Christmas is just around the corner! If you want to prepare yourself for a magical Christmas season in singing time, your primary needs handbells for Christmas!
**This is an affiliate post. That means I receive a small commission from sales at no cost to you. But know that I wouldn’t recommend this product if I didn’t LOVE it!
If you know me, then you know how much I love handbells! In December, I have several activities incorporating handbells in singing time! So if your primary doesn’t own a set, I HIGHLY recommend that you get one!
I’ve added these NEW handbell charts to my Resource Library for the following Christmas songs:
Away in a Manger
Christmas is my FAVORITE time to use handbells, especially on the suggested songs! One of the suggested songs for December is the hymn, Away in a Manger.
Now available is a bell chart using chords for the hymn variation (the Children’s Songbook variation is HERE).
Joy To the World
Another hymn added is Joy to the World. There’s no better way of bringing joy into the world than singing this hymn with handbells! It also uses chords.
Silent Night
The final bell chart added is Silent Night. Again, it utilizes chords and is my favorite of the 3 (if I’m being honest!). It’s beautiful!
Access my printables at my Resource Library. Instructions for accessing my Resource Library are found at the bottom of this post.
How to Use Handbells
I have a post HERE for using handbells in singing time. It details what I recommend you purchase, where to get them and how I use them.
Merry Bells is my favorite for a basic set!
Black Friday Deal
The BEST time to purchase your handbells is during Merry Bells’ black Friday deals!! Merry Bells is offering a free DVD or set of 30 digital downloads, or chart of your choice with the purchase of a bell set.
Use the following coupon code to save even more on your purchase!
Merry Bells Coupon Code:
CPI
Save 10% off any purchase any time!
I use handbells throughout the year in singing time, not just at Christmas. Scroll through all of my singing time lesson plans that incorporate handbells HERE.
Make sure to also check out my ever-growing list of handbell charts HERE.
Coming soon is a Christmas singing time activity utilizing all 3 of these bell charts plus more! Your primary will LOVE playing the handbells in singing time this Christmas season!
Let me know if you have any questions about getting your primary a set of handbells!
Check out this quick tutorial video for accessing the Resource Library:
These printables are filed on my Resource Library page under Song Title > Away in a Manger, Joy to the World and Silent Night.
7 thoughts on “Handbells for Christmas”
Hi Camille! I just got my bells— I’m so excited to use them. Does the Christmas Bells descant jump around octaves if you just use the 8-bell pack? I’m wondering if I should order the bigger pack. Just wondering which you use for this song since you’ve done it a lot.
Thank you!
Hi Kristen!
I hope you love your bells! I never worry about octaves when we play. I use all the octaves at the same time so more kids get to ring the bells. And it sounds great! I would recommend getting more only if you want more kids to play more bells at the same time. I hope that answers your question.
~Camille
It does– thank you!
Camille Our Primary Program was yesterday and went so well. Now I am excited to start using bells with the kids for the Holidays. I have purchased 2 sets of Merry Bells. I go to your bell charts and try to play the song and the pitches are not right. I cannot figure out what I am doing wrong Help
Ruthanne Randall
Hi Ruthanne!
Most of my bell charts do not follow the melody. They are the optional descant parts or chording. I know I do have the melody for Christmas Bells available. Check out my post here for more details:
http://camillesprimaryideas.com/2012/07/using-handbells-in-primary.html
~Camille
Hi Camille,
I just printed out the bell chart for Jingle Bells and I am a little confused on how to use it. Do you ring the bells just on the word that is listed on the chart or do you repeat that chord on like count 1 and 3 until you play the next chord? Hope that makes sense.
Thanks!
Vicki
Hi Vicki!
You simply ring the 3 bell chords on the word listed in the lower righthand corner of each box. I hope that clarifies.
~Camille