Frequently Asked Questions

Notation for Handbells

Have read about "difficulty levels."  What are they?

As handbell repertoire and techniques have increased in number an complexity, the need for a method of assigning difficulty levels has become apparent.  Having music available with an assigned difficulty level will:

• Help directors select repertoire best suited for their choirs;
• Help directors select literature that requires specific skills and techniques;
• assist teachers in creating a curriculum;
• provide a framework for educational assessment;
• serve as a motivational tool that encourages choirs to improve their skills;
• help publishers select new releases for a balanced catalogue.

"There are six levels of difficulty beginning with Level 1.  This level uses common, 3/4 and 2/4 meters, no notes smaller than quarter, simple techniques, no handbell changes, with slow to moderate tempo.  The levels progress  to the most complex rhythms, changes of key, accidentals, any tempo (and mixed), unlimited handbell changes, etc.

"While the Difficulty Levels do not solve all the problems of "is this piece good for my choir's ability?", they do allow a director to find music within certain parameters without having to peruse level 6 music while looking for level 2, or conversely.  Assigning the criteria to a piece of music is subjective.  All composers, publishers, directors, ringers agree on a certain level for a certain selection.  Some publishers assign "+" and "-" signs to indicate gradations of the levels."

Handbell Notation

A coalition of AGEHR, Inc., writers and arrangers of Handbell Music, and Music Publishers have worked for more than ten years to codify symbols for handbell techniques and agree on editing notation for handbell music.  These meetings are held about every three to five years, usually in conjunction with a National AGEHR Seminar.

Copies of the Handbell Notation/Difficulty Level System brochure may be purchased from the National Office of the AGEHR, Inc.,  1-800-878-5459  or  executive@agehr.org.  At a later date, this information may be included for members at http://www.agehr.org.
 
 

Other Sources for Notation Symbols

Several individuals have internet sources of notations.  You may access them by clicking on the URL.

Lora Melton,  Galax, VA,   Director - Fancy Gap UMC Handbell Choir  handbells@ls.net
     I added a list of handbell symbols to my site.    I couldn't figure out how to type the mallet roll symbol on the
keyboard or the diamond shaped notes for chimes.     The address is http://www.ls.net/~handbells/handbell_symbols.htm   or can be accessed in my page by using the links page.    Any suggestion for improvement or anything that I need to change, please let me know.
 

Paul McKlveen,  "Yes, I am still selling my handbell font.  The font can be used by Finale and other music notation software programs.  I have four versions available:

TrueType for PCs (Windows)
TrueType for Macintosh
PostScript for PCs (Windows)'
PostScript for Macintosh

Daniel Reck  --  Allegro Handbell Ensemble, Union Church of Hinsdale, Illinois, www.allegrobells.org

I might suggest that we all look at www.allegrobells/glossary, which is the Handbell Glossary on the Allegro Handbell Ensemble's website.  It contains most (if not all) of the symbols and notation that is official as per the 1999 AGEHR notation booklet.  Of course, if some notation is missing, let me know and I'll add it  immediately.