feel the music, change your weight smoothly and to look and feel comfortable and graceful

Handbell Bingo - Borneman
Are you a little “rusty” when the new handbell season starts? If so, this class is for you! Come and participate in a game that teaches and reinforces the symbols of handbell notation!

Joybells - Graves & Klinck
A very special group plays very special music. Come see how they do it!

Negotiating Difficult Personalities: Understanding and Coping With Whiners, Know-It-Alls, and Other Frustrating People - Simms
This class provides information to enhance understanding of common provocative personality patterns encountered at home, at work, and other places including rehearsals!

Percussion Petting Zoo - Bogovich
This class will involve total hands-on usage of a plethora of percussion instruments; namely, tympani, snare drum, tambourine, temple blocks, suspended cymbal, crash cymbals, shakers of various sorts, hand drums, ratchets, claves, finger cymbals, wind chimes, triangle, slapstick, jingle bells, castanets, etc.

Recorder Consort - Carrico
This class is a group playing experience for those who already play the recorder (even if you haven’t played it in years). Bring your recorders (soprano, alto, tenor, bass, whatever you have). Music will be provided in class, or bring any music you would like to share (please have at least 5 copies). A great opportunity for those who love the recorder but rarely get to play in a group.

Repertoire: Double Choirs - Henning
Come and work on your sightreading skills as we “plow” through some music. To follow the theme of the Festival Conference, each piece will give you ideas for how to use double choirs.

Repertoire: Hymn Tunes—Our Heritage of Faith - Davis
Come join us for an inspiring look at our legacy of hymns and gain a new perspective on them through new and exciting arrangements and some “oldies” that may have been overlooked.

Repertoire: Oldies
This Repertoire class will explore handbell music written during the 70’s and 80’s.

Ringing ‘Way Up There - Wissinger
Do you fancy the high bells? Learn the tricks to play them well. We’ll work on weaving, 4iH, Shelley, passing and other fancy tricks for ringing D5 and up – safely and effectively.

Score Study - Schmidt
Studying music before it is played is a must.  Do you know what to look for?  Let us help you take the tension out of this process so that you and your choirs achieve a high degree of musical expression.  Bring your festival music with you.

Spice it Up with Bell Trees - Feather
Bell trees can be used in many ways…from processionals, ostinatas, descants, with an ensemble, to advanced solo ringing. Come join the fun with hands-on experience! Bring upper and mid-range mallets and an appetite to try something new!

Stem Direction Counts! - Feather
Ringing bells is more than ringing the notes! How much attention do you give to the direction of the stem when you ring? Usually it matters! In this class we’ll review scores, ring passages different ways, discuss options, and either help you be a better ringer or your director’s worst nightmare!

Techniques “A through Z” - Wissinger
Well, how about ringing techniques from “E through V”?? We’ll work on the nuts and bolts of everything you can do with your bells beyond straight ringing: echoes, gyros, marts, mallets, plucks, vibratos, etc.

What? Levels 4, 5, 6 - Henning
Do you enjoy the challenge of playing a level 4, 5 or 6 piece?  Come join the fun as we work on our pulsating rhythms, fresh melodic lines filled with distinctive musical devices and assorted handbell techniques.

Who Rings What and When? - Schmidt
What is the classical or preferred way of assigning bells? Does it always work? Of course not! Bring your festival music to this class so that we can explore alternative ways of assigning bells – that do work!

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Class Descriptions
2007 Area III Adult Festival Conference in Hampton, VA
April 20-21, 2007

Hampton Roads Convention Center, Hampton, VA
Arnold Sherman, Guest Conductor
Zana Kizzee, Genesis Track Conductor

Program Chair – Kath Wissinger Longwalk3@aol.com 

Area III Forum - Charm Peterman, Area III chair
We encourage at least one member from each choir to attend this lively discussion. Stay in touch with Area III activities and services, and share your own ideas.

Early Bird Movement Class - Linda Simms
Gently warm up for the day ahead with a certified group fitness instructor. Wear comfortable clothes.

Reading Session (Level 1 and 2) - Marj Setnicky

Reading Session (Hymn Arrangements: Level 3 and 4) - Ned Davis

Reading Session (Gems) - Ann Y Schmidt
We’ll sight read through a selection of high quality pieces written in the 70’s and 80’s – pieces written ahead of their time, that are timeless today.

Fun! Fun! Fun! with Middle Eastern drumming - George Jacob
Come explore the interesting rhythm patterns of Middle Eastern Drumming with a noted authority. There will be plenty of drums for all to use. Suggestion to women: Please wear slacks, for skirts and dresses will prove to be a hindrance.

“Mr. Potato Head” Mallets - George Jacob
Under the tutelage of the founder of the American Drum company, you will learn how mallets are wrapped, and more than you ever imagined about the core, material and patterns used in mallet heads.
All materials supplied.

Music and Motion - Linda Simms
Time to get up and move!  We will be moving to the beat and exploring the connection between movement and ringing. 

Beginning Directing  - Ann Y. Schmidt
For directors (or directors-to-be) who wish to master the basic patterns and skills of directing. No experience necessary!!

Advanced Directing Skills – Keeping the Train on the Track - Ned Davis
This is for “seasoned” directors who would like to communicate more clearly and avoid problems before they start.

Treble bells – Beginning Techniques - Marj Setnicky

Treble Bells – Advanced Techniques - Ed Tompkins

Music Theory - Linda Simms
We’ll look at all the other things going on in the musical score beyond the notes and rests. Dynamics, keys, tempos, signs, symbols – all have a story to tell…

Conflict Resolution - Jim Simms
Subtitled: Negotiating Difficult Personalities: Understanding and Coping With Whiners, Know-It-Alls, and Other Frustrating People. We all know them and love them. Learn how to effectively work with them.

Issues in Children’s Programs - Ken Bissell
We’ll discuss the ins and outs (and ups and downs) of working with a children’s program – scheduling, repertoire, performance preparation, use of space, proper techniques for small hands, parent control, etc.

Bass Bells – Beginning - Lynn Bogovich
For the beginning bass ringer or those who want to brush up on safe and effective ringing techniques for the “Buckets.”

Bass Bells – Advanced - Lynn Bogovich
For those who know their way around the bottom 4th and 5th octave, this class will reinforce good technique and look at more complex situations.

Finding the Musicality in the Music - Nick Hanson
Let’s breath life into this tenuous, fleeting experience we call music. Many aspects of phrasing and interpretation will be explored.

Stem Directions Do Count!! - Melodie Feather
The key to following the musical line and figuring out the voicing is often in the stem direction.  Come find solve the mystery of the directional stem.

Tricky Spots in the Festival Music – Rx - Ed Tompkins
Reprised by popular demand, this class will examine and work through some of those pesky tricky spots in your Festival music. Bring your scores to class to work from.

Rhythmic and Percussive work with Bells - Nick Hanson
Bells are percussion instruments, and we’ll prove that by working specifically with the percussive aspect of bells.

Bell Trees - Melodie Feather
Bells DO grow on trees…and they make beautiful music! Discover what possibilities there are!

New Members

Welcome to the new AGEHR members in Area III. Please reach out to the new members near you to welcome them to the Guild.

November 2006 new members

December 2006 new members

Upcoming Concerts and Workshops

Christine Anderson – Suffolk, VA
Feb. 18  6:00 pm
First Baptist Church
Christine Anderson will be conducting the Virginia Baptist Handbell Festival in Portsmouth Feb 16 and 17. This is a closed event unless you have registered. However Christine will be playing at First Baptist Church Suffolk on Sunday Feb 18 in the 2 morning services and a Full Concert in the evening at 6 PM. Contact Michael Turner at music@fbcsuffolk.org (website: www.fbcsuffolk.org) or 757-539-5110 or Doug Duggan at Douglas.duggan@verizon.net or 757-416-8782.

Alpha 4 of Gaithersburg, MD  in concert
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Contact Pamela Ion at cabinmom12@aol.com
Alpha 4 will ring in the new museum season in Frederick at the Schifferstadt for Bell & History Day between 10:30 am & 12:30 pm Alpha 4 will continue to ring in the afternoon with patriotic selections at the C. Burr Artz Library. TBD

RSVP

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The AGEHR, Inc. National Office
1055 E. Centerville Station Rd.
Dayton, OH 45459-5503
(937) 438-0085

Area III website: www.areaiii.org