Using Hand Bells Instruments For Kids

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Handbells provide tons of movement, repetition and FUN when singing and reviewing Primary songs!  There are several types, qualities and companies that sell handbells and here’s what I use and HIGHLY recommend getting for your Primary!

Using Handbells in Primary Singing Time Ideas

**This post contains affiliate links.  That means I receive a small commission from sales at no cost to you.  But know that I wouldn’t recommend these products if I didn’t LOVE them!

There as SO many uses for handbells!  If you are looking to purchase a set, make sure you check out all their possible uses including:

Handbells for Singing Time

My favorite use for handbells is in singing time!  But their use isn’t limited to just at church!

Primary Activity Days

Use handbells during weekly boys and girls Activity Days!  They provide so much engagement and are an easy way to learn to play a new instrument!

Also bring in handbells during any of your other Primary parties!  Summer parties, Christmas parties, just-because Primary parties!!

Ward Party Entertainment

Handbells make for great ward Christmas party entertainment!  Display the music up on a projector or posters and let anyone come have a turn to play!  The rest of the audience can sing along.

Family Reunions

People of all ages enjoy playing handbells, not just kids!  Take handbells to your next family reunion and provide entertainment that everyone will remember for years to come!

School Classrooms

I take handbells into my kids’ elementary school classrooms during class parties!  They make for such a fun rotation station!  My favorite times are during Valentine’s Day (find more details HERE) and Halloween parties (find more details HERE)!

Where to Purchase Musical Handbells

Merry Bells

There’s a new handbell company on the market – Merry Bells.  They are my favorite handbell set for Primary.  You can’t beat the price and the fact that you are supporting a small business owner who is also a member of the Church!

Merry Bells is unique in that you can purchase Play Along Songs (in the form of DVD’s or digital downloads) that contain digital note charts so kids can play along with all types of songs – Christmas, children’s, patriotic, Primary and Hymns!!  The handbell set includes the Christmas DVD already!  All the songs can be played with the 8-note basic set!

If you are new to handbells, I HIGHLY recommend purchasing Merry Bells 8-Note Handbell set.  Then grab some of the Play Along Songs (either digital or DVD).  They are SO easy to follow and implement in singing time and are perfect for beginners!

Use code CPI at check out to get 10% off your entire order!!

There’s a fun video of shoppers stopping to play Merry Bells at one of their Christmas booths.  So easy that anyone can stop and play!

Kidsplay (aka Rhythm Band)

Kidsplay (also sold as Rhythm Band) is the only other handbell brand I recommend and use.  Their handbells are similar to Merry Bells in quality.  However, there is one significant difference with their color.

Merry Bells contains a white handbell for one of the C octaves in the basic 8-note set.  The Kidsplay brand has 2 red bells for the C octaves.  Merry Bells has simply differentiated between the 2 C octaves with a red and white note where Kidsplay handbells do not.

Camille's Primary Ideas: Using Handbells in Primary

Basic 8-Note Set

This basic 8-note set includes the red Kidsplay box pictured above SIMILAR to the Merry Bells handbells (Amazon affiliate link):

So once you have chosen to purchase your basic 8-note set either from Merry Bells (RECOMMENDED) and maybe a few Play Along Songs or the Kidsplay brand, it’s time to expand your set.

Expanding Your Handbell Set

This is where I recommend Kidsplay.  Merry Bells does not offer expanded sets which include the 5-note chromatic handbells and additional octaves.

13-Note Set

If you want to go strictly with Kidsplay, I recommend this 13-note set HERE.  It includes the red & yellow Kidsplay boxes pictured above.  Those contain the 8-note basic set and the 5-note chromatic add on set.

5-Note Chromatic Handbell Add On Set (RECOMMENDED)

Kidsplay Handbells 5-note Add-on set

If you purchase the Merry Bells basic set, I HIGHLY recommend purchasing this 5-Note Chromatic Handbell Add On Set (the yellow box only).  Almost all of my note charts will require you to have these notes in addition to the 8-note basic set (Amazon affiliate link):

Find them at these other online retailers as well:

I’m begging Merry Bells to start selling this set!  Email them HERE as well to plead our cause ;).

7-Note Expanded Range Handbells

This 7-note expanded range handbell set will extend your set further (the orange box).  It’s a great way to get more kids playing the bells, but not necessary.  The extended set can be optionally used all my charts. 

UPDATE:  The Kidsplay 7-note expanded range handbell set doesn’t appear to be sold on Amazon anymore.  But I did find them online:

How to Use Handbells in Singing Time

I pull out the handbells throughout the year in singing time.  I also use them in sacrament meeting when we sing for the holidays and occasionally for our Primary Program.  Make sure to permission from your bishop if using in sacrament meeting.

The kids absolutely LOVE them and we can sing a song a million times over and never get tired of it when we use the bells.

There is a wide variety of ways to use handbells other than simply playing the melody. My post HERE is a collective list of all my handbell note charts.  They are all categorized by bell type, playing method and holiday/season.  

Camille's Primary Ideas: Big list of Handbell Note Charts singing time ideas

Teaching with Handbells

Now, before I teach the bell portion, I first make sure I KNOW the song in and out, especially the descant or obligato part.  If I’m lost, the rest of the primary will be too (been there, done that!).  I play it over and over again on the piano, listen to it on my phone, etc.
 
I print out the charts on card stock, and slip them into plastic cover sheets.  I love that these store so well.  I also have a Make-Your-Own-Handbell-Chart HERE if you need something customized or if you prefer to put everything on a big poster, etc.
 
Then in Primary I put my charts on the board using heavy duty magnets (HERE).  Using my trusty wooden dowel I point to each note when they should be played.  To use them for performing, I tape them together top to bottom, then tape that to the back of the music stand so it faces the kids.  Similar to how I post the words.

Handbell Rules

Before I pass out the bells to the kids, I go over our handbell rules:

I’d love it if you’d like and subscribe to my YouTube channel HERE!
 
  1. Don’t touch the color portion on the bell
  2. Don’t touch the clapper (the middle bell ringer part)
  3. Only hold the bell by the handle.
  4. You only ring your bell when I point to your color on the note chart.  If you ring it any other time, you may forfeit your chance to play the bells.
  5. When you are not ringing your bell, you hold it against your chest in rest position.
  6. Only good singers will get to be bell ringers so SING.
I have found it best to post words to the songs.  The bells will take over and soon you’ll have no one singing so post the words.  Find how I post words HERE.
Camille's Primary Ideas: posting words for singing time, singing time flip charts
Then I like to have someone else lead the singing while I handle the bells.  Usually a presidency member or teacher jumps up to help me.

Distributing Handbells

To distribute the bells, it’s easiest to start on the front row, every other person (or every 3 depending on the primary size and number of bells you are using), and just have the kids stay in their seats.
 
To rotate, everyone passes their bell to person next to them.  This way, everyone will eventually get to play each different color and you aren’t shuffling bells all over the room.  The last child at the back of the room brings their bell to the front row.
 

Bell ringers are not expected to sing but the non-bell ringers are.  Non-bell ringers not singing, will remain as such! 😉

So once you have your notes posted on the board, the words posted, your assistant, and your bells distributed, you are ready to go!  Pull out a pointer and play however you like.

Sometimes just the bells will play, sometimes just the kids will sing.  Sometimes we’ll play and sing together with or without the piano.  Mix it up.  The variety is endless!

Check out a few video demonstrations that I’ve done for A Child’s Prayer HERE and another one for I Am a Child of God HERE.

Handbells in Sacrament Meeting

Our Primary frequently performs in sacrament meeting using the handbells.  My bishop has given me permission to do so and the congregation LOVES them!
 
Before the meeting begins, I place only the handbells to be used up near the piano, behind the modesty wall (is that what it’s called?) in a line.  My pre-chosen bell choir has all been assigned a color so they know that they are to go stand behind their assigned bell, pick it up and not ring it until the appointed time.
 
My bell choir usually consists of the 2nd to oldest class.  This way, everyone will eventually get a turn to play them in sacrament meeting.  Then I have another adult help lead the singers so I can focus on the bells.

Get Your Primary Handbells!

If you haven’t tried out the handbells, seriously, hit up your Primary president for a little budget money to purchase a set for your Primary.  They won’t go unused and it will definitely be money well spent!!
 

If there’s not enough budget money, see if the other 2 Primaries that share your building would go in and purchase a set for all 3 primaries in the building to share.  Then just keep the set in the library where they must be checked out and returned after each use.

Use Handbells in Singing Time Video

Make sure to check out my video here for more details:

You can also find this video on my YouTube channel HERE.  I’d love it if you’d like and subscribe!

Chimes

Handbells may be out of your budget.  If so, I recommend a set of chimes!  You can get instructions to make your own or buy them.  Find some more information on chimes HERE.

Camille's Primary Ideas: Chimes for Singing Time

More Handbells in Singing Time

Leave any comments for additional ideas on using the bells or what you’ve found to work for you!  Scroll through all my handbell posts HERE.

Camille's Primary Ideas: I Will Walk with Jesus Merry Bells Free Digital Download
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31 thoughts on “Using Hand Bells Instruments For Kids”

  1. WOW! What great ideas you have! I have a set of bells (actually different lengths of pipe attached to twine with large nails to hit them with) that I wanted to use this week in singing time and I found your post right away . . . . . I especially love your ideas about the obligato parts and chording. NICE!

    Thanks! I'll think I'll give them a try this week.

    1. Yes, I wish we had the 20-note set. The 13-note works fine but I would just love to have more bells to play with. In fact, I just talked to our Primary President to see if next year there was room in the budget to get the rest of the set. She said I can go ahead and get them! I just didn't purchase the whole 20-note set all at once because of funding.

      I've loved the bells in Primary – such a great investment!

    2. Hi! I clicked on the link for the add on yellow box set on Amazon but it says it’s currently unavailable. Do you know where else you can get them? Thanks!

      1. Hi Lisa!

        You are totally right! I’ve been googling all over the internet for something else and updated the post with what I’ve found. I’ve also reached out to Merry Bells to see if he’d consider selling the yellow box. I’ll keep you posted and will keep looking for more options. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.

        ~Camille

  2. I have just found that Amazon has better prices than the Kid's play site, and both sites sell the SAME product – you save about $10, and I haven't even checked out shipping. So, my question is – when deciding between the 20 or 13, would you prefer the 20 simply because of the number of bells to divide amongst your primary or for the variety of sound? I think it will take several years to get 13 children in our separate junior and senior primaries, not to mention 20. Today we had 7 in junior and 5 in senior.

    1. Good question – the main reason why I'd want to go for the 20 set is to have the octaves. Some songs want both a higher note and the lower note. To just have the same note played when the music really has the octaves makes it sound a little different. It works fine not having the right octave but just not my preference. My second reason to have the 20 note set would be to have more bells to pass around. We have about 20 kids in Jr. and 20 in Sr. To start out, I think the 13 set would definitely suffice for a smaller primary.

      I'll have to check out Amazon's prices. I'm most likely going to purchase the additional bells to bring our total up to 20 for next year.

      Good luck with whatever you decide!!

      ~Camille

  3. How do you use the handbells in sacrament meeting, still keeping it reverent? I'm thinking about the part where you pass out bells and then how you post the music in the chapel.

  4. Hi Sara!

    Before sacrament meeting, I place the bells to be used along the privacy wall that runs right in front of the piano, but behind the steps (does that make sense). They are all lined up and the kids are assigned beforehand which bell is theirs – they will have practiced their parts several times in primary.

    As for the music, I tape the note chart to the back of the music stand (similar to how I post words). All the note charts are taped top to bottom so I'll raise the stand up way high so all the pages will fit hanging down. I have the stand lowered in the corner when I'm not using it. Then when we perform, I pull out the stand, move it up and stand right in front of the kids ringing the bells. If I have the rest of the primary singing, I'll have another person some help conduct the singers so I just lead the bell kids.

    I hope that answers your questions – if not, let me know!

    ~Camille

  5. I have used chimes in the past to play "Christmas Bells" and I was looking at purchasing a set of bells for our Primary. I notice you recommend the 20 piece set so more kids could play them but don't you find most songs use less (unless playing chords) so more bells wouldn't help that?
    It seems like two sets of bells would be better (so two kids can play the same notes being used and cover if one misses their part). Bells are pretty expensive though. Do you find them easier to play than chimes though?

    1. Hi Moon Family!

      I've really enjoyed the 20-handbell set. It helps with the octaves. Ideally, having a second 20-handbell set would be best. But I just opted for the full. I'm sure either would be fine.

      As for chimes, definitely go for bells if your budget allows. They are much easier to handle, especially for the little kids. But if chimes is all you can do, do the chimes as they are better than nothing.

      I hope that helps with your decision.

      ~Camille

  6. I have a set of 20, which is really nice simply for the range. I have sometimes wished I had two sets, but am not sure I would trade the range for it. The reason I am responding here is because after I got my set, I found a cheaper place than Amazon to buy the 20-set. It's a place called Rainbowresource.com. The set is selling for $114 there. They also sell the case, as well as the smaller sets.

  7. Yes, Camille, as far as I can tell from the pictures, they are the Rhythm Band/Kidsplay brand. Rainbow resource has great customer service, too. I'm sure they would be able to verify that.

    I recently acquired the super-expansion set, sold on Amazon. I'm so excited to use them! Now we can hit that high F in Beautiful Savior, and have more octaves in other songs.

    Thanks for all your work and ideas.

  8. Hi Camille,
    I have followed your site for a few years and I love all the ideas that you post! Thank you! I finally decided it was time to purchase the bells and did so this week in preparation for our Christmas program where the children will sing Christmas Bells.
    I am excited to start using them, but I have a few questions about technique. How do you get a child to play the bell without it ringing back and forth? Is there a way to get one solid sound from the bell? We thought maybe the child could hold it against their chest.
    What do you prefer and what is your technique?

  9. Hi Becky!

    Whenever we pull out the bells, we go over the rules and how we play them. They are to hold the bells against their chest until it's their turn to play. Then I show them how to move their arm out in a forward motion. It works great with the big kids and the little ones are still learning but it's fine. I don't expect any sort of perfection with the little ones – it's just for fun :). I hope you love the bells! They are a great addition to singing time!!

    ~Camille

  10. Hi Kris!

    I've never used desk bells so I can't really say much about them but I think the handbells would be easier to use while sitting in a chair as the kids can just hold the stem to ring them rather than needing a table/desk. I'm probably not much help, sorry. Maybe try asking on the FB page.

    ~Camille

  11. When I saw this idea about 3 weeks ago I was addicted! I bought the 20 bell set along with the carrying case from my own money so I never have to give them back. I can see family Christmas times, reunions, Seminary, girls camp…. the list does not stop at primary! My brain wont stop!!!!

    I got a folder for each bell. Each folder has the words to the songs in it (right now I have about 25 songs in each folder). On the song sheets I highlighted ONLY THE WORD that particular bell plays and told the children that if they sing along they will have better rhythm of when to play their note. Works perfect!!

    For singing time I hand out a bell and a folder to each child that correlates to the song (I don't hand out all 20 bells; if there are only 7 notes in a song I will hand out the 7 bells/folders). I tell the children what page we are playing then have them sit in a big circle. The rest of the children without bells/folders fill in the empty spots and I give them a funny picture of something or someone singing (like a dog howling, a baby singing, just funny cartoon pictures; I laminated these). I just use the pictures as markers, just to keep the circle going. So the deal is, the bell players play and sing and the picture holders sing. Song over, everybody rotate to the left and do it all over again. Easy-peasy

    I love the circle idea so they can all see each other, it gets them a little movement but its easiest to lay their folders on the floor in front of them.

  12. I'm also having trouble with the bells ringing multiple times when I ring it. So I was wondering, when you hold the bell against your chest, is it handle down and colored bell up. Or is it handle up and bell down? I know I'm getting way too specific but I haven't quite mastered the bell ringing. and I can't decide what is the best way to hold it when ringing it.

  13. Hi families are forever!

    Great question – I will update my post with my response as well. All my charts require you to have the 13-note set (the red and yellow boxes). You can use the extended note set optionally (the orange box).

    Let me know if you have any more questions!

    ~Camille

  14. I love the idea of using the second oldest class When the kids preform with bells in sacrament meeting, In our primary, that class only has 4 kids. I want to do Christmas Bells, so it uses 6 bells. Would you assign a couple of the kids 2 bells? Especially since a couple of the bells only have one of two usages in that song. Thank you for all your helpful information!

  15. I can purchased an 8 bell sets but the first song I want to do is I Know my Father Lives and it has 2 bells that are sharps. Where do you find those bells?

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