As submitted to Vibrations, Winter 2014:

Handbell musicians wear gloves to protect bronze bell castings from spots caused by direct contact with bare skin. If not removed, these spots will mark the metal permanently. What type of glove to wear (or whether to wear gloves at all) is a highly personal preference, and may change over time. As a choir ringer, I started with cheap shared cotton gloves, progressed to gloves with plastic dots, and added Velcro® wrist straps when I began quartet ringing. My gloves changed again when I started solo ringing. Here are some thoughts to consider as you choose. Continue reading Gloves – Jeffers article →

Gloves are a highly personal preference. Handbell musicians wear them to protect the bronze castings from tarnishing and spotting through contact with the oils and minerals that naturally occur in human skin. If not removed, these marks will etch the metal permanently. As a choir ringer, I started with cheap shared cotton gloves, progressed to gloves with dots, and from there to dots and Velcro wrist straps. I think the latter are a good choice for most choir ringers. The dots provide a secure grip, and the straps keep the gloves from slipping during bell changes. If you find the straps confining, you can replace them with a longer piece of Velcro. Continue reading Gloves →