AGEHR Level

All of our publications are graded according to the A.G.E.H.R.'s rating scale. The following is taken from the Handbell an Handchime Notation Guide ©2010 AGEHR Music Publishing

- See more at: http://handbellmusicians.org/music-resources/agehr-music-2/notation-guide/#sthash.g7BZ5FYe.dpuf

Level 1

1. Meters:4/4, C (common time), 3/4, and 2/4
2. Notes and/or Rest Values:whole, dotted-half, quarter
3. Rhythmic Elements:no subdivision of beats, simple use of ties
4. Techniques: ring, shoulder damp, Sk, TD, echo, martellato, Sw, RT – all with adequate preparation time
5. Handbell/Handchime Changes:none (no accidentals)
6. Articulation: see Techniques
7. Dynamic Levels: all from pp to ff in homophonic style (all ringing at the same level) with limited use of crescendo or diminuendo
8. Tempo: slow to moderate

Level 2

1. Meters: 2/2, cut time, 3/2, and simple mixed meters of 2/4, 3/4, and 4/4
2. Notes and/or Rest Values: eighths, the dotted-quarter followed by an eighth, simple combinations of eighths and quarters
3. Rhythmic Elements: syncopation – simple patterns such as eighth-quarter-eighth, anacrusis – pick-up notes or upbeats and their effect on the final measure
4. Techniques: table damp, Pl, martellato-lift, malleting, and any combination of two different techniques with adequate preparation time
5. Handbell/Handchime Changes: limited number of changes per ringer with adequate preparation time
6. Articulation: see Techniques
7. Dynamic Levels: crescendo and diminuendo, polyphonic style with simple dynamic contrasts (such as two voices having different dynamic levels)
8. Tempo: slow to moderate

Level 3

1. Meters:6/8, 3/4 (in one pulse per measure), 3/8, 9/8, 12/8, 6/4
2. Notes and/or Rest Values: sixteenth, dotted-eighth and sixteenth note patterns, triplet
3. Rhythmic Elements:syncopation such as

1. Techniques:Brush Damp
2. Handbell/Handchime Changes:extensive number of changes per ringer
3. Articulation: combinations of techniques in eighth-note patterns at moderate tempi
4. Dynamic Levels: subito piano or subito forte without rest, more complex polyphony with more than two independent voices, more rapid shifts of dynamic levels
5. Tempo: more changes of tempo within the work

Level 4

1. Meters:mixed of 6/8 and 3/4, 5/4
2. Notes and/or Rest Values: all of previous at faster tempo, triplet over two beats
3. Rhythmic Elements: syncopation – more complex, using sixteenth-notes and ties
4. Techniques:Brush Damp
5. Handbell/Handchime Changes:extensive number of changes per ringer
6. Articulation: combinations of techniques in eighth-note patterns at moderate tempi
7. Dynamic Levels: subito piano or subito forte without rest, more complex polyphony with more than two independent voices, more rapid shifts of dynamic levels
8. Tempo: more changes of tempo within the work

Level 5

1. Meters: irregular meters
2. Notes and/or Rest Values: dotted rhythms in compound meters at fast tempi, duples against triples
3. Rhythmic Elements:syncopation – more complex, mixed patterns

1. Techniques: ring-hook-damp sequences, handbell passes at moderate tempi
2. Handbell/Handchime Changes:unlimited
3. Articulation:any combination at faster tempi
4. Dynamic Levels: rapid shifts between levels with no preparation, more frequent use of crescendo and decrescendo
5. Tempo: more changes of tempo within a work including abrupt shifts

Level 6

1. Meters:unlimited
2. Notes and/or Rest Values: more than four eighth or sixteenth-notes to a pulse (such as five, six, seven, etc.), thirty-second notes
3. Rhythmic Elements:complex rhythms at any tempo
4. Techniques: all, any tempo
5. Handbell/Handchime Changes:unlimited
6. Articulation: unlimited combinations at any tempo
7. Dynamic Levels:no limits on shifts (sudden or gradual) or accents
8. Tempo: only those imposed by the nature of the instrument, complex changes within a work

- See more at: http://handbellmusicians.org/music-resources/agehr-music-2/notation-guide/#sthash.g7BZ5FYe.dpuf