Spring Forward for Handbells 2026
A Handbell Workshop for the Individual Ringer
Saturday, May 9, 2026 from 9:30 AM to 1:15 PM
Medford United Methodist Church
2 Hartford Road
Medford, New Jersey 08055
The Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble is pleased to be hosting our annual Spring Forward for Handbells Workshop once more. This year, we are presenting the workshop in Medford, New Jersey.
This workshop is designed for those of you who are handbell ringers looking to improve your ringing skills. Participants will have the opportunity to take three classes taught by members of the Philadelphia Handbell Ensemble, a local auditioned community group.
The workshop is not an event for massed ringing or an event where you need to prepare any music in
advance. This workshop is designed to improve ringing skills for individuals.
But wait – yes, there’s more! That same afternoon at 4:00 in the same location, PHE will perform a complete full ensemble concert.
What to Bring:
Gloves – that’s it! All bells, tables, foam, equipment, music, mallets and chimes will be provided for you.
Class descriptions and registration information are provided below. Questions may be directed to workshop@phillybells.org
The registration price is $25 per ringer. The registration price includes class materials and refreshments. Ask us about full choir group discounts. Each ringer will need to register individually.
Each ringer should select three classes for enrollment. The schedule of classes is shown on the registration form. Please select one class for each time slot.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS APRIL 18, 2026. Space is limited, so register early! We will not be able to exceed maximum capacity.
SCHEDULE:
9:30 – 9:50 Registration and Welcome
10:00 – 10:45 Class Session 1
10:55 – 11:40 Class Session 2
11:40 – 12:00 Refreshment Break
12:00 – 12:45 Class Session 3
12:45 – 1:00 Break
1:00 – 1:15 Concert preview and workshop wrap-up*
*Be sure to come back at 4:00 for the full concert!
CLASSES OFFERED
FOR The New Ringer
BASIC RINGING – This class will cover how to hold bells and chimes with proper ringing technique - both to avoid fatigue and to promote musicality; how to damp the sound; timing and how to coordinate with neighboring ringers.
HOW DO I COUNT THAT? – This class will provide instruction on the distinction between rhythm, tempo, and meter. Participants will learn essential rhythms and an introduction to syncopation and dotted rhythms, all in various simple meters and compound meters.
HOW DO I MARK MY MUSIC? – This class will make your pencil your best friend in learning to ring bell music. How do I write the beats? How do I write the bell changes? How do I note the dynamics, tempo changes, and articulations? What is that Italian stuff? Your Bell Director will be so-o-o impressed!
FOR All
Experience Levels
BASS BELL TECHNIQUES – This class will introduce ringers to the mystery of handling the large bronze, demonstrate how to balance and how to perform various techniques, and provide considerations in making assignments for bass ringers.
CHANGE RINGING FOR RECRUITMENT AND WORSHIP – This class will introduce you to the mathematical ringing of tower bells and will provide ideas for using change-ringing to recruit new bell ringers in your church.
COMPLEX RHYTHMS – This class will delve deeper into the world of rhythm: exploring unusual meters, mixed meters, polyrhythms, 3-against-2, and duplets in 6/8 or 9/8 meters.
AN INTRODUCTION TO DENDROLOGY, THE STUDY OF TREES – Is solo ringing a little beyond your reach right now? Are you looking for an alternative way to feed your bell hog appetite? This class will introduce bell trees - equipment, music, and setting up. Participants will have lots of time to practice on some simple arrangements.
HANDLING CHIMES, MALLETS, AND BELLS WITH ONLY TWO HANDS – This class will help you understand how to arrange equipment so that you can manage to hit your notes AND feel confident and appear poised.
PLUCK, SING, MART, SWING, ECHO, LIFT, AND MORE – This class provides an overview of Martellato, Mart-Lift, Plucks, Mallets, Suspended Mallets, Table Echo, Tower Swings, Singing Bell, and so forth, with emphasis on proper execution.
TREBLE 4-IN-HAND – This class will teach how to hold two bells in each hand, how to pick up and drop extra bells while ringing, and how to execute individual bell and combined bell strikes.
WEAVING BELLS THROUGH SHARPS AND FLATS IN A NATURAL WAY – (See what we did there?) If you think bell changes and weaving are some sort of great mystery, then this class is for you. This class will demystify the handling of chromatic sequences without getting your arms hopelessly tangled.
SOLO RINGING – Are you tired of sharing your toys? This hands-on class will cover a wide variety of techniques applicable to solo ringing including table damping, weaving, multiple-bell techniques and displacement of bells. Warning: participation in this class may lead to addiction, and possible sentencing to mandatory attendance at BHA (Bell Hogs Anonymous) meetings.
REGISTER FOR OUR WORKSHOP
For a printable version of the workshop registration, click on the PDF.