I love planning exercises that will help my ringers be more comfortable with music - reading and playing. This workshop will focus on rhythms. Not only will we play the chimes, but we will do body percussion and percussion instruments. I bring my set of hand drums and my cowbell (which is a marvelous metronome that can be heard over the chimes). I open all the windows and turn on all the fans and turn off all the lights.
Our exercises begin with the basics, a review. Remember to count out loud. Remember to damp when appropriate. First whole notes, then half, then quarter. We work through various time signatures and keys. Then off to the drum circle to do clapping, snapping, patting and stomping - all patterns that will show up in the pieces we will play. We work with drums, each person assigned a different pattern so we get comfortable doing something other than what our neighbor is doing. We count. We and the 'ands' and 'e uhs'.
We watch other chime and bell choirs play. We think about what is most appealing. What should we be working on (smiling, being engaged, being less metronomic looking while attaining rhythmic accuracy and unity). We break for lunch. We ring chords for familiar hymns. We play familiar pieces we performed recently. We do more drum stuff. More body percussion. We mark new music. We play through the new stuff. Not bad. Not bad at all. We get a sneak peek at more things to come. A good workshop despite the heat. We are well on our way to a stellar season.
Our exercises begin with the basics, a review. Remember to count out loud. Remember to damp when appropriate. First whole notes, then half, then quarter. We work through various time signatures and keys. Then off to the drum circle to do clapping, snapping, patting and stomping - all patterns that will show up in the pieces we will play. We work with drums, each person assigned a different pattern so we get comfortable doing something other than what our neighbor is doing. We count. We and the 'ands' and 'e uhs'.
We watch other chime and bell choirs play. We think about what is most appealing. What should we be working on (smiling, being engaged, being less metronomic looking while attaining rhythmic accuracy and unity). We break for lunch. We ring chords for familiar hymns. We play familiar pieces we performed recently. We do more drum stuff. More body percussion. We mark new music. We play through the new stuff. Not bad. Not bad at all. We get a sneak peek at more things to come. A good workshop despite the heat. We are well on our way to a stellar season.
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