Things to do · Arts and crafts
Join a handbell team
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In a handbell team each ringer looks after two or four notes, and the whole group plays as one instrument. Most groups provide the bells and the music, so you can join without buying anything.
GentleUnder £100 / $130MonthsIndoorsWith othersUK and US
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What a rehearsal is like
This is tune ringing, not the change ringing done on church tower bells. A handbell's clapper moves in only one plane, so the bell sounds only when moved in one of two directions, which gives the ringer control. Making Music explains that each ringer usually holds one bell in each hand and is responsible for two or four notes, plus their sharps and flats, ringing them whenever they appear in the music.
Ringers stand behind tables covered in foam, so bells can be put down and picked up quickly. Many read treble and bass clef, like piano music; others use number charts. Techniques include ringing off the table or shoulder, four-in-hand, mallets, damping and plucking.
Handbells are expensive and the largest bass bells are very heavy, but groups generally provide the instruments and music for beginners. Many groups also play chimes, which can be notated in their own way.
Ways in compared
| Where | Format | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| Bridlington Priory Handbell Ringers, East Yorkshire | Weekly rehearsal, Wednesday 7pm to 9pm; basic music reading needed; occasional rallies further afield | Not stated on the team's page |
| u3a handbell groups, UK | Groups within local u3as; the subject adviser helps link groups and set up new ones | Not stated on the page (u3a membership applies) |
| Pacific Ringers, Milwaukie (Handbell Musicians of America Area 10) | Four Saturday mornings for beginning adult ringers; music and binders lent (February 2020 run) | $30 |
| Cape Cod Spring Ring, Harwich, Massachusetts | One-day massed rehearsal and public concert for individuals, partial and whole choirs (March 2026 run) | $15 per ringer |
Charity Commission records describe the Handbell Ringers of Great Britain's aim as encouraging "the art of handbell tune ringing in all its forms"; Making Music suggests contacting it if there is no group near you.
How to start
- Find a team near you through Making Music's group finder, your local u3a (University of the Third Age, a network of local learning groups) or Handbell Musicians of America's ensemble list.
- Brush up on reading music; many teams use treble and bass clef notation, and some ask for basic reading skills.
- Go to a weekly rehearsal, then look out for a regional rally or Spring Ring where teams ring together.
Where to go
- Making Music: An introduction to handbell ringing (find a group) UK
- u3a: Handbells subject adviser UK
- Handbell Musicians of America: Find a handbell ensemble US
We opened these links on 11 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
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Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Courses and classes have start dates and can fill up, so the plan begins with finding and booking one. Kit comes after the first session, once you know what you need.
Questions people ask
Do you need to read music for handbells?
It helps. Many ringers read treble and bass clef, and some teams ask for basic music reading, but others use number charts where you ring when your number comes up.
What is the difference between handbell ringing and church bell ringing?
Handbell teams play tunes from written music, each ringer covering a few notes. Tower ringers ring changes, and Making Music notes that handbells were first used by tower ringers to practise ringing the changes.
How many bells does each handbell ringer play?
Usually two or four notes, plus their sharps and flats, with one bell in each hand, though some ringers hold more.
Do I need to buy my own handbells?
No. Making Music says most groups welcome beginners and provide the instruments and music.
Where this comes from: Making Music, An introduction to handbell ringing; u3a, Handbells; Bridlington Priory, Priory Handbells; Handbell Musicians of America, Handbell Ensembles; Handbell Musicians of America Area 10, Mt Hood Ringers; Handbell Musicians of America Area 1, Cape Cod Spring Ring 2026; Charity Commission, Handbell Ringers of Great Britain. Opened 11 November 2026.
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