Check your hand bell choir music for key and time signature and octave range. Make sure you have the proper bells ready, such as accidental bells for the specific key, such as a C sharp bell for a piece in D major, and bells that cover the octave ranges indicated on the sheet music.
Highlight and circle your part, your choir's part and related measure numbers when playing with two or more bell choirs.
Ask the bell choir director whether any optional notes indicated are to be played if she has not already told you. Highlight the optional notes if they are your part.
Black out any notes in parentheses if they are not to be used, and highlight any accidentals not in the key signature to be prepared for them. Note any changes in tempo or volume, as well as up and down arrows that indicate how to ring the bell.
Practice your part on your own first, and note any areas of difficulty, such as bell changes or tricky accidentals or rhythms. Break the music down into several measures at a time, and play each measure until you can play it correctly. Get together and practice with your bell choir, and note if any new difficulties arise.