The Level I examination is a comprehensive evaluation of a director’s aural listening skills and knowledge of ringing techniques, handbell history and lore, repertoire an repertoire grading levels, conducting, and music theory. Successful completion of the Level I examination suggests that the director is dedicated to improving his/her handbell leadership skills.

The examination is a 75-minute-long multiple-choice test, and includes the following sections:

• Section I - Aural Analysis Skills: You will hear a piece of handbell music and respond to questions on how the elements of music are used in the piece-dynamics, form, special techniques, and tempo.
• Section II - Aural Error Detection Skills: You will hear two short pieces of handbell music and identify errors in pitch and rhythm.
• Section III - Handbell Construction and Care
• Section IV - Handbell Technique, Special Notation, and Ringing Health
• Section V - Music Theory and Notation: You will be asked questions on treble and bass clef diatonic and enharmonic notation, form (binary, ternary, rondo, cadence, phrasing), major and minor key signatures (relative and parallel), all intervals and triads with inversions, and rhythms up to dotted eighth notes and triplets in simple and compound meters, based on AGEHR performance levels 1 and 2.

A score of 75% correct is required for a passing grade.

Resources for Preparation

A practice test is available from our website. You can also prepare for this examination by enrolling in classes at the National Seminar, as well as by taking other coursework. You can also study on your own using materials such as the following:

Preparation for Sections I & II

• Hindemith, Paul. Elementary Training for Musicians. Schott and Co. ISBN 0-901938-16-5
• Stevenson and Porterfield. Rhythm and Pitch. Prentice-Hall, Inc. ISBN 0-13-780743-0

Preparation for Section III

• Schulmerich, Malmark, and Whitechapel manuals for handbells and handchimes
• Introductions on handbell history in various handbell methods
• Keller, Michael. Developing Conducting Skills. AGEHR publication R200
• Art of Conducting (video). 1997. Films for Humanities and Sciences, Item BVL2708
• Jeffers Online Catalog

Preparation for Section IV

• Handbell and Handchime Notation, AGEHR R-101
• Allured, Donald E. Mastering Musicianship in Handbells. Broadman Press
• Berry, Susan. Healthy Ringing. Handbell Services, Inc.

Preparation for Section V

• Benward, Bruce and White, Gary. Music in Theory and Practice, 5th ed., Vol. 1. Brown and Benchmark. ISBN 0-697-12530-0
• Damshroder, David. Foundations of Music and Musicianship, 2nd ed. Wadsworth (Schirmer/Thomson Learning). ISBN 0-534-58563-9
• Hindemith, Paul. Elementary Training for Musicians. Schott. ISBN 0-901938-16-5
• Kostka, Stefan and Payne, Dorothy. Tonal Harmony, 4th ed. McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-289782-1
• "Music Theory Tutorials 5 & 6." Overtones, July/August 1998 (p. 36) and September/October 1998 (p. 14).
• Piston, Walter and DeVoto, Mark. Harmony, 5th ed. Norton. ISBN 0-393-95480-3
• Sorce, Richard. Music Theory for the Music Professional. Ardsley House. ISBN 1-880157-20-9 (This is the textbook that has been used in AGEHR theory instruction.)
• Turek, Ralph. The Elements of Music, 2nd ed., Vols. 1 and 2. McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-065474-3 and 0-07-065475-1

General Reference

• Harvard Dictionary of Music (Apel). Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. ISBN 0-828-82184-4
• Miller, Taylor, and Williams. Introduction to Music. Harper Collins College Outline. ISBN 0-06-467108-9 (an excellent source for incorporating both theory and history)
• Clough and Conley. Scales, Intervals, Keys, Triads, Rhythm, and Meter. W.W. Norton and Co. ISBN 0-393-95189-8