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6 - Bell Handling and Control

Making sure you can handle your bell, do so safely, and in time are key aspects of bellringing.  This collection introduces you to what good bell control looks like at handstroke and backstroke, some jargon 'upwards' and 'downwards', ringing a bell up, ringing a bell down, and you can see what is happening overhead on split screens.  These skills are essential to master, read more ... and scroll down for additional links.

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What Good Bell Control Looks Like (Handstroke and Backstroke)


When the Conductor calls Upwards
Ringing Up A Bell 


Ringing A Bell Up - Graham Knabb (Educational)


When the Conductor Calls Downwards
Ringing A Bell Down - Graham Knabb (Educational)



Ringing Down (Tenor for example)



Watch this again and listen to the bells striking, look at what is happening with the handstroke, and the backstroke, and focus on how the ringers are making the coils (shortening or lengthening the rope) as they raise and lower the bell. 

At the start, notice the conductor calls Trebles Going, She's gone ...



At the end the conductor says Stand ... and the band set the bell safely and stop ringing.

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