Carillon: A New Instrument to Learn!

Have I mentioned that I miss my violin?  Well, I do.  But now I have something new to learn and practice: the carillon!  Most of you probably don't know what that is.  I didn't either until ten days ago when I saw a notice posted outside the bell tower at the university.  It said that there were free lessons for anyone who wanted to learn the play the carillon!  The only criteria was knowledge of how to read treble clef notes, and thanks to the music I learned at home I could do that in my sleep.  So I eagerly wrote down the email address that was provided.  But by the time I got home I'd forgotten what the instrument was called.  So I simply sent a very enthusiastic email asking if I could please have lessons on 'that beautiful bell instrument' at the university.  I received a reply the next day and a date was set for my first lesson!  The carillon was quite different than I though it would be.  Since we needed to know treble clef notes, I thought it would be similar to a piano.  The keys are set up in the same order as a piano keyboard, but playing carillon is a whole different ball game.  It would be very hard to describe, so I'll just post a picture. 

 

The way to play is by slamming your fists onto the wooden keys.  Yes, this means that I currently have pinky fingers with blisters, dry skin, and bluish bruises.  But playing carillon is most definitely worth the agony.  After wincing through the first few minutes of playing each time I don't even notice the pain anymore until after I stop.  And I think my hands are getting more used to it now.  It doesn't seem to hurt quite as badly anymore.

 

 

Here is the music for one of the songs I am learning.  I don't know how clearly you can see it, but on the top there are treble clef notes which I use both hands to play.  The bottom is bass clef and that is for the feet pedals. 

 

I don't play on the real carillon yet.  I just practice on a small, quieter one in the little room at the bottom of the tower.  But eventually I'll be playing the real one!  Probably starting next month.  Every day it is played from 12:30-1:00, for all the university to hear.  Yikes! 

 

 

And finally, here's a short film of me playing part of a song.  Today I have my second lesson, and I hope the teacher is impressed by my progress.  I've sure been practicing a lot!