Method Toolboxes for teachers
4. Slow course methods
Slow course methods are a group of methods in which one bell rings a simple, repetitive pattern until a call is made. In a touch, each bell will take turns being the slow course bell, just as different bells go into the hunt in touches of Grandsire.
Brecon Place Doubles is shown on the right. It might initially look complicated, but if you look at the second (blue) it repeatedly leads for 8 blows and then makes seconds over the treble. That's a kaleidoscope exercise which is repeated whilst the other bells do the complicated stuff.
At a general practice, ringing slow course methods provides an opportunity for a band of mixed ability to ring plain courses together. A new ringer at the foundation level can ring the slow course bell which is like ringing a kaleidoscope exercise, with the additional challenge of ropesight as they will need to ring over and with different bells. Rather than sitting out watching kaleidoscope exercises, more experienced members of the band can join in and ring something that might be new to them, whilst supporting the new ringer.
The slow course methods in this collection vary in their degree of difficulty. A simple method like Brecon Bob Doubles has long leading with places made under the treble, whilst others have more challenging slow course work such as Welford Bob Doubles, where alternate long thirds and long fifths are made by the slow course bell.
From providing a little variety on a practice night to enabling bands to ring together without anyone sitting out, slow course methods are a fun way of developing skills and ropesight as a team.
Method progression
Methods are graded on difficulty of the slow course work, rather than difficulty of the method.
Entry level
Progressing
Tricky
Really Tricky
Method names
Whilst researching slow course methods we've found that some methods are given different names in Composition Library, Methodology and iAgrams. We refer to the Composition Library names, but please be aware of this potential confusion if you're looking up diagrams in the tower.