Choirchimes®
Choirchimes®, developed in 1982 by Malmark, was the first American-made, hand-held chime instrument. They are very light-weight square aluminum tubes with fixed external clappers. The comfortable, rounded exterior corner produces the purest and cleanest sound. Shape does matter. In order to create the purest tone, the tube must have the 90 degree angles to avoid undesirable untuned overtones and extraneous “buzzing” vibrations. Our Choirchimes® are designed to produce a pure fundamental pitch described by Dr. Thomas Rossing, past President of the Acoustical Society of America, as “the purest sound of any known musical instrument”. We now offer 5 octaves of Choirchimes®, plus the lower 6th octave (G2 - B2) as well as the lower 7th octave (C2 - F#2).
Choirchimes® are a wonderful tool to teach eye-hand coordination and gross fine motor skills. The true beauty of Choirchimes® is that the students learn through participation. The Choirchimes® are color coded the same as the piano keyboard, white chimes for the naturals and black for the sharps and flats. The note designation and position on the music staff is indicated on each chime. Because students enjoy the process of creating music on Choirchimes®, the attention span, memory skills and reading skills noticeably improve. Students of any age and any ability experience immediate satisfaction. Basic concepts, such as duration, become visual as well as aural with Choirchimes®. It is easier to feel and see the pulse as they learn the proper ringing techniques for each note value. Intervals and scales are more easily understood when they become visual through the use of Choirchimes®.
Choirchimes® are a less expensive alternative to handbells. In a school, church or home school situation, all students can be included. The cost ratio is very low when compared to band and Orff instruments, and other traditional instruments. Children and senior adults with arthritic problems can handle them with ease because they are light-weight, and easy to play. Until you have experienced the sound or have inspected the craftsmanship, you only have our word for it .
Contact us to take a closer look and listen.
CHOIRCHIME EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
Teaching Aids
Making Music With Choirchime® Instruments - Dr. Paul Rosene - a how to manual for two octaves of handchimes. Musical examples included.
#7023
Making Music with Choirchime® Instruments Advanced - Dr. Paul Rosene - A continuation of Making Music with Choirchime® Instruments using a three octave range of chimes. Musical examples included
#7023A
Using Handchimes - Susan Berry and Janet Van Valey - The Learning To Ring Series is a complete ringing curriculum. Using Handchimes is designed to introduce new directors to handchimes and prepare them for their first rehearsals through a sequential set of lessons. Also included are sections for music educators and therapists
#7007
It is wonderful to be able to say that there are now too many to mention here. In the past 5 years we have seen this area of publication soar. Some of the resources I find particularly helpful to both my budget and my choir are those resources where you purchase the book and then have permission to copy the lessons and music for your students.
An example of this type of resource would be:
Musical Elements - A Classrooom Method for Handchimes, Liske
After your chimers (or ringers) have a good sense of the basics…move on to perhaps another resource that is easy on the budget and includes arrangements for 2 as well as 3 octaves of Handchimes.
Tunes That Teach 1 & 2 as well as Multicultural Tunes That Teach, Martha Lynn Thompson
** Handbell Musicians of America, Area 10, offers 3 octave sets of handchimes and curriculum to schools in 5 states! (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington). Handchimes are a great TEACHING TOOL for music students of all ages. They provide instant success to MAKING MUSIC and studying MUSIC THEORY. Students feel a sense of PRIDE when performing for audiences. Don’t miss this opportunity to have these music teaching tools readily available to you for one school year. Grants are due June 1.
*** For additional information please contact Marlene Anderson at (206) 592-0487 or