The uptake for ART courses being run at Hathern is still going strong. There have been two courses held since January – a second M1 course (teaching bell handling), and an M2F course (teaching from rounds to change ringing)

There are more courses planned. The M1 course in April is already fully booked, but there are still spaces on the M2F course on 15th July. For more details and booking see https://events.bellringing.org/events/courses/teaching-course-module-2f-hathern-leicestershire-2

M1 course: January

I recently attended the ART Module 1 course at Hathern, under the expert guidance of Moira Johnson. I attended primarily to brush up skills when teaching learners to ring from scratch, and also have had years of believing that ART was just another fad idea.

I have taught ringers for years, and went on a Central Council course in the late 1990s, but having recently taught a band to ring, I realised that if I got stuck with something, or I couldn’t answer a question, I didn’t really have anywhere to go for help.

The course was very useful, and the practical elements were good too, and it turned on its head the way to teach learners safely. I hadn’t realised it was possible to break down each stroke into smaller parts. I have applied some of the theory to our learners, which seems to have been well received. I think the ART way of teaching is invaluable, and now feel like I have people to ask questions to, even if they are not local, as we are all singing from the same hymn sheet!

Jonathan Dickenson

The M1 bell handling teaching course led by Moira was very well structured with the majority of the time being spent on putting the teaching skills into practice.

I particularly liked the fact that in addition to Moira, there were enough mentors around the tower to encourage and guide us and answer any questions during practical sessions. I have found the supporting course material informative and easy to follow once back at home. Thank you for an excellent introduction to the bellringing teaching course.

Cheryl Murphy

Just wanted to say a huge thank you for the M1 teaching course yesterday, I was a little apprehensive about attending, expecting to be out of my depth with my limited experience, expecting to be with people with so much more knowledge than me, but it was a lovely course.

I found that everyone of us shared the same vision, and everyone was so supportive of each other, having attended the course I now feel that I can take the next step with confidence.

Brian Vardy

Thanks for the course today. I found it not only thoroughly enjoyable, but has provided me with the confidence and skill set to start teaching students the art of ringing.

A really worthwhile day which gives a great base to start teaching from.

Laura Floyd

M2F course: February

Twelve ringers met at Hathern, in Leicestershire, from as far as Suffolk and North Yorkshire, such is our desire to teach new ringers, and we all got full value.

The ART method means instead of hit and miss prodding, slow progress and frustration, we have a structure, exercises to plan and a set of building blocks on sound foundations. We’re all different, we have from one to twenty learners aged 9 to 79, and we learn from each other too. I can’t wait to try kaleidoscope with mine who are stuck on call changes. I’ve discovered how to stop a third broken stay this year, with a guiding hand. Best of all, the enthusiasm is infectious.

Thank you Gill, Moira and all of us learners.

Harry Longman