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Linda H.
“Unless you try to do something beyond what
you have already mastered, you will never grow.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
For many years I considered myself a Kalamazoo Ringer “Groupie” attending
all the in-town concerts as a faithful audience member, admiring not only
the group’s ringing expertise but also the difficulty of the music
repertoire. In January of 2003, when I was asked to try a long-term
substitute ringer position with the group, I accepted with much hesitation
and trepidation. I knew that I would face the biggest challenge of my
thirteen year ringing career, charting unknown territory and stretching my
ringing abilities. However, three years later I finally feel like a REAL
Kalamazoo Ringer! In the process, I’ve met some wonderful new friends,
learned to “step beyond my comfort zone”, and grown in my mastery of new
ringing skills. As a section leader for the middle bass bells, I plan
extra practices throughout the season to help us work on difficult
passages found in the repertoire. I love working with my middle bass
partners!
Besides ringing hand bells in three choirs and directing a church
parent/child bell choir, I also teach seventh grade Social Studies at West Middle School in Portage where my students make me
laugh every day. I absolutely love teaching seventh graders! My husband,
Dave, and I are both Michigan State and University of Michigan fans
because our two daughters, who both teach second grade in Raleigh, North
Carolina, are MSU graduates and our son is a U of M graduate in
industrial operations engineering working in Charleston, South Carolina.
During the summer months I enjoy teaching swimming, gardening, driving the
speedboat, water skiing, reading, and relaxing in the sun. The biggest
disappointment of the summer months, however, is not practicing and
playing with the Kalamazoo Ringers.
I’ll see you all at the next Kalamazoo Ringers Concert!
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