1. Come and Learn to Ring! Association of Ringing Teachers
With thanks to and acknowledgment of the
Association of Ringing Teachers

2. Welcome to the world of change ringing!
Inhabited by friendly people (like you!)
Ageless!
Sociable!
Inclusive: open to all, of any faith or none
Healthy: physical and mental workouts
A sport, an art, a mental challenge, a spiritual pursuit, a hobby, ‘giving something back to the community’: you decide!
NOTES FOR PRESENTERS – THE NOTES HERE ARE SUGGESTIONS BUT TRY TO USE YOUR OWN WORDS AND EXPERIENCES AS THE BULLET POINTS COME UP ON THE SLIDE WITH EACH CLICK, NOT JUST READ OUT THE NOTES!
Ringers are a friendly crowd, ranging in age from 5 to 98 (often people learn at around 10-14, but there are many ringers who start much later in life, even after retirement). Usually there is a social element to ringing, which generally includes both pub and afternoon teas, as often as possible!
Ringers come from all walks of life, all academic and physical ability – you might be surprised at the diversity in those respects.
Some ringers view change ringing as spiritual/for the Church, others see it as an art or science, some as a sport (it is good for you, especially climbing all those tower stairs, as witnessed by people still ringing into their 90s!) and many see it as a combination of more than one. And some ringers choose to learn the basics for simple Sunday ringing and leave it at that, and others go on to ring very complex pieces of ringing at any opportunity!

3. Old but not old-fashioned!
Technology
simulators with silenced bells when teaching
apps so you use your ‘phone, iPad or laptop
Social Media
Facebook
Twitter
BellBoard
Web sites
Training & Mentoring
Residential and non-residential courses
Association training days
Open Days
Heritage or any practice night or Sunday. Because we have to operate as a team to make our ringing successful, we tend to be a friendly bunch.
Competitions
groups based on professions (eg police) or interests (eg cycling)
Associations, Inter Association
NOTES FOR PRESENTERS, AS BEFORE, TRY TO USE YOUR OWN WORDS AND EXPERIENCES WITH EACH BULLET POINT, THE FOLLOWING IS SOME EXTRA INFORMATION
Technology is very helpful when learning, and we use simulators with silenced bells when teaching, and have apps that allow you to learn parts of ringing on your ‘phone or iPad or laptop.
We ringers have Facebook pages and Twitter accounts, and use technology also to quickly communicate about a performance we like or a tower we have visited. Web pages tell us where we can ring if we want to visit a new tower when on holiday, and also give us a wealth of learning materials, whether on learning to ring or the history of change ringing.
Ringers have mentoring schemes, and run courses for all levels of ringing, some even residential. And we are known for our welcoming approach, encouraging those interested to come up our tower to see what we do – whether on a Heritage Open Day or any practice night or Sunday. Because we have to operate as a team to make our ringing successful, we tend to be a friendly bunch.
We have youth bands and competitions, groups based on professions (eg police) or interests (cycling), - all really an excuse for more ringing and socialising.

4. I’m interested but how do I start??
Turn up at local tower on practice night or at Sunday ringing!
You WILL be made WELCOME !
Get a feel for what it’s about
1 to 1 sessions with instructor
Start ringing with others
It’s as simple as turning up at your local tower on practice nights or at Sunday ringing! Look at the church notice board or website
Don’t worry, you WILL be made WELCOME !
At your first practice night you will be asked a few safety questions about you and then probably have a few pulls on the rope with an instructor, your first bell ring!
Next will be a few 1 to 1 sessions with an instructor
When you are ready you will start ringing with others and your ringing journey has started

5. OK, so what is the ringing journey?
Destination and speed up to you
Learn basics, and leave it there?
Gradually learn more and become more skilled (surprise yourself!)?
Plan for the journey?
Like any journey, the destination, and speed are up to you
Some ringers are happy to learn the basics, a bit of simple method ringing and leave it there
But most ringers are captivated by the challenges and gradually learn more and become more skilled, often surprising themselves!
However, it’s often good to see the context or plan for a journey and so the next few slides will describe at least the early stages in more detail

6. Right: so what can I expect?
First, learn to ‘handle’ the bell
Instructor will build your skills gradually and safely
Learning to control a bell’s swing takes c7-15 hours
Learn to catch the rope and ‘feel’ the bell through it
Learn how much to pull or ‘check’ the swing to keep bell in its place
Once mastered, join others in ‘rounds’
You are now part of the team!
The first stage in learning to ring is to develop the skills to 'handle' the bell. That means the technique to control the bell using the rope. This is done on a one-to-one basis with your instructor and is often done on a silenced bell. For best results this stage is best carried out intensively over a short period. It can take 7 to 15 hours – possibly more.
In some areas this is accomplished in a couple of days or others several sessions over a few weeks. As with other skills it takes a lot of practice at first.
You will usually taught each of the small movements separately and then helped to put them together. The skill is all about controlling the rope and keeping tension, moving with it and catching the rope at the right place and time.
When you have finally mastered the skill of controlling the bell and rope you will then join with others and ring ‘rounds’ for the first time. Rounds are when the bells follow each other in sequence, from smallest (highest) to largest (lowest in pitch) – like a downwards scale in musical terms. Not easy at this stage but the first reward for all your efforts and your first ‘live’ ring. Now you are part of the team!

7. So what does the team do, exactly?
First ring ‘rounds’, the bells ringing in note sequence from highest to lowest
Important to use both ears and eyes
Sounding right (‘striking well’) critical; pleasant sound better than a crashing one!
Next step: call changes = conductor calls out the changing positions of the bells
Some ringers are happy to stay at this stage
Bell ringing is all about working as part of a team so now you begin to gain experience ringing with others and on different bells - often in different towers. Now with practice your competence and confidence grow.
The key skills developing now are the ability to watch and listen to the ringing to know when you move your rope and sound your bell, and to be able to vary the pace of your ringing to fit in with the group. This is again usually done with a personal tutor, who will help you to develop these skills. Being able to listen to hear your bell and produce an even rhythmic sound is important and time taken now to develop these basic skills is critical. Sight as well as sound is a key aid to ringing well
At this stage you will use a series of exercises to practise your control, listening and teamwork skills.
‘Call changes’ are used to enable different sounds to be produced and are used as exercises in listening, bell movement and observation skills. This is where you are given verbal instructions to change places with other bells. For instance whist ringing rounds (123456) - where the bells ring down the musical scale - you might change 4 and 5 to produce and then 2 and 3, (132546) and then 2 and 5 to produce ‘Queens’ , a recognisable and pleasant sound – particularly on eight bells ( ).
This is achieved by controlling your bells so you can allow it to ‘wait’ when at the top of its swing to allow another ringer to ‘check’ their bell in by pulling the rope sooner – so you swap places. And you never move more than one place at a time.
Many ringers do not want to progress past this stage but relish the satisfaction of producing a great sound for their community using ‘rounds’ or ‘call changes’ and being a member of their team.

8. What are the next stages?
After call changes you can learn ‘methods’ (tunes)
First ‘method’ is plain hunting, moving your bell one place up or down the sequence
‘Ropesight’ is developed; you begin to ‘see’ the other bells and know their positions as well as yours
To get the most out of bell ringing, the challenges lie in change ringing. This is when bell ringers follow a pattern called a ‘method’, where the bells change the order in which they ring each time. Except perhaps in Devon where call change ringing has been perfected and where its speed and striking accuracy make even experienced change-ringers accept defeat!
Your first step into method ringing is learning how to ‘hunt’ by moving your bell from one place to another through the other bells.
You will learn ROPESIGHT the essential skill in method ringing to support what your ears are telling you.
You learn how to move your bell accurately and how to know which place you are ringing in at any time. You will also learn additional skills such as ringing your bell up and down ‘in peal’ with others.

9. And further stages? Real method ringing
Learning how patterns with long sequences of changes are constructed
‘Practice, practice, practice’ develops your skills
Patterns are at leading edge of mathematical theory but even the most complex depend on simple rules
Memorise the rules and patterns and experience the pleasure that comes from a well-struck and completed method
There is often some theory and reading to do, but your tutor and the band will help out with advice.
Now you will learn about the structure of methods, how to remember them and for the first time ring a method yourself – usually the simplest – Plain Bob.
There is homework to do as you learn how to apply the techniques of ‘dodging’ (swapping back and forth with another bell) or making ‘places’ (staying in the same position relative to all the other bells), and you may practise on your laptop or smart phone, even on the bus or train! You will ring a Quarter Peal in a method yourself.
For the first time you will have the opportunity to ring a ‘Quarter Peal ‘performance (about 45 mins. ringing) to show off your new skills with the team and you will be able to ring the ‘tenor’ - following other bells when they ring methods.

10. Is that it? Not in the least! Step by step you progress in complexity
methods
number of bells
length of ringing: quarter peals and full peals
‘Call’ changes or methods yourself
Help new ringers
Enjoyable, rewarding and life-affirming!
Your first method will be simple, probably Plain Bob or Grandsire (all methods have names, some very ancient!)
But step by step you will progress to more complex methods, on more bells, to quarter peals and full peals - your choice
On the way you will get the chance to ‘call’ changes or methods and take part in helping new ringers start their journeys
It won’t come at once, it won’t be easy, there will always be another mountain to climb but we can promise that it will be enjoyable, rewarding and, a big one this: life-affirming!

11. Before you buy in, read the reviews!
‘’The bells are an integral part of the community that I live in and by ringing I am giving something to my town and continuing a heritage activity that has been part of the lives of the inhabitants of this area for hundreds of years. I am privileged to do so.’’
‘’It’s a good physical challenge – not hard but it needs coordination. It keeps me fit mentally and physically.’’
‘’We usually go to the pub after ringing – that’s a great social get together.’’
“I like the social aspect and have met new friends through ringing – and when we go on youth outings it’s always fun!”
’My ringing is for the church to call people in my local community to service. I am giving service to the church by my ringing.’’
‘’I like to have something to work towards so my teacher sets me goals and we work to achieve them. At first it was ‘Learning the Ropes’ but now we like to ring at new towers and ring Quarter Peals. A peal is my goal for this year.’’

12. ‘’I enjoy outings to other towers most – you see so many interesting places and meet new people. Our weekend away in East Anglia was brilliant!!’’
‘’I ring to make new friends and for the social side of ringing. I have met lots of new people and have close friends in my local band. I like the meetings and go to other practices regularly.’’
“You have to ring as part of a team for each piece of ringing. Ringing together like this makes me feel a valued part of the group.’’
‘’Attending the Ringing World Youth Striking Competition was an eye opener – I had no idea so many young people were ringing in so many areas.’’
“We had a fabulous time on the East Coast of the States, on holiday, visiting various towers to ring on their practice nights – we met some really nice people, experienced some really interesting history, and even rang for someone’s wedding!”
‘’After 25 years ringing I finally got to ring at St Paul’s – now I have rung in all the cathedrals with bells!!’’

13. We hope this has given you some idea about what learning to ring bells is about, but the really best way to find out is to turn up and have a go! We’ll be only too happy to answer any questions so contact us, your local Tower or Association.

14. Further PowerPoint resources available from the Central Council:
The following presentations offer greater detail than this general overview:
An Introduction to English Bell Ringing - a general overview
The History of English Bells and Bell Ringing - for those interested in the historical aspects
The Science of English bell ringing - for those with a scientific or mathematical interest
Restoration Appeal - a template to use as a guide when starting an appeal

15. Online addresses
Discover Bell Ringing - Association of Ringing Teachers - Learning the Ropes - Change Ringing Resources - Central Council of Church Bell Ringers - The Ringing World - Doves Guide for Church Bell Ringers - dove.cccbr.org.uk Ringing at University -

16. Other media
Facebook: Association of Ringing Teachers Bellringers CCCBR Learning the Ropes …search bell ringing for many other local groups and Associations Twitter: Association of Ringing Teachers Learning the Ropes Central Council of Church Bell Ringers

18. We hope you have found this presentation interesting
We hope you have found this presentation interesting. For further information please visit: