Courses, core curriculum

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Course duration: 8 weeks (to be finished 10 weeks after first lesson)

Cost: $600.00

Instructor: Dr. Luc Rombouts

Required knowledge: Understanding of the English Language

Material required: 1) Excerpts from course book John Gouwens, Campanology (Published by the North American Carillon School) 2) Excerpts from André Lehr, Campanology Textbook, translated by Kimberley Schafer (Bulletin of the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America 54, 2005)

Brief description:

The course covers the technical and musical aspects of bells and carillons. The course is conceived as an anatomic overview of the carillon, featuring the different parts of carillons, including peripheric elements as the playing cabin, the bell chamber and the listening area. Attention will be given to carillon standards, as well as to the diversity of carillons. The last session is devoted to the maintenance of carillons, in order to help the student in keeping an instrument in good condition. 

The student is expected to read the relevant pages of the course book per week in preparation of the classes. The main points of the study material will be presented via graphs, tables, and sound examples. 

If the student chooses to attend the course of carillon history as well, there is no required order, although it is advised to first attend the course of campanology. 

Session topic:

1 The bell – part 1 (features, parts, sound, partial notes…)

2 The bell – part 2 (manufacturing; dimensions)

3 Striking bodies and striking techniques (ringing – hitting – chiming)

4 The carillon keyboard (parts – different standards)

5 Playing actions (parts, systems)

6 Other elements of the carillon (keyboard room / belfry / bell-chamber / automatic   

   system / listening area)

7 Types of carillons (tuning, weight, compass…)

8 Maintenance of carillon

Course duration: Approximately 10 weeks (to be finished within 12 weeks after first intake lesson) 

Tuition: $600.00

Instructor: Scott R. Hummel 

Required knowledge: 

                      - Understanding of the English Language 

                      - Ability to read sheet music notation.     

Required materials:    

                      - Course book: Open Music Theory Versions 1 & 2 (available free online)

                      - Access to music notation software

Course Synopsis: 

Over the course of ten weeks, students will be guided through the basics of Western music theory and tonal harmony. The course is designed for each student to obtain the skill and knowledge necessary to become a more well-rounded musician and carillonneur. Students will learn the rules and conventions of music theory and gain an understanding of tonal harmonic structure. These fundamentals are intended as a foundation for musicianship and for possible additional study in carillon arranging and composition. Course topics will include melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic notation; meter; scales; harmonic progressions; chord construction; and an introduction to the rules of harmonic writing.

The course will be offered in a hybrid format combining video instruction and digital correspondence.  The instructor will review the assignments weekly and provide feedback to students via email.  Throughout the course, the instructor will be available via phone, FaceTime, or Zoom to answer questions, clarify assignments, and discuss the course materials firsthand

 Course Description:

This course is based on the textbook “The Marketing and Promotion of the Carillon” developed by Frank DellaPenna and published by the North American Carillon School.

Course duration:  6 weeks

Cost:  $600.00

Teacher:  Frank DellaPenna

Description:  Students will read two chapters per week and be given written assignments which they will email to the teacher.  The assignments will be reviewed each week with corrections, suggestions, discussion when and if necessary.  The teacher will be available by phone, FaceTime or Zoom to answer questions or clarify the assignments.

The course is designed for the student to create a marketing and business plan for the carillon that will generate its own funding.  It includes how to determine what music is best suited for a particular community, how to increase public awareness, how to increase attendance to concerts and how to generate income.

Frank DellaPenna is a graduate of West Chester University, The French Carillon School in Tourcoing, France, former carillonneur of the Washington Memorial Chapel in Valley Forge, PA and creator/performing artist of the musical act Cast in Bronze.  (for complete bio visit Faculty)

Course duration: 8 weeks (to be finished 10 weeks after first lesson)

Cost: $600.00

Instructor: Dr. Luc Rombouts

Required knowledge: Understanding of the English Language

Material required: 1) Requested: Course book Luc Rombouts, History of the Carillon, (Published by the North American Carillon School and the Royal Carillon School ‘Jef Denyn’ Mechelen) 2) Recommended: Textbook Luc Rombouts, Singing Bronze. A History of Carillon Music (Published by Leuven University Press, in cooperation with Cornell University Press)

Brief description:

The course covers the history of the tradition of bells and the carillon culture in Europe and in North America. Much attention will go to the societal framework in which carillons have developed. Attention will also be given to diverse aspects of the present-day carillon culture. 

The student is expected to read 5-10 pages of the course book per week in preparation of the classes, which will be Q&A-sessions in two directions. The main points of the study material will be presented via slides and sound examples. 

Use of the Singing Bronze textbook is not obligatory, but recommended. 

If the student chooses to attend the course of campanology as well, there is no required order, although it is advised to first attend the course of campanology. 

Session topic:

1 Bells in antiquity and the Middle Ages

2 Roots, origin and first phases of the carillon (15th-16th century)

3 The Hemony brothers and the tuning of carillons

4 The heydays of the old carillon culture (17th-18th century)

5 Decline in the 19th century and the revival with the Mechelen carillon movement 

6 The breakthrough of the carillon in North America (1922-1940)

7Further international development of the carillon and the modern carillon repertoire

8 Carillon culture today: education, organizations, innovation

Course duration: 12 weeks (to be finished 14 weeks after first intake lesson) 

Cost: $600.00 

Instructor: Carlo van Ulft 

Required knowledge: 

- Understanding of the English Language 

- Familiarity with the basic rules and guidelines of traditional music  

harmonization and counterpoint. 

- Familiarity with music notation software 

Material required: 

- Course book “Arranging for Carillon” by Carlo van Ulft  published by the North American Carillon School. Available for purchase from NACS, American Carillon Music Editions and Amazon. 

- Music notation software. 

Brief description: 

Over the course of 12 weeks the student will be guided through the basics of arranging music (other  than the available carillon repertoire) for carillon. The majority of the course will be performed along  email. The assignments will be reviewed weekly. Corrections and suggestions will be returned to student  via email. If necessary the instructor will be available via phone, FaceTime or Zoom to answer questions, clarify the assignments and or discuss the assignments at hand. 

The course is designed for the student to obtain the skill and knowledge necessary to determine  whether a particular work is suited to be arranged for carillon, to set basic selection requirements and to  create transparent carillon arrangements that will work well on carillon and that help the listeners  understand the music at hand. 

Over the duration of the course the student will produce five arrangements for carillon. A hymn  arrangement, an arrangement of music for solo instrument (i.e. piano), an arrangement of music for  solo instrument plus accompaniment, an arrangement of an orchestral work and an arrangement of a  “popular” work.