The unique advantage of bell sets is the fact that each note is created by an individual bell, and so the notes that are not used in a particular song can be removed and the student has a greater chance for success. A handbell orchestra acts as one instrument, with each musician responsible for their particular notes, sounding their assigned bells whenever those notes appear in the music.

Give each participant one or two bells and ask them to join in a simple melody. Independently, whether the player has musical knowledge or not, the band will sound harmoniously with just a little bit of training. Most solfeggio teachers advise that it's better to begin not with a piano, but with a simpler and more accessible instrument.

However, like other "serious" musical instruments, bells can help in

1) teaching note duration,

2) understanding different pitches,

3) recognizing different musical scales, and

4) the acquisition of a sense of rhythm and melody.

If you are a beginner, playing by note can be difficult. It is easier to follow color-coded circles with note letters. Just by following the color circles, you will sound like an experienced musician.

All songs were written with circles in the musical staff, and there are no stems or flags - only notes on the line - to keep it simple. This book was written with beginners in mind.

The color of the bells or resonator blocks must be the same as the color of the bells below.

C (Do) - red,

D (Re) - orange,

E (Mi) - yellow,

F (Fa) - green,

G (Sol) - light blue,

A (La) - blue,

B (Ti) - violet,

C8 (Do) - white