This is a post by a featured author, Tom Burt - the band director at Medford Area Middle School
I am a trumpet player who was taught in the conventional system for four years before coming into contact with The Anatowind music clinic. I knew that something wasn’t right with my range and tone, but I kept practicing an hour or more everyday. Once I was introduced to Anatowind it was not long before I started to notice a change in my tone and endurance. All of my physiology change that went on never disrupted my ability to go out and play professionally. I had studied with them for seven years and then decided to get my music education degree from UW-Whitewater.
I got out and had been teaching for 16 years when I decided to contact Jim Simmons about a brass clinic. My trumpet playing was going ok but I knew there were still some questions that needed to be answered which would not only help me but my students. My method had limitations like all “conventional methods”, so I contacted Jim Simmons.
There is a very clear distinction between the “conventional method” and Anatowind. My students are getting some physiology so they have some understanding as to how muscles relate to tone, tuning, volume, range and tempo. It is no longer acceptable to think that some sudents just “have it” or are more talented when really it has a great deal to do with the lips, teeth and jaw of the player. I was seeing more kids struggling than succeeding in their development — which can be a major contributing factor why students quit playing their instrument.
If you have even one unanswered question about the results you might be getting out of your students individually or as a group then you should contact Anatowind to see how they can program their curriculum into your band situation. I would strongly suggest that you get on your horn with Anatowind as well. You will find that studying the formula through your instrument will help you relate to what the students are learning.
