The Southwest Bell Ringing Course

Groups

Although there is a range of choices we cannot guarantee that every group will be run each year.

1) Bell Experience including Call Changes

Requirements

For this Group the only requirement is that you can ring rounds unaided.

Aims

To develop confidence and competence ringing a variety of bells.

What you will be doing

You will then ring at a range of towers specifically selected to give you experience of ringing on light and heavy bells, long and short draughts, plain bearings and ball bearings, etc. Your tutor will help you acquire the variations in techniques required to handle the different bells with complete confidence. You will be given help to improve your ringing skills, including advanced handling, being able to ring your bell at different speeds, to improve your listening and striking skills, to work on leading, and to ring call changes. Much of the ringing will be rounds, call changes and kaleidoscope practices. The Group Tutorial will cover all of the above skills and answer many of the questions that you have about ringing. This group is ideal for ringers who wish to become well-rounded bell handlers on all types of bells.

2) An introduction to Devon Call Changes

This group will focus on the fundamentals of Devon Call Change ringing. Devon style call change ringing is man art of its own and requires a different set of skills compared to method ringing. A full ‘Devon Peal’ consists of a rise, set of call changes (always sixty-on-thirds for competitions) and then lower. Within this group you will begin to learn to rise and lower in peal, closed hand stroke/cartwheel ringing and look at methods of improving striking. This group is best aimed at someone who has been ringing for a couple of years and is looking to begin learning the art of Devon Call Change ringing.

Minimum Ringing Standard:

Able to ring sets of call changes off the stay with some guidance

Started to learn to rise and lower a bell

Learning Aims

We appreciate everyone learns at different paces and has different styles of learning. Your tutor will aim to give you the best learning experience for you, with guidance and tuition tailored to meet your requirements. The below are a set of learning objectives that we hope to get everyone to be able to achieve.

Objectives:

To be able to rise and lower in peal with guidance

To be able to ring inside on hunting pattern sets of sixty plus call changes with some guidance

To begin correcting own striking and beginning to understand how to correct striking errors

To be able to ring the hunting bell with guidance

Additional Objectives may include:

Learning to call shorts sets of changes such as the Queens pattern from crib sheet

Learning to treble a rise and fall

3) Advanced Devon Call Changes ( including Raise and Lower)

Requirements

Devon Call Change ringing is a unique art in its own right. Traditionally practiced within the county of Devon it is becoming increasingly popular in other parts of the UK and this course provides the best opportunity to learn the ins and outs of completing a ‘proper’ Devon Call Change peal. This group is best for someone who has been ringing for a number of years, or is from Devon and looking to get into competition ringing.

Minimum Ringing Standard:

Able to ring sets of call changes off the stay without guidance

Able to rise and lower bell individually with minimal guidance

Some experience of rising and lowering in peal

Learning Aims:

Objectives:

To be able to complete a full Devon competition peal without guidance

To be able to rise and lower in peal with minimal guidance

To know most of the time where their bell should be ringing without guidance

Additional objectives may include:

To be able to call Sixty-on-Thirds and Chamberpot with minimal guidance

To be able to treble a rise and lower with minimal guidance

To be able to begin correcting striking mistakes

4) Plain Hunt

Requirements

For this group the requirement is the ability to confidently ring rounds, call changes and kaleidoscope practices with good bell handling and good bell control; experience in raising and lowering is extremely beneficial.

What you will be doing

You will be looking to take those first steps into method ringing. Plain Hunt is the basis of all method ringing, so being competent and confident in hunting is the way forward. The first Group Tutorial session will look at what Plain Hunt is and the ringing skills you will need to be able to ring it confidently. In the practical sessions you will be able to practice plain hunting and covering first of all on as many different bells as you can handle in the tower, and then on a variety of bells as you visit different churches. You will be able to progress at your own speed, and those wishing, and able, to may have the opportunity to progress to plain hunting to a method. This course is ideal for those taking their first steps into plain hunt, or those wishing to consolidate work on plain hunt already begun.

5) Plain Bob Doubles

Requirements

For this Group, you need very good bell control and wide experience of plain hunting – on as many different bells in a tower as you can handle, and in as many different towers as possible. Also having rung the treble to a variety of Doubles methods is essential.

Aims

To start ringing plain courses of Plain Bob Doubles with confidence and develop the skills to advance to touches.

What you will be doing

The first Group Tutorial session will be looking at the four ‘pieces of work’ that are included in Plain Bob Doubles, and the skills required to ring them. In the practical session you will have the opportunity to practice ringing these pieces of work and the Plain Course of the method. You will be able to progress at your own speed, and for those wishing, and able to, there may be a chance to progress to ringing a touch. This course is ideal for those taking their first steps in method ringing or for those wishing to consolidate work already begun.

6) Plain Bob Minor

Requirements

For this Group you need, ideally, to be able to ring touches of a variety of Doubles methods. The minimum would be to be able to ring Plain Bob Doubles inside, consistently and reliably.

Aims

To be able to ring plain courses of Plain Bob Minor with confidence and to develop the skills to advance to touches.

What you will be doing

You will receive tuition and experience in all aspects of Plain Bob Minor. Developing the knowledge and skills to first of all ring plain courses on a number of different bells in the tower, and then to develop the confidence and rope sight to be able to ring touches including both bobs and singles. This course is ideal for those taking their first steps in ringing Plain Bob Minor or for those wishing to consolidate work already begun.

And Finally...

Even though all the students in each Group will be concentrating on the same method or tasks, they will all come to the Group with different levels of expertise and experience. Your tutor will be ensuring that each of you gets the maximum benefit from the Course, but you will still end up with different levels of expertise.