Why Learning the Ropes?
Learning the Ropes is a family of progressive learning scheme designed around the following principles:
- Motivation and inspiration – working from a carefully structured syllabus towards a definite goal
- Measurement of personal progress and attainment against recognised benchmarks
- Provision of an objective guide to improve your ringing skills
- Skill consolidation through performance and long extent opportunities
- A real sense of achievement – including a personalised certificate and your name published in the Ringing World
Most people learning a musical instrument have lessons from a teacher who takes them through a series of progressive grades to build their skills. Learning the Ropes is designed to provide a progressive development of ringing skills, where new skills are built on those you have already learnt – therefore making each new stage easier to grasp.
Enjoyment through achievement is a key principle, and earning a Learning the Ropes certificate is a rewarding experience. If you are working hard to make progress with your ringing, you need some way of recognising your success.
Each Learning the Ropes scheme has five stages, known as levels. Each level develops key skills. There is flexibility at the higher levels to follow different pathways. You get a Personal Progress Logbook, access to online learning resources and a certificate of achievement at the completion of each level.
When you have completed Level 5, your ringing will be at the standard where you will be able to progress quickly in the exciting and diverse world of ringing.
Benefits for Teachers too
Learning the Ropes provides a structured, progressive teaching and learning process that enables a higher percentage of students achieve success at higher levels. Learning the Ropes was created in response to requests from ringing teachers for learning pathways for ringers.
It provides clear goals for both the teacher and ringer – allowing faster progress and facilitating group working. As a graded scheme where new skills are built onto what has been learned before, it helps to make each stage easier to learn and reduces the risk of a ringer getting stuck at a level below their potential.
Association of Ringing Teachers
Learning the Ropes is taught by Association of Ringing Teachers Members and teachers that are working towards ART accreditation.
All ART Members have completed one or more Modules of the ART Teaching Scheme, which involves a one-day instruction course followed by up to two years skill development before a final assessment of their teaching. Those who have completed accreditation and become ART Members have also been DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checked when they work with young people or vulnerable adults.
Learning the Ropes
Learning the Ropes
Starting with your first bell handling lesson, the scheme helps you: handle a bell safely; acquire solid foundation skills and by Level 5 your ringing will be at the standard where you will be able to progress quickly in the exciting and diverse world of method ringing.
Learning the Ropes Advanced Call Changes
The Advanced Call Change scheme provides an alternative ringing pathway based on call change ringing. It places a greater emphasis on ringing a wide range of bells and conducting.
Learning the Ropes Handbells
Provides an entry route into the world of ringing changes on handbells. An emphasis is placed on ringing all pairs of bells and conducting.
Learning the Ropes Plus
Learning the Ropes Plus follows on from Learning the Ropes. It is not a progressive scheme, as submissions can be made for any category of achievement at any time.