RINGER ANNOUNCEMENTS
POPS 2008 "Ringer Updates"
5/10/2008 GREAT TECH last evening! Thanks to Andy and crew for all their hard work to make that happen. It's showtime! Put on your "Good Vibrations" and let's have fun! Keep in mind why we're doing all of this. It goes beyond fun. We ring in loving memory of Elaine & we're striving to raise LOTS of money for Hospice Austin. See you this afternoon!
5/5/2008 I was told this am that 4 more table tickets will soon be turned in. That means we have 14 table tickets to distribute this week. Call your family, friends & neighbors! Let's pack the house!!
5/4/2008 Two table tickets were turned in this am! So . . . we have 10 scattered table tickets remaining. SPREAD THE WORD! We're NOT sold out of table tickets. Let's try to fill these seats this week! And don't forget to get me those 60's pix! They don't have to be in jpg. I can easily scan actual photographs! The time is at hand! This is the week! Let's all take a big breath together & SMILE! See you soon. And don't forget . . . . both regular rehearsals this week are in the FLC. (COB on Tuesday and JUB on Wednesday . . . at the regular times)
5/1/2008 Ten days and counting! We have 8 scattered table tickets remaining. Again - PLEASE TURN IN ANY TABLE TICKETS YOU KNOW WILL GO UNUSED. ALSO . . . do you have pix of yourself in the 60's? If so, turn them in to Carla this week please!
4/21/2008 We now have only two 6-tops plus 2 individual chairs at another 6-top left. IF YOU HAVE TICKETS WHICH YOU KNOW WILl GO UNUSED, PLEASE TURN THEM IN! Also be sure to tell all that there will be extra seating in the back for those who would like to attend the concert without eating. This seating does NOT require a ticket. In the meantime, lots of work is occuring to make this our best POPS event yet! The Decorations Committee is busily readying for their big reveal on 5/10! Photographers are poised and the videos are under construction. And both performing choirs are busily rehearsing for outreach in the coming two weeks. COB will ring 4/25 at General Conference. Their lunchtime concert is their POPS rep. The JUB team will be performing their POPS selections at Parkwood Meadows Retirement Center on 4/30. Kudos to all for your dedication and hard work. It will pay off! Make sure to remind all that a donation will be taken at the concert. We'd like to give lots of money to Hospice Austin in Elaine's memory. Thank you!
4/13/2008 Ticket distribution began this morning and WOW!!!! We have 2 premium (8-top) tables left. An additional 54 "regular table" tickets remain. By my calculations, that translates that we distributed about 70% of available table tickets on the first Sunday of distribution! Tickets will be available in the main office Monday-Friday. Spread the word! And Carla will bring the tickets to rehearsals this week. We're going to pack the house! That's great.
3/26/2008 As you are making your plans for the weekend of our show, please refer to the schedule of events for May 9-10. Simply click on POPS WEEKEND SCHEDULE to keep yourself updated. And don't forget! Tickets begin distribution on Sunday, April 13. SPREAD THE WORD!
3/17/2008 Can you believe it? Spring Break is behind us & it is now time for both Council Oak Bell and Jubilation ringers to gear up for our May 10 POPS 2008 show! It is imperative that we all concentrate in the coming 3-4 weeks upon getting all of our musical challenges behind us. The final preparations (mid-April to the date of the event) are all about selling the music. We'll be running straight through the show for muscle memory. We'll also be adding the "spit and polish", i.e. all the frame-outs and fun theatre aspects that make this show so special! Check your scores! Take your music home or call your own sectional with those around you. And NOW is the time to begin spreading the word about our POPS benefit! Tickets will be distributed beginning Sunday, April 13. Read more and refer others to: "Good Vibrations!" POPS 2008 ALSO . . . publicity flyers for POPS 2008 are now available. They are located in the Handbell Suite in a folder next to the sink. I'll replenish as needed. There are flyers for posting and mailing.
Are YOU a "Handbell Hero"?
Check it out at: PlayHandbellHero
"A Capital Carillon" - Mark your calendars NOW!
This is exciting news! The American Guild of English Handbell Ringers Area IX (Texas and Oklahoma) will host a festival conference for ringers and directors this June . . . and it's in our own backyard. "A Capital Carillon" will be held June 19-22 at the DoubleTree Hotel off IH 35 in Austin. The event will begin with a "Teen Ring" June 19-20. The Adult Festival will take place June 20-22. Activities for the Teen Ring will begin with registration at 9am on Thursday, June 19 and conclude with the Teen Ring concert at 3:00pm on Friday. The Festival Conference will begin with registration at 9am on Friday, June 20 and conclude with the Festival concert which takes place at 3:00pm on Sunday.
Our own Council Oak Bells will ring during the final worship on Sunday. Carla David, Director of Handbell Ministry at First Church, will be one of the teachers at the adult part of the event. Jane Anderson will be a clinician for both the Teen Ring and the Adult Festival. Lee Afdahl will be the major clinician for the Adult Festival. Both of these musicians are phenomenal and have lots of experience as handbell directors, composers and conductors.
To find out more about "A Capital Carillon", simply go to the AGEHR Area IX website. Mark your calendars now. You won't want to miss this opportunity!
International Symposium in Orlando, Florida - THIS SUMMER!
It will include ringers from Australia, New Zealand, Korea and Japan! It will be glorious. AND it will be in the United States August 4-8. Read more about the International Symposium at: ONCEINALIFETIMEOPPORTUNITY This is BIG for those of us who love "all things handbells!"
Click on these links to find out more about handbells!
The History of the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers
More History of RInging!
What Can Handbells Contribute?
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!
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! Ringing handbells is also a way to GET CONNECTED into the Witness Ministry of First Church Round Rock. 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 need substitute ringers for our active teams. And we need daytime ringers for Ring of Joy. LET'S ALL RECRUIT! Please spread the word.