Stedman Triples

About Stedman Triples

Stedman Triples is the classical expression of Fabian Stedman's impact on the art and science of Change Ringing.

• It is a principle, all working bells perform the same work.
• It is elegantly simple in concept.
• It is markedly different from hunter class of methods
• It is challenging and absorbing to ring
• It demand a whole new set of techniques

The basic structure of Stedman works equally well on all odd-number stages 5 bells and above. The generic aspects of the structure of Stedman are documented at Stedman Structure .

Method Structure.

Place Notation:
3.1.7.3.1.3.1.3.7.1.3.1

Grid:

Diagram: 27985 Stedman Triples, plain lead, change-rows and grid.

The diagram above is a valid representation of Stedman Triples beginning at the normal starting position (rounds is row 4 of a quick 6). However, the calls are made at the transition from six to six. At a bob, the 7ths place is replaced by 5ths causing an extra dodge in 6-7, and at a single the 7ths is replaced by 5ths.6ths.7ths.

Whilst the immediate work of the calls is straightforward, the impact of the calls on the work of an affected pair, in particular the re-entry to the front work, needs careful management. This issue is dealt with at The Slow .

Goals and learning approach

What you are trying to achieve needs to drive your approach to learning the method. For a towerbell ringer who has rung Stedman Triples, or a handbell ringer who has not, in either case be prepared to approach the method assuming that most of what you already know cannot be applied. Please work through

• Home Page
• Structure
• The Slow
• Stedman Techniques

before tackling Stedman Triples.

Entry Level

Get going: Ringing Stedman six by six.
Use whatever learning approach you like most to acquire enough knowledge to ring a plain course.

Do learn the method in sixes to align the change of dodging positions with the change of hunting direction.

Ring a few couses and then learn the calls. Ring some touches and see what aspects of the method spring out, and study these. Practice until courses and simple touches are ringable.

Performance Level

If you are wishing to achieve Quarters, or Peals:
start with the "get going" as above, add in the bits that are natural to you.
Practice a lot.
Achieve some performances .

Study the method for ways of putting your own ringing into a context that will help you avoid trips, and take you safely through trips made by others.

Method Mastery Level

Mastery of Stedman Triples is a valid goal, we do not yet have enough experience to provide advice, other than to keep going forwards.
1,000 courses is not too many.

Learning Stedman.

The Rules

There are no rules:

But we do recommend using the Days of the Week memory technique.

The Days of the Week technique is helpful for keeping track of the work of a pair whilst building experience of ringing the method. The essential purpose is to enable the handbell ringer to ring the sixes with minimum effort whilst tracking quick versus slow and reacting to Bobs and Singles.

The Pairs

There are two coursing patterns, pair 1-2, which includes dodging together in 6-7 in a slow six, and the hidden coursing pair, pair 6-7, which dodge together in 6-7 in a quick six as the Plain Course begins. Hidden in this case means not rung by any of the natural pairs, 1-2, 3-4, etc.

There is one parted pattern which is rung by both 3-4 and 5-6.

There is also 7-8 which is a specialist pair. Whilst seen as a simpler demand than two working bells, 7-8 sets the beat and acts as an anchor.

Double Blue Lines

The Double Blue Lines give a useful overview of the method, adding context which is helpful for overcoming trips.

Stedman Triples, 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 6-7, 7-8.

Diagram: Stedman Triples, 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 6-7, 7-8.

The Coursing Pairs: Stedman Triples, 1-2 and 6-7

Diagram: Stedman Triples, 1-2 and 6-7.

Stedman Triples, The Parted Pair, 3-4 or 5-6

Diagram: Stedman Triples, 3-4 & 5-6.

Stedman Triples, Specialist Pair 7-8

Diagram: Stedman Triples, 7-8.

Artefacts

The most significant Blue Line features relate to The Slow Work

Place Notation and Grid

Not relevant to ringing Stedman.

Ringing Stedman Triples in hand.

Use the Days of the Week memory technique to keep track of the flow of the slow.

Use the Directional Counting Technique to keep track of the dodging work. The annotations on the lines are written to support the directional counting.

Positional Awareness

Build your awareness of the bells in the slow even when you are "out of it". Tracking 3 pairs leading Hand and Back followed by a point lead, two Back and Hand and a point lead at back gives a visual and auditory take on quick versus slow.

Above the slow work are pairs of places, make sure you hit the place accurately by rhythm, and don't let the cover bell confuse you.

Handrails

There are no handrails as such, but an awareness of coursing pattern, hidden coursing pattern and 3-4 creates context until the next call. Context is part of a strategy to survive trips

Awareness of other bells

The normal coursing pair dodge together after and before the slow work; the hidden coursing pair never dodges together in 4-5.
3-4 and 5-6 dodge together after and before the quick work.

Bobs and Singles.

In the plain course, the sixes are linked by the bell that makes 7ths; the three pairs before the 7ths cross over and then begin hunting appropriate to a quick or slow six.
When a bob is called the sixes are linked together with a bell making 5ths which forces an extra dodge in 6-7.
When a single is called 5ths, and 6ths are made as well as the 7ths.

The calls are made on the third handstroke of the six, thus giving maximum unambiguous notice to the ringers.

Stedman Triples - Touches.

It is normal to use the 7 as the observation bell.

Compositions for Stedman Triples are an art form in its own right, short touches can be complicated to ring, longer ones sometimes easier. Go to Stedman Triples Touches where a variety of short touches up to Quarter Peal length are indexed.