All About the Bass
Session 1 of 2: Introduction
Friday, January 28, 2022 • 7:00 PM EST

This class teaches the basic techniques need to successfully ring the “buckets” in a healthy and safe manner. Topics covered will include warm-ups and stretches; muscle groups, posture, and stance; table space and layout; basic ringing stroke and techniques; damping; stopped sounds; drills and practice; and sharing bells and choreography.
00:12:46 Kim Vitray: Director and ringer; haven’t every rung bass bells
00:12:47 Brenda Jean Mears: RINGER. No bass bell ringing in past
00:12:54 Janis Jang: Director (substitute)
00:12:58 Yvonne DuVal (she/her): Director. Rang a big silver bell ONCE lol
00:12:59 Carol Stratemeyer: bass bells for about 15 yrs
00:12:59 Liz Peters: director only
00:13:07 Janis Jang: played bass bells
00:13:09 Erin Gerecke: Ringer, comfortably ring down to G3
00:13:11 Ellie Hodder: Mostly director. Have rung bass but it’s been awhile since I’ve been to the gym
00:13:14 Anita Fraundorf: Director and bass bell ringer
00:13:18 Joan Northouse: New director, mainly treble player
00:13:24 Anita: Director and ringer but lowest bell we have is C4
00:13:27 Susan Butler: Director only. Have had the opportunity to try to ring bass bells
00:13:27 [email protected]: no bass bell experience
00:13:47 Jan Nyhus: I am a director. I have rung base bells and they are very heavy.
00:13:47 Kathy: director and have rung down to G4
00:14:13 Kim Vitray: Nope
00:14:16 Erin Gerecke: No…but I do myself
00:14:20 Kathy: when I think of it, I try….
00:14:22 Janis Jang: no
00:14:24 Yvonne DuVal (she/her): Used to, should probably start again…
00:14:24 Susan Butler: sometimes
00:14:25 Anita: no
00:14:26 Jan Nyhus: no
00:14:27 Carol Stratemeyer: yes
00:14:34 Barbara Walsh: yes
00:14:37 Joan Northouse: sometimes
00:14:49 Kathy: my LB2 ringer shows up late every rehearsal
00:24:05 Christy Glynn: no
00:24:08 Yvonne DuVal (she/her): no
00:24:08 Kathy: sorry no
00:24:10 Kim Vitray: No
00:24:12 Susan Butler: no
00:24:13 Janis Jang: no
00:24:13 Jan Nyhus: no
00:24:15 Anita: not bass bells
00:27:16 Kim Vitray: Please show that again
00:33:43 Kathy: what situations in the music would be appropriate to throw the clapper?
00:34:45 Joan Northouse: What lower bell do you feel one should start to throw clapper
00:38:08 Eileen Raycroft: Do Tell
00:38:10 Yvonne DuVal (she/her): I don’t
00:38:15 Christy Glynn: what I sthat?
00:38:17 Janis Jang: I dont
00:39:22 Susan Butler: Zoom damps it before you do, sadly.
00:40:04 Susan Butler: But we can clearly see your technique. Thanks
00:40:14 Eileen Raycroft: Whomp – there it is!
00:42:09 Kim Vitray: If the presenter will turn “original sound” on it might help with the Zoom damping.
00:43:14 Kathy: Leslie- have you ever broken a spring throwing the clapper or plucking?
00:49:41 Kathy: is it possible to break a spring ?
00:49:47 Kathy: throwing the clapper/
00:50:40 Kathy: we have Whitechapels
00:50:52 Kim Vitray: Saw that happen in the middle of a concert last year.
00:53:24 Erin Gerecke: mart
00:53:27 Kathy: martelatto
00:53:32 Carol Stratemeyer: mating
00:57:01 Kim Vitray: What a great idea!!!
00:57:08 Erin Gerecke: I have fleece-lined Isotoners—love them for my lower 4s/upper 3s.
01:01:51 Kathy: we do
01:01:55 Erin Gerecke: 2.5
01:02:00 Kathy: wish we had more
01:02:00 Carol Stratemeyer: yes
01:02:02 Yvonne DuVal (she/her): Don’t have these bells, yet…
01:02:13 Erin Gerecke: no, we split it up weird
01:02:27 Stevie Berryman: We usually have 2, assigned in 3rds
01:02:35 Carol Stratemeyer: yes. unless we need to jumble
01:02:52 Erin Gerecke: DEGB, CFA
01:05:00 Jan Nyhus: Thank you! This has been very interesting. It might work to do this layout in other positions.
01:05:09 Eileen Raycroft: This was very helpful, thank you so much! My choir is very small, but one day we’ll get the big bells out and I’
01:05:14 Eileen Raycroft: ll be better prepared.
01:05:46 Susan Butler: Thanks Leslie! Great class, well organized stepbystep
01:05:56 Stevie Berryman: Thanks, Leslie! Great info!
01:06:10 Carol Stratemeyer: what strength exercises do you recommend?
01:06:19 [email protected]: Jan Waterman Great class!
01:06:24 Kathy: Thank you, can’t wait to give my bass ringers these tips
01:06:34 Yvonne DuVal (she/her): Thank you!
01:06:37 Erin Gerecke: thank you!
01:06:40 Kim Vitray: Thank you, it was awesome