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Upper Elementary | Performance Guide
Sonos Handbell Choir
Photo Credit: Sonos Handbell Ensemble
Ideas for Curriculum Connections
Sonos Handbell Ensemble’s virtuosity mesmerizes audiences at
major world events including the United Nations 50th Anniversary
Celebrations. They tour internationally and have appeared on major
broadcasts including Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion.
With a collective experience of over 100 years of ringing, Sonos
Handbell Ensemble has introduced handbell virtuosity to millions of
people around the world.
CCSS: RL.3.2, 3, 6 and 9; RL.4.2, 3, 5, 7 and 9;
RL.5. 2, 3, 5 and 7; W.3.3 and 8; W.4.8 and 9;
W.5.8 and 9; SL.3.1c and d and 3; SL.4.1d and 4;
SL.5.1c and d and 4; L.3.3; L.4.6; L.5.3. Fine Arts
Standards Music: R.7.3-4.3; CN.11.3-4.1; CN.11.34.2. For Grades 5-8: R.6; SL, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6;
R.7.5-8.1; R.7.5-7.3; R.8.5-8.1; R.9.5-8.1.
Photo Credit: Sonos Handbell Ensemble
The Artist
Based in Berkeley, California, Sonos Handbell Ensemble is widely
considered to be the best handbell group in the United States. At the
forefront of handbell artistry since their founding in 1990, they seek
the best transcriptions and materials available and encourage
composers to write for bells alone. Through their national and
international touring as well as appearances on major radio and
television broadcasts, Sonos has helped introduce handbell virtuosity
to millions of people around the world.
The Instrument
Handbells, as they are known in Europe and the United States, are
descendants from the tower bells in England. Around the 16th
Century, the art of tower bell ringing was becoming established in
England. Traditionally, a set of five large bells at the top of a tower was
rung in a numerical sequence as opposed to a melodic pattern.
Perfecting patterns took hours of practice. This much ringing of the
tower bells could be disturbing to surrounding villages so sets of small
bells were developed. This enabled the ringers to practice indoors, out
of the cold bell towers and without disturbing neighbors. Eventually
this type of ringing became an art in itself.
Modern handbells consist of a variable number of cast bronze bells
with flexible handles and clappers that can only move back and forth.
They come in various sizes with each bell having its own note: the
Sonos Handbell Ensemble / Performance Guide
smaller bells having the higher pitch tones and the larger bells having
the lower base tones. Think of a set of handbells as a single instrument
that takes many people to play. A set can range from a single octave
(12 or 13 bells) up to seven octaves, though most ensembles perform
on five octaves, or 61 bells. A skilled musician can play on as many as
six bells at a time!
The Technique
There are many bell ringing techniques which give different tonal
qualities to the music. Some of the widely used ones are:
• Tower swing: ringing the bell followed by an up and down arm
motion giving a noticable volume change.
• Shake: Wrist shaking of the bell to give a tremulous effect.
• Thumb damp, table damp, shoulder damp, brush damp: various
ways to mute or stop the bell from ringing.
• 4-in-hand: holding two bells in each hand in a position where one
bell at a time can be rung independent of the other.
• Pluck: using finger to “pluck” the clapper making a sharper tone.
• Vibrato: a slightly tremulous effect giving added warmth by waving
the bell in a side-to-side motion.
• Mallet: a cotton or leather covered hammer device to strike the bell
and make a sharp ring.
• Echo: ringing a bell and then gently touching its rim on the padded
table causing an echo effect.
Learning Activities
Before the performance
Share and discuss musical vocabulary.
Students will find the musical vocabulary
helpful when assessing their experience of
the live musical performance of the Sonos
• dynamics - the loudness and softness of
indicated by time signature
sound
• form - the overall plan of a piece of music,
• pitch - the highness or lowness of a tone
music (classical, rock, contemporary and
• AB - a musical plan that has two different
jazz)
parts or sections
sections, first and last sections are the
same; the middle section is different
• phrase - a musical “sentence” that
expresses one thought
e.g., AB, ABA or rondo
• genre - style, category, class or sort of
Handbell Ensemble.
• ABA - a musical plan that has three
• meter - a pattern of fixed beats as
• rondo – a musical plan in which the
material stated at the beginning of the
• harmony - two or more different tones
sounding at the same time
• interval - the distance between two
piece keeps returning
• tempo - the speed at which a musical
piece is played or sung
pitches
Photo Credit: Sonos Handbell Ensemble
Post Performance Learning Activity
Using fractions in math, discuss the math concepts in notation. Explain
the relationship between notes/rests and fractions. For example, 1 whole
fraction circle is equal to 2 half circles, just as 1 whole note is equal to 2
half notes. Ask students to explore the following relationships:
1 whole note = 2 half notes = 4 quarter notes
1 half note = 2 quarter notes = 4 eighth notes
1 quarter note = 2 eighth notes = 4 sixteenth notes
1 whole rest = 2 half rests = 4 quarter rests
Explain the 4/4 time signature. A time signature is a sign that shows how
many beats should be in each measure. For a 4/4 time signature, each
measure has 4 beats, and each beat is a quarter note. Thus, each measure
should have the equivalent of 4 quarter notes. Ask students what else they
could use to create a complete measure in 4/4 time (1 whole note, 2 half
notes, 1 half note and 2 quarter notes)
Compose
Photo Credit: ukuleletricks.com
Ask students to compose a four-measure rhythmic composition. First,
have the students draw two parallel lines across a plain piece of paper
in a landscape position. Show them how to divide these two lines into 4
measures (Note: Since this exercise deals only with rhythmic elements, it
is not necessary for students to draw the full, five-lined musical staff.) The
composition should include all of the following elements:
• The 4/4 time signature at the beginning of the composition.
• Four measures are drawn and separated with bar lines.
• Quarter note and quarter rest
• Half note and half rest
• Pair of eighth notes
• A double bar line at the end of the composition
• All four measures contain four beats
[email protected] / www.waltonartscenter.org
Volume 13 Number 5
Colgate Classroom Series performances
help students meet Common Core
Photo credit: Sonos Handbell Ensemble
Reflect and Assess
Help students develop and expand their responses to music concerts.
• Describe one performance of one song in as much detail as possible.
Standards.
Learn more at:
www.waltonartscenter.org
• Describe the instruments featured in the performance.
• Describe the quality of sound.
• Could a specific song accompany singing? What kind of song would be best?
Walton Arts Center
• How did musical elements of tempo, pitch and dynamics convey mood?
Learning & Engagement
• How did the music help build excitement during the performance?
Laura Goodwin, Vice President
• Can you connect your own experience with any song in the performance?
Dr. Patricia Relph, Arts Learning Specialist
Meghan Foehl, Engagement Coordinator
Learn More Online
Sallie Zazal, Learning Coordinator
Official Website of Sonos Handbell Ensemble
Mallory Barker, Schools Concierge
www.sonos.org
Find us on Facebook!
How It’s Made: Handbells
Walton Arts Center Learning & Engagement
https://youtu.be/1lYEpRZjfaI
The Handbell Brothers: Handbell news, education and entertainment
http://www.handbellbrothers.com/
See and hear Sonos Handbell Ensemble in action
http://www.knudsenproductions.com/artist.php?id=sonos&aview=media
Walton Arts Center 2015-16 Learning
programming is generously supported by
these funders, sponsors and benefactors:
Education Sponsors:
CDI Contractors, Inc.
Colgate-Palmolive
Crayola
J.B. Hunt Transport
Murphy Consulting, Inc.
Octagon
Prairie Grove Telephone Co.
Shipley Motor Company
Tyson Foods, Inc.
Unilever
Education Grantors:
Arkansas Arts Council
Arkansas Community
Foundation
Bank of America
Mary Lynn Reese
Education Benefactors:
Susan & Tom Schallhorn
Patty & Serrhel Adams
Jeff & Eileen Schomburger
Bob & Becky Alexander
Carl & Tammy Shipley
Ted & Leslie Belden
Baum Charitable Foundation
Mark & Diane Simmons
James & Rachel Blankenship
The John F. Kennedy Center
Mechelle & Jack Sinclair
Wade Burnside & Janet Baker
for the Performing Arts
Barbara Taylor
Chip & Susan Chambers
Murphy Foundation
Kirk Thompson
Marybeth Cornwell & Rick Hays
Roy & Christine Sturgis
Jerry & Brenda Walton
Nick & Carolyn Cole
Charitable Trust
Jim & Lynne Walton
Jon & Joanie Dyer
Walmart Foundation
Dr. & Mrs. John B. Weiss
Fred & Barbara Frye
The Walton Family
Buddy & Linda Wray
Phoebe Goodwin
Foundation
Murray & Judy Harris
Rick & Marybeth Hayes
Education Partners:
Arkansas Arts Council is an
Malcolm & Ellen Hayward
Crystal Bridges Museum of
agency of the Department of
Rich & Kristin Kley
American Art
Arkansas Heritage and the
Greg & Hannah Lee
Northwest Arkansas Education
National Endowment for the Arts
Peter K. Leer & Family
Service Cooperative
Neal & Gina Pendergraft
Center for Children & Youth
Sonos Handbell Ensemble / Performance Guide