November Book of the Month

Ringing Basics for Beginners 

(or: How to Learn Methods – and then ring them properly)

John Couperthwaite
A Central Council publication. 

Initially intended as one article that became six. This 32 page, A5 size booklet is a compilation of a series of short articles written for the Farnham District Newsletter. 
The articles are not intended to describe particular methods in detail, but rather pick up on key aspects of learning that are helpful to the ringer. 

The first of the articles “The three skills”, discusses bell handling, rope-sight & listening. Then “Simple Methods” proposes the beginner starts by learning the plain course of Original (Original Minor is plain hunt on six bells, rung with bobs), before getting the conductor to call the bells into a different order and start plain hunting from there to help develop rope-sight. Learning the ‘blue line’ and having a go inside for Bob Doubles or Grandsire, is the next step, either being valid in the view of the author.

“Pointers” discusses additional things to be aware of that can help you ring a method, these include breaking a method down into “leads” – a block of changes rung between one occasion when the treble strikes twice in first place and the next time. As you plain hunt in a method learning where you pass the treble in one of these “leads” before your next bit of work allows you to recover yourself when you forget where you are. Everyone at some point has a brain blip.

In the article “Calls and Place Bells”, the advantage of learning place bells is expounded and how this helps with navigating bobs and singles, as well as spliced methods. 

The last two articles “Conducting” & “Conducting – Checking & Correcting” discusses the subject including, the four distinct activities a conductor should ideally be able to do, the need for checking, and understanding the coursing order of the bells to help correct mistakes. 

This booklet starts as relaxed read and becomes more involved as the articles progress, with the author sensibly reminding you to go back to the basics from time to time. For a different viewpoint & approach to bell ringing, at £2.50 the opportunity is yours. 

Amanda Burch