This episode of Ministry Monday is brought to you by OCP. OCP offers a large, comprehensive selection of seasonal and annual missals like the most popular and widely-used: Breaking Bread. If your parish community is looking for a worship resource to support full and active participation in the liturgy go to ocp.org/missals.
There are so many ways to involve a parish community in its music ministry, and not all of them, of course, include singing. Haven’t we all heard the parishioner who says, “I can’t join the music ministry - I can’t sing!” Luckily for us, music ministry today can include instrumental assistance, including a handbell choir.
In many instances, handbell choirs were the only choirs allowed in a parish setting during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a choir setting that can be accomplished without projecting the human voice. It can also be done with plenty of social distancing, if space allows. And more than anything, it provides the community of a choir without singing- a perfect option for those who want to use their musical gifts without singing.
Handbell choirs are a great option in a music ministry program, but some music ministers may not know where to start: how can I afford handbells? Who do I purchase them from? How do I teach (and direct) a handbell choir? These questions and many more are addressed in my conversation today.
Donna Kinsey has served for over 50 years as the pastoral musician for St. Francis De Sales Parish. She has taught music for public and Catholic schools in both Morgantown, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. She is also a handbell clinician and has spearheaded the National Catholic Handbell Festivals with the National Association of Pastoral Musicians.
This episode is truly a primer on starting a handbell choir. Not only that, Donna has provided a handout in the “show notes” of this episode for additional tips. If you’ve ever considered starting a handbell choir, this is the episode for you.
SHOW NOTES
Bio: Donna Kinsey
Donna Kinsey recently celebrated her 50th anniversary as pastoral musician for the parish of St. Francis de Sales (formerly St. Theresa of the Child Jesus) in Morgantown, West Virginia. She has been the chair of the National Catholic Handbell Festival supported by NPM from its inception. She has been a frequent presenter on handbells, music education, and children's choirs for NPM and for conferences across the United States.
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