Thursday Options
We are offering focused sessions on Thursday, June 20th.  Our clinicians Stevie Berryman and Greig Ashurst will lead sessions for both directors and ringers.

Directors Seminar ($100 per person)
Creating More Effective Rehearsals: Greig and Stevie
Detailed topics list below
Part 1 – 8 am-11:30 am
Part 2 – 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm

All-play Classes (Ringers & Directors) ($25 each)
Detailed topics list below

Balls: Stevie, 2:15-3:25 pm
OR 
Mastering Mallet Technique: Greig, 2:15-3:25 pm

Balloons: Stevie, 3:35-4:45 pm
OR 
Can High Fructose Corn Syrup Improve Your Rhythm?: Greig, 3:35-4:45 pm

Technique Throwdown!: Stevie & Greig, 4:55-6:00 pm

Bonus “Warm-up” Rehearsal ($15 each)
For a nominal fee, spend Thursday evening from 7:00-9:30 pm ringing through all the pieces in the Blue, Gold, and Mass Divisions. Space may be limited, so register early. Table & foam provided – bring your pencil plus your own instruments, mallets, etc.  (Note:  this is the same time as the first Bronzefest rehearsal.)

Bundles:

  • Directors Seminar and 3 All-play Classes: $150
  • Directors Seminar + 2 All-play Classes: $140
  • Directors Seminar + 1 All-play Class: $120
  • All-play Class: 2 for $45 or 3 for $65
  • All Thursday Events – Directors Seminar, 3 All-play Classes, & Bonus rehearsal: $160

Bonus “Warm-up” Rehearsal ($15 each)
For a nominal fee, spend Thursday evening from 7:00-9:30 pm ringing through all the pieces in the Blue, Gold, and Mass Divisions. Space may be limited, so register early. Table & foam provided – bring your pencil plus your own instruments, mallets, etc.

Directors Seminar: Creating More Effective Rehearsals

Session 1 – Rehearsal Planning and Pacing Great performances don’t keep ringers coming back week after week; great rehearsals do. Effective rehearsals start with an effective plan. Learn the secrets of pacing your rehearsals to get the most out of your ringers while keeping things fun.

Session 2 – First Look – How to Introduce Music Everyone knows the importance of first impressions. Learn ways to introduce new music to your choir that will help them learn the music before even touching a bell. Class will cover your musical “handshake,” sight-reading strategies, and when to use them.

Session 3 – Ending the Rehearsal and Sending them Forth How your next rehearsal starts depends a lot on how your last one ended. Don’t let the clock run out on your rehearsal; end with intention, in a way that sets up future success.

Session 4 – On Being a Creative Artist and the Composers’ Advocate This masterclass is about helping musicians and audiences connect to a composer’s work. The class will explore ways for conductors to help players and audiences experience the aesthetic content of a musical work through a better vocabulary of gestures and conducting techniques.

All-play Classes (some classes will have a maximum # of registrants)

Balls by Stevie (max 20) Take a break from ringing, but not from improving your skills! Learn how a $30 bucket of tennis balls can provide a year’s worth of games for your handbell choir that teach rhythm, coordination, ensemble skills, and more. Participation is expected. Protective gear is optional.

Mastering Mallet Technique by Greig (max 20) This class will discuss the grip, strokes, and sticking techniques when using mallets on handbells.  It will incorporate some helpful drills to help musicians play musically; including proper mallet roll techniques. Finally, this class will address musician issues like how to balance and blend the ensemble when using mallets with other ringing techniques.

Balloons by Stevie (max 20) Take a break from ringing, but not from improving your skills! Find out how to transform a few latex balloons into games for your handbell choir that teach rhythm, coordination, ensemble skills, and more. Participation is expected. Protective gear is optional.

Can High Fructose Corn Syrup Improve Your Rhythm? (max 30) Developing a system of audiating rhythm will move musicians beyond remembering and understanding rhythms.  This well-defined system for teaching rhythm will help musicians apply and analyze rhythm in diverse situations. This method will allow musicians to evaluate and ultimately create captivating performances.

Technique Throwdown! (Greig and Stevie) This course puts to the test everything you’ve learned in previous sessions. Team Greig will battle it out with Team Stevie in a technique, keys, rhythm, and aural skills showdown!