Description: As musicians, we have training and experience in what it takes to make improvements on our main instrument/voice. While there were classes to guide skills development on that from public education through college and perhaps beyond, there was not the same emphasis available on how to develop the handbell or any other type of ensemble. The greatest teacher for most has been experience. Recognizing that the development of the handbell ensemble requires a more unique set of skills and steps as compared to developing individual performance skills, this session highlights the sequential path to excellence in developing a handbell ensemble.