Ringing in Rounds

 For the Coronation in May we are hoping to ring rounds and call changes. 

What do you need to be able to do in order to achieve this? 

Firstly ring both strokes together consistently. Most of you are at or about to be at this point. 

Next you need to be able to change the speed of your bell - just a LITTLE. 

LISTEN to your bell. Hear the gaps between bells - they should be even. 

If you need to ring more quickly. You need to ring below the balance so that the bell moves through a smaller arc: Slow or check the sally or backstroke so the bell does not rise as high. You may need to:

• check the sally and don’t let it rise so high at handstroke - this means catching the sally a little higher up, hands nearer the top of the fluffy bit

• take some rope in [shorten the tail-end] at backstroke - so you have more rope beneath your hand, less rope between you and the bell

• put more weight on the stroke to keep the bell up after you have checked the stroke - so apply more tension, pull harder and longer

If you need to ring more slowly. You need to ring at the balance so that the bell moves through a complete arc. Let the sally or backstroke rise to (or nearer) the balance. You may need to:

• put more weight into the previous stroke.

• let the sally rise a little higher at handstroke - catch it a little lower down the fluffy bit

• let some rope out - move your hands closer to the end of the rope

These actions are incremental - we are talking an inch of the rope, not a foot. 

When you first try rounds all the detailed bell handling techniques go to pot! 

So calm down, relax and listen. 

Check your hands are together on the rope, you have a correct grip on the sally and you maintain long pulls. 

And listen again. 

Count to hear your bell: 123456123456123456123456

Listen to the gaps 

If you clash with the bell in front you need to pull harder

If you are slow and the bell behind you is overtaking then pull less

This is not intuitive: 

• To slow the bell pull more

• To speed up pull less

Again, relax and listen! 

When you are observing and not ringing don’t talk, listen! 

Choose a bell to listen to, think as if you are ringing that bell, is it in the right place? Are the gaps even? What would you do if it doesn’t sound quite right?

There are experienced ringers who might shrug and say “I can’t hear my bell” as an excuse for poor striking. Hearing your bell takes practice but it can be learnt. It will of course vary depending on the tone , the tower and your own hearing. Counting in your head is the first step and knowing the bell sounds roughly when your hands pass your nose. It comes with practice. Listen! 

We will tackle call changes next week!