History
The Livingstone handbell choir was started by Jon Dickerson, who taught at LAA in the late '90s and all throughout the '00s. When LAA was a junior academy, Mr. Dickerson had one group, but when we grew into a full high school, Mr. Dickerson directed two groups, one in the high school and one in the junior high. The junior high group was taken over by a succession of music teachers, including Katrina Koch and Matthew Sandvik, but between 2011 and 2016, there was only a high school group.
Mr. Koch took over the handbell group when Mr. Dickerson moved to Texas in 2013.
The group adopted the name LAA Aurora for the 2015-2016 school year. (Our secret middle name is Bellialus. Shh--don't tell anyone!)
In 2016, Katrina Koch restarted a Junior High group, actually two of them, one for 5th-6th graders and one for 7th-8th graders.
Mr. Koch took over the handbell group when Mr. Dickerson moved to Texas in 2013.
The group adopted the name LAA Aurora for the 2015-2016 school year. (Our secret middle name is Bellialus. Shh--don't tell anyone!)
In 2016, Katrina Koch restarted a Junior High group, actually two of them, one for 5th-6th graders and one for 7th-8th graders.
What we use
Schulmerich Handbells - Five octaves, C3 - C8
LAA has historically had four octaves, but in the summer of 2013, Mr. Koch purchased three used handbells through eBay (C3, D3, F3). In December of 2014, a generous donor provided us with a significant amount of money to purchase the rest of the fifth octave. Handbell octaves are purchased half at the top and half at the bottom, so you go up and down to the next C or G. Previously we owned G3 - G7. We received our new bells in February of 2015.
Malmark Choirchimes - Five octaves, C3 - C8
Our bell choir also benefits from three octaves of hand chimes to provide a change of sound.
The third octave of chimes was purchased for us by the senior graduating class of 2016. They arrived in March 2016.
The fourth and fifth octaves were purchased with donations from some very generous people in our community who care about kids and music. The fourth arrived in December 2016 and the fifth in January 2017.
Malmark Mallets
LAA has historically had four octaves, but in the summer of 2013, Mr. Koch purchased three used handbells through eBay (C3, D3, F3). In December of 2014, a generous donor provided us with a significant amount of money to purchase the rest of the fifth octave. Handbell octaves are purchased half at the top and half at the bottom, so you go up and down to the next C or G. Previously we owned G3 - G7. We received our new bells in February of 2015.
Malmark Choirchimes - Five octaves, C3 - C8
Our bell choir also benefits from three octaves of hand chimes to provide a change of sound.
The third octave of chimes was purchased for us by the senior graduating class of 2016. They arrived in March 2016.
The fourth and fifth octaves were purchased with donations from some very generous people in our community who care about kids and music. The fourth arrived in December 2016 and the fifth in January 2017.
Malmark Mallets
Official handbell names
Some of our bells have been named. Others haven't.
|
C3:
Db3: D3: Melody (My low D) Eb3: E3: F3: Flo (F low) F#3: G3: Logan Ab3: A3: Bb3: Absalom B3: |
C4:
Db4: D4: Eb4: E4: F4: F#4: G4: Ab4: A4: Bb4: Abe B4: Debbie (the B) |
C5: Carlos
Db5: Cdeve (Steve) D5: Doris Eb5: Dede E5: Esmeralda F5: Fraynk F#5: Figo G5: Garald Ab5: Gabe A5: Anastasia Bb5: Abbysadine B5: Brinslow |
C6:
Db6: D6: Eb6: E6: F6: F#6: G6: Ab6: A6: Bb6: B6: |
C7:
Db7: D7: Heidi (High D) Eb7: E7: F7: F#7: G7: Ab7: A7: Bb7: B7: C8: Ceight (Cate) |
