Season Of Bells

Not only is this joyful swing tune the perfect way to begin a holiday program, it's also a wonderful way to feature your bell players. The melody and lyrics are light, fun, and easy, yet they stay out of the way of the bell action while delivering the energy and enthusiasm of the season. The big band background on the Performance / Accompaniment recording keeps things ticking along at a lively pace to ensure the overall effect is uplifting and exciting. Add a bunch of bell players, and you have a real showcase on your hands!

We have provided written parts for two sets of bells, indicated as Bells 1 and Bells 2 on the music. Bells 1 is the more advanced part and uses the whole C scale, C to C'. Bells 2 is considerably simpler and uses only C, D, G, and C'. You could make it even simpler by using only the C's and G. You could also build on it by adding a few notes that your players have learned. If you want to use both bells parts with different groups of players with different abilities, that would be a marvelous way to let everyone be a part of the whole. Whatever you use, however complex or sparse, it will sound just fine with the recording. To make extra sure, we have included an instrumental recording that has the bells on it for reinforcement (track 33). And if you'd like a little help rehearsing your bell players, we have isolated the audio with rhythm section only, and put it on our web site as a free download. (See details in the box on page 77.)

There is also a part for jingle bells, of course. This, too, can be adapted to be simpler or more complex as you prefer. You can feature a few players or a lot.

As if that isn't enough, if you really want to make this a big performance piece, consider adding movement as well. Singers who aren't playing bells or a dedicated group of dancers could be used. To give you ideas of what you can do, our choreographer Melissa Schott has created a video you can access for free at our web site. Written teaching notes are also available in a downloadable PDF form. (See the box on page 77.) Remember, as with our music, you are encouraged to alter or adapt the movement suggestions in any way that works for you. Need it more active? Less active? That's okay! Our goal is to inspire. Where you go from there is totally up to you.