Sunday, March 13, 2016

# Christmas # church

Pipe Chimes: Why I like them more than hand bells

If you are looking to expand your instrument choices for Primary (or at home), consider some Pipe Chimes. You can find them here: Musical Pipes

Image result for pipe chimes

This page will send you to an Etsy shop where you can build your own set to fit your own budget and needs.

I purchased my own set last year after spending an arm and a leg on 2 sets of hand bells. I decided that I love the Pipe Chimes more than my hand bells. Here are some reasons why I think Pipe Chimes are better:

1) Price. Pipe Chimes cost way less than a set of handbells. You can also build your own set. A basic set includes 23 chimes for $30.00. Add $5 for 14 metal strikers. A 13-note hand bell set goes for $67.00 on Amazon.

2) Durability. These chimes are basically indestructible. I always worried about the kids touching the ringer or pulling the spring on the hand bells. I don't worry about them destroying the chimes. They are nice and sturdy.

3) Easy to play. Pipe Chimes are easy to play. Hand bells are tricky. You have to ring them "just right". Pipe Chimes are easy for little hands and it doesn't take a lot of coordination to make them sound good. Even the little kids in nursery can play them. (I don't organize a song for them to play, but they just love banging them.)

4) Range of notes. The Pipe Chime set includes 23 notes. It allows for a lot more participation and a better selection of songs to play. Hand bells are tricky if you don't have the right bells or enough bells or the song isn't written in a certain key.

5) Songbooks. The Pipe Chime website offers songbooks for $10 each if you prefer a printed copy, or for $3 for a digital copy. I find the digital copy very helpful in Primary for displaying through a projector. This allows for the children to see well and follow along easily. The songbooks are your own little "bell charts" without the work to create one. They are already done for you.



6) Made for LDS use! There are different songbooks available for purchase including LDS Primary Songs, LDS Hymns, and Christmas songs. There are also 2 other books available of other songs. There are also a few "other" songs available for download on their website for free like, "I Know That My Savior Loves Me".

7) One-Man-Band option. If you would like only one person to play multiple chimes, Pipe Chimes offers the option of purchasing "holders" for the chimes that allows you to lay the whole set out on a table. I love this option for a descant in songs like "Christmas Bells Are Ringing".

8) Easy to transport. Throw them in a bag and off you go. Hand bells need to be stored carefully in a bulky box to keep them from getting ruined. Pipe Chimes don't take up a lot of space and kids can help put them away.

9) Not just for Primary. My family has started a new tradition the past 2 Thanksgivings. After Thanksgiving dinner, we sit together, pass out Pipe Chimes, and sing and play Christmas songs out of the Christmas songbook. We have so much fun together. My mom has purchased 2 sets to accommodate our large crowds of family (close to 50 people). This has been my favorite part of Thanksgiving the past 2 years.

I hope this helps and I hope you check them out. They would be a great addition to any Primary and/or home.


32 comments:

  1. I've heard so many great things about these!

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  2. They sound like a great alternative to hand bells!

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  3. We play these at my mom's house and all of the kids just LOVE them!

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  4. I would love to try them for Christmas

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  5. Love the thought of being able to use them in Nursery! And the price is amazing compared to bells. I'm not currently chorister (best calling ever!) but I fully anticipate being called many more times in the future (fingers crossed). And I adore the idea of using them as a family for Christmas singing. What a fun idea! I totally think that would make it something my boys actually enjoy doing, as they're not huge fans of sitting around and singing. Haha!
    Dezi A

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  6. I life the sound of pipe chimes and the fact that more can have the chance to participate! What a great opportunity to be able to have those that might never get the chance to be able to experience a different way to enjoy music!

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  7. I've used hand bells in the past and can say that they are harder for little ones to manage. The pipe chimes seem right up my alley of easy and fun!

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  8. these are so simple and efficient! Perfect for little children. Easy to manage and hard to destruct!! A fun way to get the primary engaged with learning the songs!

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  9. This sounds like a great alternative to handbells and much easier to transport for music class. Thanks for the opportunity!

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  10. I haven't ever used pipes because I figured I already spent a fortune on handbells for primary. I'm always scared something is going to happen to them. I never even considered how indestructible pipes were! I love that! How fun to be able to bring them into nursery!! Also, I think it would be so much fun to play them as a family as pipes seem much easier for little kids to play than the bells. This is so exciting!!

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  11. I love that they are less expensive and simpler to play than handbells.

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  12. I own a set of handbells and am slightly afraid to let my little kids at church use them for fear of the inside getting broken. I've heard great things about the chimes and would love to give them a try.

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    1. I was also super afraid to bring out my expensive bell set. I'm not afraid at all with these. Pipe Chimes are the best and so much fun!

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  13. I think they add a new, different experience for the kids. I love their sound.

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  14. My family and day care children love these! It is great that all ages can participate! So much fun! I would love to win a set for my grandkids! Thanks!

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    1. Day care! They would LOVE these!! Good luck!!🍀

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  15. Great tradition!! And useful in so many settings!

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  16. I would LOVE to try these with the primary!

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  17. I would LOVE to try these with the primary!

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  18. I would love to use these with my primary kids!

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  19. Some of my favorite memories from primary as a child included these. I would love to win them for my own primary now!

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  20. I would love to win this set. I love incorporating new things into teaching the primary (and nursery). Thank you for writing your opinions of both bells and chimes. I chuckled at a few of them... they are indistructsble.

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  22. I would love to use these not just for Primary, but also I'm my piano studio! So much fun!

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  23. I have wanted to get some of these for my primary for years and I love the idea of using them for family get togethers!

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  24. These create wonderful memories! What a fun idea!

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  25. These sound like so much fun!!! What a great addition to family gatherings!

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  26. I haven't heard of these before. I would love to try them with my primary!

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    1. Hi Tara! If you'd like to see a little video of what they are, you can visit my new Instagram page @justonemomtrying and see the insta story. They are a LOT of fun!

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  27. Would love a chance to have my primary children play the musical pipes!

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  28. These would be fun to try with our primary children and when our family gets together at Christmas.

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