RINGER ANNOUNCEMENTS
Start-Up Dates Announced For the Fall!
ATTENTION RINGERS! It will soon be time to begin! Find your start date(s) here. Each team page includes a schedule for the 2008-2009 Worship Arts Season.
- Thursday, August 21: Council Oak Bells team begins (7-9pm in the North Suite)
- Wednesday, August 27: Jubilation team begins (6:30-8:15pm in the North Suite)
- Monday, September 8: Kids of the Kingdom Chimes and Bells begin (4:15-5:15pm in Family Life Center)
- Tuesday, September 9: Revelation Ringers begin (5:30-6:45pm - Bronze in North Suite; Tins in Family Life Center)
- Wednesday, September 10: Ring of Joy team begins (9:30-10:30am in the North Suite)
Recruit! Recruit! Let's All Recruit!
Word of mouth . . . personal invitation . . . had been proven time and time again! Folks want to be invited. They like to be needed! The best tool we have is that we can tell others that ringing handbells is NOT just about the skills involved, although ringing is fun and addicting!
Is your child or a friend's child entering 3rd-5th grade next fall? Don't wait! Spread the word! Register them TODAY for Kids of the Kingdom Chimes! Do you know of 6th-12th graders who might love ringing?? The Revelation Ringers are our youth bell teams. Tins is a good place to learn. Bronze is for students with more musical and/or ringing background. We welcome new ringers!
No matter what your age . . . ringing is a way to get connected into the Witness Ministry of First Church Round Rock. We all know that. Call a friend. Tell them about our rookie classes. One doesn't have to be a member to ring at First Church. Do you know someone who has rung before? We are looking for experienced ringers for all groups! We are especially inviting musical men to join our ministry! We need substitute ringers for our active teams, Jubilation and Council Oak Bells. And we need daytime ringers for Ring of Joy. LET'S ALL RECRUIT! Please spread the word.
Act today! Email Carla@fumc-rr.org or call Carla at 255.3336, Ext. 122.
PLINK, PLANK, PLUNK
(Healthy Ringing Tips for Ringers)
Correct posture is the foundation of all handbell ringing! Standing behind a handbell table - before even picking up a bell - the body must be prepared and properly aligned. This feeling of "planned good posture" is important from the feet up to the head! Train your body to create support for lifting bells.
Good posture and body alignment minimize fatique and stress throughout your body and are essential to every aspect of handbell playing. For example, allowing your shoulders to slouch places strain on your back and neck and limits the air available to your lungs. When you get less air, you produce less energy, and you'll not play as well as you could otherwise. You might even pull a muscle! PROPER POSTURE PREVENTS PROBLEMS!
Some techniques (especially malleting on the table) require coming to the bells
Suspended mallet playing demands careful use of space
Here are some basic guidelines for attaining proper posture!
- Stand up straight
- Keep your spine erect
- Keep your head on straight (Is this hard for some of us?)
- Keep your shoulder blades pulled back and down
- Feel your large muscles at work
- Use abdominal control
- Keep your knees unlocked
- Learn to shift your weight
- Utilize the space around you
- Use proper footwear
- Avoid fatigue (That's another difficult task at times!)
(This excerpt was taken from the book entitled "Healthy RInging" by Susan Berry.)
Smiling is an important part of good posture!
Good posture and even better attitude!
Are YOU a "Handbell Hero"?
Check it out at: PlayHandbellHero