Quick, Inexpensive Way to Get Started on Bell Tree
Creative Bell Tree Instructional Series 092322
@2022 Karen Van Wert, [email protected], Updated 240820
There are numerous options for bell tree stands, perhaps there is one sitting idle in the church. Even if this is the case, I would encourage you to make a processional dowel tree. Not only it is a simple, inexpensive way to get started ringing a bell tree, but it is also helpful to have in your arsenal if you want to process, ring antiphonally or have little space to work in. The dowel pole costs less than $10 to make and can easily hold up to one octave of bells. The drawbacks are that it requires support leaving only one hand to ring, it can hold only one string of bells at a time and this size is not great when you get into the lower 4th octave.
The dowel processional bell tree instructions can be found here.
Once you have a bell tree stand created, you can string bells together to make a bell tree. The following is a video on how to make a bell tree. I would suggest stringing C6-C7 (starting with C6) as this will give you several options to ring immediately. C6-C7 is referred to as 1st string:
The next step is to mount the bell tree on the processional pole. Here is a quick video to show you how to secure your bells on the dowel pole:
How to Put BT String on Dowel Processional Pole
You will need a mallet to ring the bells. You can use a standard mallet, but you may want to invest in a shorter handled mallet for the dowel pole.
What to ring?
String C6-C7 and you can play over 20 hymn melodies. Here is a link to a list and music for one-octave hymns. Stand the bell tree on a table and ring some of these melodies until you are comfortable with this technique.
Another set of resources that every ringer should have in their library are the Hopson Series plus Krug and Van Wert BT Descants and Hymn Embellishments. Mix and match for different verses and get inspired to try something on your own.
- The Creative Use of Handbells in Worship; Hal Hopson – Hope Publishing Company
- Creative Use of Handbells in Worship No. 2; Hal Hopson – Hope Publishing Company
- The Creative Use of Descants in Worship; Hal Hopson – Hope Publishing Company
- Bell Tree Descants – Jason Krug; Hope Publishing
- Bell Tree Hymn Embellishments – Karen Van Wert; National Handbell Music
What else can you do with one octave of bells? Apply different techniques: Pentatonic, Canon, Ostinato, Random Ringing and more.