What this workshop was all about.
A comment by Joyce Lathrop, one of the participants.

This past Sunday I attended a handbell workshop put on by AGEHR- NM at Rio Rancho Presbyterian Church. I am the director of a three octave choir from Zia United Methodist in Santa Fe. I have wanted someone to watch my choir and my directing and give us a critique. I am a friend of the clinician, Michael Kastner, and had asked him last spring if he did such workshops. When he used the word "coaching" I knew I had asked the right person. Michael is excellent at this type of thing. Not only is he an extremely talented soloist and director himself, he knows just what to say to get ringers and directors alike to try different things, push themselves harder, care about their performance and have fun doing it. Some of my ringers were a little worried before the event thinking that he might be critical of their ringing skills. This worry was dispelled in the first five minutes. He is a warm and funny person with great talent and an engaging humor.

Stephanie Scott (Area IX Chair) and Michael Kastner (Area XI) discuss the plans for the day.	Barbara Cotton (El Paso/Area IX) and Stephanie review the event budget.
Michael visits with directors during the "Making the Most of the Music" workshop.	A new memorizing technique - "tell" (you cannot ring!!!) another ringer exactly what you must ring in the last four measures of a song. Explain it. Describe it. Just don't ring it.
The ringers enjoyed reading through music for the following coming events- Eastern New Mexico Festival - November 19, 2005 - with Tim Waugh New Mexico State Festival - April 21-22, 2006 - with Dave Harris Area IX Conference - Father's Day, 2006 with Fred Gramann and Jason Wells Area XI Conference - Father's Day, 2006 with Michael Helman, Cathy Moklebust, and Monica McGowan
Michael observes Joyce Lathrop and the Zia UMC choir as they perform.	Michael makes suggestions to "Ring and a Prayer" from Santa Fe. That's AGEHR-NM Chair, Kate German on the right.
Paul Bower and the ringers from Rio Rancho Presbyterian enjoyed Michael's coaching session.
Paul Bower, Michael Kastner and Bob Bass visit about what a great day it was! We gotta do this again!"

Page revised 09/30/2005
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