Heel 2006 Information

For More Info

The Giant Gila Monster Your Heeler Monster, Graham Radman, can be reached at (469) 450-8043.

The Co-Chairs are Claire Halpert and Jason Lee.

See the 2005 Heel calendar for a concise schedule.

Weekly Lessons

You will be assigned to a teacher and a lesson time. Please communicate with your teacher whenever you might have a problem making a lesson--lesson times are not static, and arrangements can be made to change them. If you have to cancel on short notice, call and e-mail your teacher, and remember to get in touch later to set up a make-up lesson time. If you drop from Heel, inform your teacher and the Heeler Monster immediately.

Lesson Plans

Individual lesson plans will vary slightly, but will mostly be based on this outline:

Heeler Keys and Tower Security

At your first lesson, your teacher will sign and give you a key authorization form. Bring this form to one of the key distribution sessions (times will be listed on the form and on-line) to receive a key to the wooden doors at the bottom of the Tower. If you absolutely cannot make any of these sessions, call the Heeler Monster to make other arrangements to get your key.

A refundable deposit of $20 is required (cash or check to "Yale University"; on your check, include your name, P.O. box and phone number). You must return the key at your audition (you will get your $20 back at that time); failure to do so will result in a fine of around $200 so that we can replace the entire lock system in the Tower. If you drop from Heel, your key must be returned to the Heeler Monster immediately.

Be very careful with your key, and remember that its only use is for YOU to practice on the practice carillon. Do not bring anyone with you or let anyone into the Tower, and never lend your key to anyone. For your own safety, shut the doors behind you as you enter the Tower. When you leave, make sure all doors and gates are locked, and all lights are turned off. You are not allowed above the practice room level of the Tower unless accompanied by a Guild member. We take these rules very seriously (as does Dean Trachtenberg).

Practice Sign-Up

The practice sign-up form is now online. You can sign up for a maximum of 2 half-hour slots in advance, BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN YOU CAN ONLY PRACTICE FOR ONE HOUR A WEEK. Once you have used one slot, you can reserve another. (For example, you sign up for a half-hour Monday morning and a half-hour Tuesday morning. Once you use your Monday slot, you can sign up for another half-hour at the next available slot, e.g. Tuesday night, and so on.) The two slots may be back-to-back if you wish.

The Heeler Monster and all Guild members will monitor the sign-up sheets frequently and erase names of Heelers who have reserved too many. This "offence" will arouse the ire of others, including the Heeler Monster, so play fair. As well, if you sign up for a practice slot, you MUST show up! Heelers who repeatedly sign up for more than two slots in advance or miss their scheduled practice times will be asked to leave Heel and return their Heeler keys. Please respect your fellow Heelers: the slot that you reserve but do not use is likely someone else's preferred choice.

Practice as often as possible. Nine weeks is not a long time to learn a new instrument, but you will be amazed at how skillful you can become if you practice regularly.

Group Lessons: Week 7

At group lessons, you have an opportunity to play your audition pieces for two or three Guild members other than your teacher to get constructive criticism from other sources. Sign up at the practice carillon during Week 7. Group lessons are optional, but strongly recommended.

Master Classes: November 5-6

Master Classes will take place during the weekend of November 5-6, 2005, (one week before auditions) and give you a chance to play your two pieces in a mock audition format, with all the Guild members present to offer advice on your audition pieces. Master class is optional, but strongly recommended.

Audition Day

Auditions take place on Sunday, November 14, 2005, from noon until late afternoon or dinnertime, depending on the number of Heelers. Keep this entire afternoon free. Contact the Heeler Monster now if there is even the slightest possibility of a conflict.

Audition Requirements

  1. "Red" piece (beginner level) on the carillon.

  2. "Blue" piece (intermediate level) on the practice instrument.

    In Week 4, you will select your pieces in consultation with your teacher, out of several choices in each category. To avoid monotony (and anger from our friends in Old Campus), a maximum of 4 or 5 Heelers will be allowed to pick any one piece. As soon as you choose a piece, take one of the photocopies from the folder and write your name on it. Do not remove the originals from the Tower and do not write on them (feel free to make marks on your own copy though).

    Choose pieces that you find interesting and fun to play; you will be spending a lot of time with them, and it is much easier to be musically expressive with a piece that isn’t driving you up the wall. Sheer technical difficulty should not be your sole criterion for choosing a piece, as we will be listening for musicality as much as technical proficiency.


  3. Technique exercise on the practice instrument.
    Your teacher will present a technique exercise to you during the second half of Heel.


  4. Sight-reading exercise on the practice instrument.

    You will be presented with a short selection (12-24 measures) of music written for manual and pedal. You will play the manual and pedal parts separately, and then hands and feet together. We will judge you on your ability to play accurately and musically. Your teacher will be able to make suggestions on how to prepare for this. We will set aside some music books containing beginner and intermediate passages for you to practice your sight-reading.

    Note: All Guild music (except your own photocopy of the audition pieces) must stay in the Tower. Except for those specifically set aside for Heelers' use, all Guild music and files, including those in the file cabinets, in and on top of the members' boxes, are off-limits to Heelers.

Final Words

Heel is fun! In these nine weeks, you will be introduced to a brand new instrument, learn to play some simple tunes well, and perform them for the whole campus. You will get to know a bunch of upperclassmen and fellow frosh who love music and new experiences. The carillon is a unique instrument, and the Yale carillon is the only one in the world played by a student-run group like ours. We hope this will be an incredible experience for you; please feel free to talk us about any feedback or comments you may have at any stage during Heel.

With all that said, let's ring those bells!