Lectures 2008
The 'theory' sessions (many are not at all theoretical - some are purely practical!) are an essential part of the course. They give you a chance to broaden your ringing experience beyond the method you are learning in your practical group.
Not all the lectures/sessions on offer are described here - check in the programme for the full range of topics. For now, we have highlighted just a few of them - those with special requirements and those where we know who will be running the session.
Who do you think your ringers were?
Handling /Bell Control clinics
Learning to ring up and down in peal
Conducting
On Friday evening we are offering various conducting practicals to complement the theory sessions on Friday afternoon. This year four options are available:
The Little Bob Major group is run jointly for the benefit of both students and helpers who want to learn a little more about conducting. We've chosen Little Bob because we can ring touches with more than a handful of calls without it taking ages to ring.
Anyone is welcome to attend one of the conducting lectures on Friday afternoon, but students should not select the evening practical without also choosing the theory session that accompanies it.
On Sunday morning there is an optional conclusion to the conducting groups - "Conducting - what to do when others go wrong". The simple answer is "Don't go wrong yourself", but this talk covers some of the ground beyond the calling of bobs and singles. Attendance at the Friday sessions is not necessary for this session.
Return to topHandbells
We offer three handbell groups, where you can learn and practice double-handed change ringing on handbells.
All three groups have three sessions timetabled. If you choose a handbell group, it is essential you go to the first session on Friday. After that, you can choose to go to one or both of the subsequent sessions.
Return to topWho do you think your ringers were?
Are you interested in researching your family tree? What about your 'ringing family' - the ringers who rang your bells before you did? Mark Sheridan has kindly agreed to talk about researching the history of your tower - finding out about the ringers of yesteryear.
Return to topRunning a simulator practice
David Bagley has been making ringing simulators for many years, and here at a local tower he shares his experience of using simulators as a teaching aid.
Return to topHandling /Bell Control clinics
If you read the programme carefully, you will have noted the general comments about having good bell control. Our experience over many years is that students sometimes struggle with strange bells, and this impedes their progress as ringers. The handling clinics give you an opportunity to work on improving your bell control under supervision, without worrying about ropesight, striking or method mistakes! The bells will be tied, and various exercises in controlling unfamiliar bells will be undertaken. There are two sessions: one on Friday evening, and another on Saturday, but the number of towers we can use is limited. In fairness to other students, only choose one of the times, not both.
Return to topRope splicing
There are two rope splicing sessions. The 'long splice' is on Friday evening, when there is plenty of time to learn about the splice and try to do it yourself. Ideally you need to bring a rope at least 2 metres long. Some sticky tape is also handy. On Sunday morning you can learn to do the 'short splice'. For this a shorter rope will do!
Return to topBelfry maintenance
For all budding steeple keepers, and those who find themselves responsible for the tower by default. John Slater used to work for one of the bellfounders, and brings a wealth of knowledge to these sessions. As the second part on Sunday morning is a continuation of the session on Saturday, please aim to go to both talks.
Return to topMake your own Method
This talk is offered twice - you can choose to go to either session. After explaining some of the basic rules about method making, the tutor helps the group make some methods of their own.
Return to topA family connection?
Have you ever wondered how some ringers can remember lots of methods at once? Using the family of Surprise minor methods, we explore how some methods are related, making it easier to remember what they are!
Return to topLearning to ring up and down in peal
One of the topics we are most often asked to cover in a tutorial is ringing up and down: a subject that is rather difficult to cover in a classroom! Some years ago, we used to run a session on Saturday evening to give students a chance to practice raising and falling in peal, but it was discontinued for various reasons. We are going to try again this year - with a different approach. You should be confident at ringing a single bell up and down before selecting this group - choose the handling clinic if you need practice at this more basic skill.
Return to topA Minor puzzle
How can we be certain that an extent of Plain Bob Minor is true? That we have rung all 720 different changes, without missing any out and repeating others? Using a pack of cards, we will prove our touch is true! Patience for bellringers!
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