Skills in handbell ringing.

In a nutshell:
Some method theory is lodged in a ringer's mind using a memory technique, and expressed in a team environment using executon skills.

Diagram: 01.01.02 The knowledge and skill categories of bellringing.

In our bedrock example of Plain Hunting, the method theory is the way the changes are constructed; the memory technique is the "distance from lead and distance apart", and the execution skill is emphasised counting.

In our Plain Hunting bedrock, the Ringing Theory is the way the pairs of bells cross or bells remain in place. The memory technique is "distance from lead and distance apart". And the execution skills is emphasised counting starting in rounds and applying the above.

The patterns generated in ringing Plain Hunting are known as coursing, 2-3 pattern, and opposites.

Plain Hunting needs to be practiced until the patterns can be rung "on auto-pilot".

"Pot Hole" to swerve round.
The human brain is good at learning tunes, and will learn the "tune" (note sequence) for Plain Hunting very quickly. The memory works by association, and the danger is that plain hunting is "rung by the tune". When we get to Plain Bob and other methods, the patterns are the same but the tune is different, so it is important to ensure that the patterns have been learned thoroughly.

An easy way of testing this is to start with the hands moving in rounds but holding bells that are ringing Queens.

As methods become more complex, the memory techniques need to be upgraded.

Go to Memory Skills for more information.