National Seminar 2009

More detailed class descriptions are available here.

Most of the classes offered at National Seminar are appropriate for and will appeal to many of the categories listed below. While we’ve attempted to place classes in the categories where they may have the greatest appeal, attendees are welcome and encouraged to attend any class that is of interest to them.

Class Offerings for Directors:

• Beginning Ringers & Directors Track – Nancy Jessup
• Beginning Conducting – Kathy Ebling-Thorne
• B4U Ring – David Davidson
• Creative Use of Handbells in Worship – Beth Judd
• Cultivating Musical Habits – Griff Gall
• Engaging Your Audience through Good Concert Programming – Kermit Junkert
• Handbell Assignments A to Z – Allured to Zinsmeister – Monica McGowan
• Handbell Assignments for 2-3 Octaves – Monica McGowan
• I’m Excited, Now Where is Everybody? – Michael Glasgow
• Incorporating Bell Trees into the Bell Program – Barbara Brocker
• Intermediate-Advanced Conducting – David Davidson
• Malmark Maintenance – Kathy Ebling-Thorne
• Rehearsal Techniques – Beth Judd
• Schulmerich Maintenance – Kermit Junkert
• Social and Computer Networking to Create a Youth Ensemble Community – John Pfeiffer
• What’s the Music’s Story – Stephanie Wiltse
• Whitechapel Maintenance – Kathryn Hughes

Class Offerings for Ringers:

• Advanced Ringing Track – Jim Meredith
• Beginning Ringers & Directors Track – Nancy Jessup
• The Bell Tree Solo – A new Idea in Handbell Ringing – Barbara Brocker
• Change Ringing – Kathryn Hughes
• Don’t Just Stand There! – Performance Skills for Ringers – Rima Greer
• First the Music…Then the Notes (Ringing Track) – Arnold Sherman
• Foundations of Solo Ringing – Sueda Luttrell
• Handbell Soloist – Fearful of Free? – Sueda Luttrell
• It’s New, It’s Crazy, I Love It! (new techniques) – Michael Glasgow
• Making Music from the Middle – the Unsung Heroes:  Musicality and weaving for the battery bells (G4-B5) – Debbie Rice
• Musical Mallets:  Turn Handbell Hazards into Handbell Havens – Debbie Rice
• Playing Passionately from the Heart and Soul – Stephanie Wiltse
• Rhythms and Ringing – Nancy Jessup
• Ringing Basics – David Weck
• Ringing Track – Level 2-3 – Tammy Waldrop
• Socially Acceptable Bell-Hoggery Skills for Ensemble Ringers – Rima Greer
• Stop, Look, and Listen:  Strategies of musicality in the family of Stopped Sounds – Debbie Rice
• They Ain’t Heavy, They’re Just Bass Bells – Monica McGowan
• Treble Techniques (multiple in hand) – Sueda Luttrell

Class Offerings for Church Musicians:

• Creative Use of Handbells in Worship – Beth Judd
• Church Musician Round Table Discussion – Beth Judd
• Incorporating Bell Trees into the Bell Program – Barbara Brocker
• Introduction to Composition – Arnold Sherman
• Orff-Schulwerk in the Church – Paul Weller
• Social and Computer Networking to Create a Youth Ensemble Community – John Pfeiffer

Class Offerings for Music Educators:

• Cultivating Musical Habits – Griff Gall
• An Orff Approach to Handchimes – Griff Gall & Paul Weller
• Ringing to Reading: making the leap in the general music classroom – Griff Gall
• Music Educator Round Table Discussion – Griff Gall

Class Offerings for Composers:

• Introduction to Finale – Martha Lynn Thompson
• A 7-Class series on Finale® - take all seven or the one or two that fit your needs – Martha Lynn Thompson
• Introduction to Composition – Arnold Sherman
• Composer/Publisher Round Table Discussion – David Weck
• Unpublished Music Reading Session -  Michael Glasgow

Class Offerings for Community/Professional Ensembles:

• Branding Your Organization: The Fine Art of Promotion & Sales – Kay Cook
• Engaging Your Audience through Good Concert Programming – Kermit Junkert
• Goal-Oriented Handbell Group Strategies – Find Your Solutions by Finding Yourselves – Rima Greer
• Playing Passionately from the Heart and Soul – Stephanie Wiltse
• What’s the Music’s Story?

Even More Class Offerings:

• History of Bells – Alan Hughes
• Malmark Maintenance – Kathy Ebling-Thorne
• Schulmerich Maintenance – Kermit Junkert
• Whitechapel Maintenance – Kathryn Hughes
• Roundtable on Area Communication – Michael Glasgow
• Roundtable – Ringing Wet – Optimizing a Volunteer Organization – John Pfeiffer
• Roundtable – Special Needs – Non Music Readers – Linda McKechnie
• Roundtable – 14th International Handbell Symposium – Sun Joo Shin from the Handbell Ringers of Japan

Multi-Class Tracks:
We offer several multi-class tracks during National Seminar.  Registering for any track is optional; however, to attend any part of a track you must be pre-registered.  If you do register for a track, your attendance is required at every class within that track.  All tracks include 5 class sessions.

• Beginning Ringers & Directors with Nancy Jessup
• Ringing Level 2 and 3 with Tammy Waldrop
• Music First… then the Notes (levels 1-5) with Arnold Sherman
• Advanced Ringing with Jim Meredith

Preliminary list of Clinicians (subject to change):

Read more about the Clinicians

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Ringing Repertoire

Beginning Ringers and Directors – Nancy Jessup

Aria by Michael Helman, Choristers Guild #CGB582, 3-5 oct.  L2
Fantasy on Terra Beata  arr. by H. Dean Wagner, Agape #2477,  3-7 oct. L2+
I've Got the Joy arr. by Valerie W. Stephenson, Choristers Guild #CGB579, 3-5 oct L2
Meditation on “Lord, I Want to be a Christian” arr. by Sandra Eithun,   AGEHR #AG35277, 3-5 oct. L2
This Joyful Day  by Douglas E. Wagner, Agape #1850, 3-5 oct. L1+

Ringing Track Level 2-3 – Tammy Waldrop
We Three Kings  arr. by Valerie Stephensen,  Alfred Publishing #31754  (Available by June 1, 2009),  L 2
Over the Rainbow – 70th anniversary edition  arr. by Tammy Waldrop, Alfred Publishing #31753 (Available June 1, 2009),  L3-
He Leadeth Me arr. by Arnold Sherman, Agape Publishing  #2369,  L3-
Rise Up, O Church of God arr. by Tammy Waldrop, Red River Music   #BL5016, L2
Will the Circle Be Unbroken?  arr. by Anna Laura Page, Alfred Publishing #25367, L 3

First the Music…Then the Notes – Arnold Sherman
Immortal, Invisible  arr. Arnold B. Sherman, Red River Music #HB0008, 3-4 oct., Level 1-2
Joyous Spirit by Valerie Stephenson, Red River Music #BL5019, 3-6 oct., L 2
Cantabile by Emily Li, AGEHR #AG35244, 3-5 oct.,L3
Te Deum by H. Dean Wagner, Red River Music #BL5027, 4-6 oct.,  L4
The Girl with the Flaxen Hair by Claude Debussy, arr. Robert Currier, AGEHR #AG46021. 4-6 oct., L5

Advanced Ringing Track – Jim Meredith

Crush Collision March by Scott Joplin, arr. by Larry Sue, From the Top Publishing #20151  L 5
When Johnny Comes Marching Home arr. by Valerie Stephenson, From the Top Publishing #20161  L 4
Rondo Alla Turca by W.A. Mozart, arr. by James Meredith, Meredith Music Press #9805  L 4+
Pastoral Symphony by G. F. Handel, arr. by James Meredith, Meredith Music Press  #9902  L 4

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Daily Schedule (subject to change)

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Unpublished Reading Session

Composers and arrangers of all types, styles and levels of music: here’s your chance to share your newest (unpublished) creations with your peers in a friendly, fast-paced and constructive environment.  This two-part session meets at the end of the day Wednesday and Friday.  Pre-registration for composers is required, as is attendance at both sessions.  Ringers or observers may attend either or both sessions.  More information HERE or contact Michael Glasgow (michael@michaeljglasgow.com or 919-845-0303).

Scholarships

From the National Office

The W. D. McKeehan Scholarship provides assistance to qualified individuals for participation in AGEHR’s annual National Seminar for Directors and Ringers. In 2009, two scholarships will be made available for event attendees.

Scholarship Includes:

• Full registration
• Shared occupancy of a double hotel room July 15, 16, 17, and 18, 2008, at the event hotel
• Up to three hundred dollars ($300.00) to be reimbursed for travel expenses
• An AGEHR mentor during the event to assist in participation and achievement of goals

Applicant Criteria:

• Applicants must be full members of AGEHR, affiliated with a recognized member organization, or participants in a group directed by a full AGEHR member
• Applicants must demonstrate financial need
• Applicants must describe desire to attend and goals to be realized by participating in the National Seminar and how knowledge gained there will be shared
• Applicants must include a statement of support from an AGEHR member

The D. Linda McKechnie Scholarship provides assistance to qualified individuals working with special needs groups or in elementary education for participation in AGEHR’s annual National Seminar for Directors and Ringers. In 2009, one scholarship will be made available for event attendees.

Scholarship Includes:

• Full registration for the event
• An AGEHR mentor during the event to assist in participation and achievement of goals

Applicant Criteria:

• Applicants must be full members of AGEHR, affiliated with a recognized member organization, or participants in a group directed by a full AGEHR member
• Applicants must be actively working with a special needs group or in an elementary school setting
• Applicants must demonstrate financial need
• Applicants must describe desire to attend and goals to be realized by participating in the National Seminar and how knowledge gained there will be shared
• Applicants must include a statement of support from an AGEHR member

The Marilyn Kielniarz Scholarship provides assistance to qualified music educators for participation in AGEHR’s annual National Seminar for Directors and Ringers. In 2009, one scholarship will be made available for event attendees.

Scholarship Includes:

• $250 toward registration costs for the event
• An AGEHR mentor during the event to assist in participation and achievement of goals

Applicant Criteria:

• Applicants must be full members of AGEHR, affiliated with a recognized member organization, or participants in a group directed by a full AGEHR member
• Applicants must be a music educator working in a school setting. 
• Applicants must demonstrate financial need
• Applicants must describe desire to attend and goals to be realized by participating in the National Seminar and how knowledge gained there will be shared
• Applicants must include a statement of support from an AGEHR member

Applications for all scholarships are available at www.agehr.org/tucson.  Deadline for submission is May 1, 2009.  Recipients will be notified by June 1, 2009.

From the Areas

Many of the 12 AGEHR Areas also offer scholarships to National Seminar.  Please check your Area’s website for more information.  Links to Area websites can be found here.

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Lodging

The Hilton El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort – the Official Hotel of the AGEHR National Seminar 2009
This beautiful Tucson hotel is set at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountain range in Northwest Tucson, AZ. Inspired by the beauty of its pristine natural canyon views and lush desert surroundings, this luxury full-service Tucson hotel is equipped with golf, tennis and conference facilities.   

The Hilton El Conquistador is the largest golf resort in Southern Arizona offering 45-holes of championship golf on three different courses: The Hilton el Conquistador, The Canada and Pusch Ridge. We cater to all levels of golf enthusiasts with a comprehensive golf academy.

This Renowned Tucson Resort offers:

• 45-holes of Championship golf
• 31 lighted tennis courts
• Luxury spa services
• 143-foot waterslide
• Five distinctive restaurants
• On-site equestrian facilities
• 100,000 square feet of flexible indoor/outdoor conference & meeting facilities

The Hilton El Conquistador offers 428 guestrooms in the Pusch Ridge complex with spectacular views of the mountains, pool, city or desert landscape. You may also choose a Casita Suite if you want lodging with an apartment feel.  After a day of classes, networking and concerts, retreat to the luxurious Tucson lodging accommodations for a restful night's slumber.

In Tucson, Arizona, the possibilities are endless. The first-class Hilton Golf Resort has been awarded the prestigious AAA 4-Diamond rating 20 years in a row. The impressive resort, located just northwest of Tucson, Arizona, provides luxurious rooms for weary travelers. Every guest room is designed with the corporate and leisure traveler in mind, and this Tucson resort is elegantly appointed for your total comfort. Come and visit the El Conquistador lodging accommodations, and see why they have been named one of the best Tucson, Arizona resorts year after year.

The Pusch Ridge guest room features 420 square feet of space with your choice of one king or two queen beds. Each room affords a patio or balcony with city, mountain, pool or spectacular desert views.  All guestrooms and suites include amenities such as: minibars, luxurious guest robes, hairdryer, in-room movies, double data-port and wireless high-speed Internet access.

For more information about the Hilton El Conquistador, visit their website at www.hiltonelconquistador.com.

Room rates for National Seminar are:

Rollaway charge is $30.00 per night. Children under 18 may stay for free in their parent's room using existing bedding.

Taxes and Service Charges
Currently, Resort rooms are taxed at a rate of 14.05%. All other resort purchases may be subject to sales tax. Please note that these taxes are subject to change under Arizona State tax laws.
The following service gratuities are suggested and are at individual’s discretion:
* Porterage:                          $5.00 in / $5.00 out per person
* Housekeeping Services:            $2.00 per room per night

Reservations may be made online. Reservations may also be made directly with the hotel by calling 1-800-Hiltons. Please refer to the group rate for American Guild of English Handbell Ringers National Seminar.    A one-night deposit is required to secure your reservation.  To guarantee our preferred room rates, please make your reservation no later than June 23, 2009.

Hotel Surcharge: To insure that we are able to meet the room block required by the Hilton El Conquistador, registrants who opt for alternate lodging will pay an additional surcharge. To avoid this surcharge, please bring confirmation of your Hilton El Conquistador reservation to the event registration desk at sign-in.  This surcharge does not apply to registrants with a home address within a 50 mile radius of the event site.

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Registration Information

• To register, complete this form and return it to the AGEHR National Office by mail (1055 E. Centerville Station Road, Dayton, Ohio 45459) or fax (937-438-0085).
• Full payment must accompany registration form. Registration forms not accompanied by check or credit card information will not be processed.
• Registration and payment must be received by May 15, 2009, in order to qualify for early registration discounts.
• After your registration is processed, you will receive a receipt confirming registration and additional information about the event and your chosen track(s).
• Registration does not include lodging.  Registrants are responsible for making their own travel & lodging reservations (see Lodging for more information).  Registrants who choose not to stay at the event hotel will be charged a $100 non-resident fee.
• Class sizes for pre-registered tracks are limited.  Classes will be assigned on a first come, first served basis.
• You may select only one of the pre-registered ringing tracks.  Registering for any track is optional, not required.
• Gloves are required whenever you are handling handbells provided in classrooms.  Bring your own gloves, mallets, and a stand-up binder. These items will not be provided in class sessions.  
• For registration assistance, call or e-mail Vickie Iverson at the AGEHR office at 800-878-5459 or viverson@agehr.org

Cancellation/Refund Policy (per registrant)
Refunds will be made for Seminar registration cancellations received in writing or by email until June 1, 2008, less a $150 administrative fee per registrant. Cancellations made after June 1 for any reason (including medical issues, family emergencies, etc.) are not refundable.

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