Getting Started on the Bells

Watch the videos on this page and go through the steps to review how to get started on your bell kit. Hopefully I've had a chance to show each of you how to take it out, set it up and hold your mallets. Now, make sure to practice all of the things below every day and watch the videos if you need any help. Send me a message on Google Classroom or an email if you're having trouble!

1. Setting up your stand

Before we get started playing the bells, you will need to set up your stand. Practice doing this a few times so you can do it quickly. Watch the video to review (but skip the part where he attaches the drum "claw" - - he goes to the bells attachment a min

Follow these steps:

Loosen the screw on the base of the stand and separate the legs. When you have them in place, tighten the screw.
Loosen the screw on the top of the base and insert the metal tube from the top section. Tighten the screw, but you'll need to adjust this later to set it to the correct height.
Loosen the big screw on the top section and pull out the four arms that hold your bell kit. Pull the arms up so the top is as flat as possible.
Take your bells out of the case and set them on top of the arms. Remember, the bigger side of the bells is held by the two larger arms, and the smaller side is help by the small arms. Line up the hole on the bottom of the bells with the screw at the top of the stand.

Music stand:

Your bell kit may have also come with a small, foldable music stand. If it did, you'll need to open it up and insert the bottom into the notches in the back of your bell kit.

But I recommend using another music stand. The stands that come with theses bell kits don't hold music very well and are not at a good angle to play your instrument and read your music.

This video will show you how to set up your stand correctly.

Your bell kit may have come with a music stand like this

2. Introduction to the bells

We're almost ready to start playing! But first, lets become more familiar with the layout of the bell kit. Watch the video to understand how the bells work and how the notes are organized.

Make sure you can identify:

The tone bars
Which side of the bells has the higher notes & which side has the lower notes.
Which bars play the natural notes
Which bars play the flat or sharp notes

This video will introduce you to your bell set

3. Holding your mallets & playing first notes

Your bell kit should be all set up and ready to play now. Let's make sure that you're holding the mallets properly, and then we'll play some simple notes on the instrument. Watch the video to review how to hold your mallets, and then follow along to the video to begin learning how to play.

Holding the mallets:

Pinch the mallet between your thumb and your index finger's top knuckle. You should pinch the area just below the halfway point on the mallet.

Then, wrap your other three fingers gently around the bottom of the mallet.
Keep your palms facing down
Keep your mallets in a "v" shape

Playing the bells:

Using your wrist, raise the mallet a few inches up and bring it down onto the bar
Always strike the middle of the the bar, not the top or bottom where the screws hold it in place.
As soon as you strike, bring the mallet back up again so the bar can ring. If you leave the mallet sitting on the bar, it will make a "dead" sound.
Leave both mallets in the "v" shape - - when playing with only one hand, keep the other mallet above the bells in that same "v" position.

Watch this video to learn how to hold your mallets & play your first notes

Correct mallet position - always keep your mallets together in a "v"

4. Finding your first notes: B flat, D and C

The hardest part of the bells is finding the right notes as you read your music. Let's start by identifying an important note in band: B flat. Watch the video to learn how to identify the B flats on your bell kit. Then, watch the other video to learn how to identify and play the notes D, C along with B flat. We'll play melodies with these notes soon.

A few tips:

B flat will be one of your "home keys" that you should be able to identify instantly. Always look for the group of three bars on the row. The right most bar in each of those groups is a B flat.

Your bell kit probably looks like this. Don't be thrown off by the B flat all the way to the left! It's not in a group of three because the lowest note is a G.

Watch this video & follow along to identify and play your B flat note

Watch this video to learn how to identify your D and C notes

Work on these things every day this week. Try to spend around 15 minutes each day holding your mallets, setting up your bell kit, and then playing your bells as the video instructed. Work on keeping your grip relaxed and make sure to "pull the sound" out of the bells. Remember to only use your wrists! We'll be begin playing some short melodies next week!

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