Start with the DVD "Ringing In Color", (see link under Resources, below this article) for a good overview of the color-coded handbells, teaching aids, publications and accessories available, showing children in K-8 using both chord and melody methods. These materials are so comprehensive that even a teacher or volunteer with no previous musical knowledge or experience can set up and run a handbell group teaching children how to ring in color, progress to sight reading, and love playing music together.
Begin your group with a basic songbook such as "The Color-Ring Book!", a color-coded songbook for KidsPlay Handbells, by Little Ringers. This songbook makes music reading and playing fun! Using a 13 bell chromatic set, the book includes 19 songs with color-coded melodies and chord symbols children can play immediately. Melodies with large, easy to read notes and colors matching the bells include both secular and sacred songs. One verse or chorus of the lyrics is included for each song. A chart at the bottom of the page shows the child, parent or teacher which bells are used for playing melodies and chords. Song include: "Are You Sleeping?", "Blue Bells of Scotland", "Clementine", "Deck the Halls", "If You're Happy and You Know It", "Jingle Bells", "Up on the Housetop", "We Wish You a Merry Christmas", "The First Noel", "Ode to Joy", and "When the Saints Go Marching In".
Selecting The Handbells For Your Group: Color-coded handbells come in three styles, to accommodate all needs. In addition to the regular handbells with handles that you ring by swinging them, there are color-coded desk bells which, when arranged on a flat surface, require only the touch of a finger to make them ring. These deskbells enable those with physical challenges to participate fully. Finally, there is a combination color-coded bell which allows the ringer to either swing the bell by the handle, or ring it with the touch of a finger. These different styles make it possible to choose bells which meet the needs of everyone in your group. This writer uses the combination deskbell with handle style, to best accommodate the needs of all players.
Choose either the Chord or Melody Method: Using materials such as the "Color-Ring Book" and Chord or Melody Cards, the director and children can play simple songs with great success even from their very first session! For the chord method, children are divided into three groups, for playing the 3 chords most needed to accompany any song. (I, IV and V, for those musically knowledgeable.) For the melody method, holding up the color-coded note cards enables beginning players to ring the melody notes in correct sequence for the song. Once children hear that they can play songs together successfully using this method, they are really excited to start learning how to read color-coded music (see photo in Step 2) in order to play any song of their choice. As they become more advanced, there are DVDs included with many of the song collections which allow professional-sounding accompaniment of the children's chord or melody playing. Now your group will want to go "on the road" to perform for audiences: For other children's groups, groups of senior citizens, for a church congregation, even for a handbell "Ringathon" - a playoff with other kids' handbell groups.
There are many song collections available for your handbell group, some including CDs or DVDs for added professional accompaniments. In "Celebrations For 8 Note Handbells", for instance (see Links for source), eight appealing melodies for the C-c 8 note diatonic bell sets include melodies supported by two exciting CD accompaniment tracks for young players. The collection begins with very basic first-time players' melody assignments and builds slowly to moderate beginners' arrangements. The purchaser is given permission to photocopy the written score. Included is a beautiful arrangement of "The River", which with its accompaniment will make your beginning group sound very impressive! This songbook is part of the well-known "SweetPipes" collection available on many different music publication sites.