Winter’s chill got you down? Warm up your handbell skills with Embellish! We’re hosting a relaxed day of classes for ringers of all levels – from newbies to seasoned pros. We’ve got coffee, muffins, treats, and lunch covered. All you need to do is register and join the fun! We’ll handle the rest.

There will be four class sessions, lunch, and a mini-concert by Embellish.

When & Where:

We are just days away from Winter Warm Up 2025! With over 80 ringers registered, we’re sure to have a fun day enjoying all things bell related! Below is some info you will want to review before Saturday.

• Where to go: Rush Creek Bible Church, 2334 76th St SW, Byron Center, MI 49315.  
• Registration:  Begins at 8:30 and goes until 9. A light breakfast snack will be available.
• Class Schedule: At registration each ringer will receive their personalized class schedule for the day.
• What to bring:
  • gloves if you have them
  • water bottle
  • dress comfortably, especially shoes. We recommend tennis shoes or sneakers of some sort. The church has requested that we do not wear black soled shoes in order to help protect their gym floor.

Speaking of shoes, you have the opportunity to donate your old sneakers to help support Embellish! We are partnering with GotSneakers to recycle and repurpose old footwear, with proceeds from this fundraiser going directly to support Embellish’s Tour Fund.  If you have any old pairs of shoes laying around, please bring them to Winter Warm Up. We will have a donation box in the lobby, and appreciate any donations! Accepted shoes must be donated as a pair, and only the “styles” of shoes below are eligible for this program.

What to bring:

• Gloves (bells and other equipment will be provided)
• Dress comfortably (especially shoes, but please no black soled shoes per the church’s request)

Schedule:

• 8:30—Registration begins
• 9:00—Welcome & announcements
• SESSION 1
• SESSION 2
• SESSION 3
• LUNCH (included)
• SESSION 4
• Mini Concert by Embellish

Registration Information:

Registration is now closed! If you missed this year’s event, please make sure to sign up for our email list so you’ll be notified of the next workshop that Embellish hosts!

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2025 Class Offerings

Based on feedback from previous workshops we have added new classes and brought back some of your favorites! Have each ringer read through the list below and choose the top 6 classes they would like to attend. They can indicate their choices on the Ringer Class Request Form provided.

• Back-to-Basics: Learn the basics from picking up your bells to laying them down, and everything in between. This class will start from the beginning and will reinforce basic ringing techniques for bells and chimes.
  
• Beyond Ringing: Once you’ve mastered how to ring, come discuss all that’s involved beyond ringing. Thumb damps, marts, plucks, mallets, tower swings…the list goes on and on. This class will discuss the proper way to do all things “beyond ringing.” Come learn the finer details of all the techniques above and learn ones you may not have ever heard of!
  
• Big Bass Bells: If you’ve always wanted to ring the monsters, this class is for you. This class will discuss different techniques for ringing B3 on down, ideas for assignments, and healthy ringing.
  
• Conducting Masterclass: Directors: improve your groups’ performance by improving your own. Brenda Austin, internationally known conductor, clinician and composer, will observe you “at work” and give you pointers. Each participant should bring with them copies of music they would like to conduct. It could be something you are working on with your bell choir currently. We will provide ringers for you to conduct. Brenda will give guidance, in the style of a masterclass, to improve your conducting and communication with your groups.
  
• Dynamic Directing: Every director faces their own unique challenges. Whether you’re starting a beginning group, troubleshooting hard-to-ring passages or looking for your group to ring more musically, you are not in this alone. Brenda Austin is an internationally-recognized director and clinician who has directed groups of all levels and ages, and will share her insights from the other side of the podium.
  
• Embellishments: Want to achieve that WOW factor from your congregation or audience? Learn how to “embellish” your performance by adding instrumentation and percussion. Explore sounds beyond bells that will create a knock-out performance. This class will allow ringers to have hands-on experience with different types of bells, chimes, and percussion instruments like wind chimes, tambourine, Djembe, Cajon, and many more!
  
• From Start to Finish: This sight-reading session will allow ringers to work a piece from start to finish. Find a new stand partner, and experience ringing a new position while learning and perfecting a piece in a very short period of time. This class will ring a mid-level piece and is open to all abilities.
  
• Practice Prep: Are you the type of ringer that wishes you had more time in rehearsal each week? There are so many things you can do to help learn a piece faster and more efficiently. Embellish will share thoughts on marking music, page turns, bell assignments, and individual work that will maximize your time spent as a group.
  
• Rhythm and Games: Bell ringers are percussionists. Rhythm is our jam. But we don’t go it alone. Ringing in a group takes teamwork and trust. This class will improve rhythm using a fun team approach and will address how posture, body movement, and mood all contribute to ringing in time and on time.
  
• Solo & Small Ensemble Ringing: Have you ever wanted to ring it all? This class will address the ins and outs of solo and small ensemble ringing so that you can take the stage on your own. Come learn what it takes to separate from the pack and go it alone.
  
• Tackling Treble – Beginner: Come try your hand at treble. Ringers will learn how to ring multiple bells and will be introduced to shelly and 4-in-hand techniques. Basic techniques on bells and chimes will be covered.
  
• Tackling Treble – Intermediate/Advanced: If you already ring multiples, come refine your technique and learn 6-in-hand in this advanced session. This class will also discuss how to mart, mallet, thumb damp, and pluck those hard-to-ring passages.
  
• Tricks of the Trade: Do you want your performance to go from good to great? Sometimes we get in our own way and make things harder than they need to be. This class will share Embellish’s “secret sauce” on challenging passages, impossible measures, and the key to making it look easy. This class will also address the finer details of polishing your performance once the notes are mastered.
  
• Weaving with Bells: This is not a crafting class! Weaving is a ringing technique – really!! It will help you get to that accidental or through those quick passages with bells and chimes. Learn how to take the confusion out of picking them up and putting them down.