The Craftiest Workshop

Merry Christmas Eve everyone.

I have been at this blogging now for about two and a half years. I have not been involved with any musical group in all that time. When COVID hit in March of 2020, I was singing with my church choir and playing handbells with a local group in Fort McMurray. Music was a big part of my life.

I am not sure how I managed to go this long without making music. I only realize it now after going to a couple handbell practices. When you play or sing with others it opens up an entirely different group of senses in your body. You need to listen all around you to blend, you need to move your body or mouth to get the best possible sound with your instrument. Of course there is also the social aspect of playing in a group. Helping each other, following the conductor and that feeling you get when it all comes together. There is a bit of anxiety that comes with making music but it is a healthy type of anxiety which usually dissipates as soon as you make your first mistake and everything does not fall apart.

So…handbells. I have played an instrument of some kind since I was in grade two. I started on piano then adapted to the organ at church. I joined band in grade four taking up the alto sax which I continued playing until I had children. I dabbled with the trumpet, trombone and bag pipes. I sung in church choirs pretty much all my life until COVID.
I had not heard of handbells before I was in military college at RRMC. It was a tradition that the cadets play handbells at Christmas. I was able to pick it up easily having had a musical background. The next opportunity I had to play handbells was 20 years later in Winchester ON. The United Church there has a set of bells and they had a spot open at the time. When we moved to Fort McMurray I made a point of searching out a group to play with but it took a few years to get my work schedule adjusted so that I could make the practices. Now, having landed in Grande Prairie, I am able to play handbells again. Another United Church bell group (I am sensing a theme).

Every choir, band or ensemble I have made music with has taught me something. If you are a musician, I encourage you to play with strangers or join different groups as you can learn so much more. After a few practices I have learned two new things about playing handbells and chimes.

1. When using chimes, if you tap the side of the chime just below the slit in the metal, it creates a vibrato sound. Perfect for changing the sound of a longer note.
2. Small salad dressing bottles are amazing replica bells to practice with. I have extra bottles which I bought on sale. The Italian or classic herb dressings work better than the ranch. The oil mixtures allow you to splash so you can hear yourself hitting on the beat like you would with the bell. The best part is practicing page turns or key changes because you have to put the bells down and pick them up again. There is also picking up a mallet or switching to chimes. I need to grab a couple blocks of wood to emulate chimes and a drum stick for the mallet.

Here is what my actual set up looks like when I play at the church.

I am playing bells at the Christmas Eve service at 8pm (MST). This is the link for the service which you can tune in live for or watch after the fact. Some of you may be hunkering down to ride out the winter storm and I thought you might want to watch.

Being a part of the music ministry on Christmas Eve is a wonderful thing. It helps to get you in the right mind set of celebrating the birth of Jesus. I hope all of you peace, hope and joy this Christmas season.