bell choirs

Fri, 16 Nov 2001 07:49:24 -0600

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Dirk, thanks for the credit, but the system we used was actually developed
at Travis State School back in the 80's when I was interning.  The
therapists were Bruce Saperston (who is in Utah now at the University) and
Jeannie Ply, who I think is no longer in music therapy, but in speech
therapy.

The "simplified" melodies work well, but some melodies were fine as is. 
Also, it's important to note that we used piano accompaniment which helped
fill out the sound.  For some songs we just had them play chords while the
melody was in the piano.  Our cueing system, using hand signals, takes some
getting used to.  Our interns were required to learn it and it always took a
few rehearsals to get it down.  The music was marked with numbers.  We
numbered the bells left to right as we were looking at them then used the
cooresponding number on the music.  We began to develop "shortcut" ways of
thinking.  We knew that odd numbers would be in the clients right hand and
even in their left.  It became automatic, much like piano players who can
instantly put their hands on middle C, and play whole songs with their eyes
closed because they learn where things are tactilly.  How you arrange the
bells in the clients hands can make a difference too.  For instance, if you
are having them play a melody, then low bells on your left and higher bells
to the right, like the piano, makes sense.  If you are having them play more
chords, with the melody in the piano, then it make more sense to pair bells
that will play together.

  One more point to consider, we had a strict criteria for participation in
the choir.  They learned a specific series of behaviors which they were
required to follow.  It was made clear to them that if they couldn't follow
directions, sit quietly until it's their turn, and follow protocol at the
table, then they would not be taken on the performance trips and eventually
would be discontinued from the choir.

Joe's system allowed clients who were more disabled to participate.  He used
a lot of switches and stands for bells (some of the clients used a mallet to
strike the bell).  The light system which Dirk referred to was controlled by
a keyboard.  Joe played on the keyboard what he wanted them to play and a
light would come on in front of the client.  He taught them to play when
their light came on.
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From: "Dirk & Julie Cushenbery" <dirkcush@fastband.com>
To: mt-pro@shsu.edu
Subject: re: bell choirs
Date: Tue, Nov 13, 2001, 11:18 PM

Terri Hart had developed a pretty good hand bell choir when I came on board
at Richmond State School.  Joe Pinson also had one at Denton State School
when he was there.  None of us are at state schools now.

Terri cued our adult developmentally delayed choir through hand signals by
pointing at the person's hand when it was time to ring that bell.  She used
sign language A for right hand, B for left hand and C for both hands.  This
worked very well. Barbara Talley who I replaced at RSS, Terri, myself, and
interns all arranged handbell pieces for the choir.  It was an enjoyable
performing group and we all had a pretty good time.

Joe had a pretty involved lighting system to cue folks when to play in his
choir.  He would flip switches and they would play when their light came on.
He also used a color coded poster board to cue them at times.  I think the
lighting system may have been less portable.  With the poster board you can
do more harmony, but I think maybe faster melody with the hand signal
system.

Terri and Joe could explain it to you better perhaps.  I think they're on
the list.  Oh, both choirs used the real handbells.  The expensive ones.

I have done things since then with Suzuki tone bar chimes (cheaper).  And
even seen an activity therapist use more toy looking type of bells.  The
ones with bells of different colors with springs inside them.  There is a
company that creates background music and cue cards to use with the colored
bells.  Personally I liked what Terri and Joe did MUCH better.  And the
arranging was fun too.

Oh one other thing, we simplified melodies.  We "reduced melodies to their
more basic structural tones" (Serafine in Radocy & Boyle 2nd edition p. 166)
:) in our arrangements.

Hope this helps,

Dirk

>From: Terpsichore100@cs.com

> anybody have any success (or non-success) stories of bell choirs with
> moderately developmentally delayed children?  what kinds of resources are out
> there musically?  and how did you deal with non-readers?   were you able to
> adapt the music enough?
>
> i'd be interested to hear....
>
> thanks,
>
> marybeth gunning, mt-bc
> worcester ma
> 

----------
From: "Dirk & Julie Cushenbery" <dirkcush@fastband.com>
To: mt-pro@shsu.edu
Subject: re: bell choirs
Date: Tue, Nov 13, 2001, 11:18 PM