Living Water - Dissertations - Bass Ringer's Notebook - Stretching

Stretching

Ringing, especially with bass bells, can be considered an athletic activity (so said someone who watched me ring the bottom octave of "Nocturne in A Minor" at one of the Valley Spring Rings). As such, it therefore is wise to be sure you warm up and warm down properly.

Stretching is one of the universally-recommended ways to do this. It prepares your muscles and joints for the effort (and fun!) ahead, and helps to avoid cramps and sprains. Parts to stretch include fingers, wrists, forearms, upperarms, shoulders, back, legs... in short, everything! That's because bass ringing places requirements on your entire body. Go with the stretches which work best for you, and don't be afraid to try others.

I've also found that stretching during rehearsals also is helpful, especially when we're playing a lot of demanding pieces. One of my favorites is to take a large bell, loop my hand through the handle, and lower it over my shoulder and down my back - this works the triceps which get a lot of work in bass ringing (and I can use the lip of the bell to scratch my back too).

More detailed information is available, of course. Consult your physician, trainer, chiropractor, or kinesiologist. Ringers also have an advantage over others because we now have books about safe ringing practices by Sue Berry and others.