Handchimes in Classroom Music:
Authentic Performance Instruments and Instructional
Tools
Dr.
Kenneth L. Liske
Hong Kong Institute of Education • Butler University
May 19-21, 2008
This session is meant to address the rationales and
objectives
for incorporating handchimes in the classroom music curriculum, both as
instructional tools and as performance instruments. Recorded classroom
examples and hands-on chime experience will be included, using
materials
available in the basal series texts and from the American Guild of
English
Handbell Ringers and MENC. Practical information for obtaining chimes,
materials, and support will also be available.
Handchimes as Instructional Tools
Handchimes are well suited for classroom music instruction:
-
Musical Elements like Rhythm, Melody, Harmony, Texture, Dynamics,
Timbre,
and Form can easily be isolated, studied, and experienced.
-
Concepts such as duration and pitch are visually reinforced using
handchimes.
-
Students with varying levels of musical experience and physical
coordination
can quickly succeed, and performance difficulty can be increased in
successive
steps.
-
Handchimes can be integrated with other classroom music experiences and
approaches.
-
Classroom handchime experiences can be designed to lead to authentic
performance
experiences.
Handchimes for Classroom Performance
Handchimes make excellent classroom performance instruments:
-
They immediately incorporate authentic performance skills which
students
can experience and demonstrate.
-
They combine visual, aural, and movement stimuli, making handchime
performance
a satisfying experience for many students.
-
Chime ensembles of varying size and musical experience may be formed.
An
entire class can be actively engaged in making music.
-
They produce a pleasant quality of tone which blends well with young
voices.
Instructional choral literature sometimes includes chimes.
-
They offer comparatively low cost, high durability, ease of storage and
transport.
Handchime Support
Membership in the American Guild Of English Handbell Ringers (AGEHR)
includes professional support and resources, seminars, workshops,
handbell
festivals, and subscriptions including the journal Overtones.Contact
AGEHR to find your area leadership directory or to inquire about
handchime
loan programs, grants, and director's scholarships.
The American Guild Of English Handbell Ringers, Inc
1055 E. Centerville Station Road, Dayton, OH 45459-5503
AGEHR Handbell Hotline: 1-800-878-5459 http://www.agehr.org/
CHIME -- The Committee for Handbells/Handchimes in Music
Education
(the music education arm of AGEHR)
Some Suggested Resources
To purchase resources from AGEHR, visit http://www.agehr.org/
To purchase resources from MENC, visit http://www.menc.org/
-
Handchimes in General Music: A Curriculum Guide, Janet Van
Valey
and Martha Avery
-
Grades 1-3, AGEHR #R-212
-
Grades 4-6, AGEHR #R-213
-
Quick Foundations, Kirtsy Mitchell, AGEHR #R-218
-
Teaching Young Ringers, Carolynne Mathis, AGEHR #R-217
-
Musical Elements:
Classroom Method for Handchimes,Kenneth Liske, AGEHR #R-216
-
Learning to Ring Series, Janet Van Valey and Susan Berry
-
Using Handchimes, Lorenz #HB-315
-
All-Time Favorites, Lorenz #HB-266
-
Director's Manual, Lorenz #HB-200
-
Let's Ring Chimes and Bells, Kirtsy Mitchell, Lorenz #CGBK-48
-
Clapper Classics, Martha Lynn Thompson and Frances Callahan,
Agape
#1253
-
Adaptive Notation for Handbells, Letha McGrew, AGEHR #R-204
-
Dalcroze Applications for Handbells, Keilniarz, AGEHR #R-215
-
Meeting National Standards with Handbells and Handchimes,
McBride
and Baldwin, MENC #1712
-
Chime Magic, Linda
Miller,
Jeffers
Handbell Supply (1-800-JHS-BELL)
Handchime Manufacturers
For pricing information and available products, visit each
manufacturer's
web page. Click the product name below to go directly to the purchase
information
for that product.
Malmark
Choirchimes
Malmark, Inc.
Bell Crest Park, PO Box 1200
Plumbsteadville, PA 18949
1-800-426-3235
www.malmark.com
Schulmerich
MelodyChimes
& MelodyWave
Schulmerich Bells
Carillon Hill, PO Box 903
Sellersville, PA 18960-0903
1-800-772-3557
www.schulmerichbells.com
Suzuki
Tone Chimes & Chimettes
Suzuki Corporation
PO Box 261030
San Diego, CA 92196-1030
1-800-854-1594
www.suzukimusic.com
Rhythm
Band
Belleplates
Rhythm Band Instruments, Inc.
P.O. Box 126,
Ft. Worth, TX 76101
www.rhythmband.com