Elementary students in grades 3-5 have the opportunity to learn to play handbells. Those entering with no prior music experience are taught the skills they need, including reading music, musicianship, and performance.
Each choir is comprised of 12-16 ringers, each of whom is assigned 2-4 bells to ring. Each ringer must read the musical score and ring their notes only when called for in the music — a very different musical skill than required on most instruments. Piano, for instance, requires that you play all the notes, while flute requires that you play the notes written for flute, which are only one at a time. Ringing bells require that you read the music, count, and play just your assigned notes. This takes great teamwork.
The elementary handbell curriculum is designed to prepare students for more advanced handbell classes offered in secondary.
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