WHAT IS THE ANATOWINDSM MUSICAL TEACHING PROCESS?

“AnatowindSM” as a term was coined from the words "anatomy" and "wind," as referred to in band or wind instruments. Joseph Simmons, the founder, realized when he was teaching at Beloit College as director of the band program that there was no physiology resource as a clinical process for understanding which muscles are directly related to playing brass, woodwind, percussion, keyboard, or strings. His immediate concern at the onset was for brass; however, later study involved all instruments.

In 1951, with information available to him from the American Dental Society, Mr. Simmons started his research. By 1958, this research began to result in the AnatowindSM Musical Teaching Processes capable of being reduced to individual case studies.  In 1961, the Clinic process was registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (Reg. Number:0714264) as "Teaching Proper Muscular Coordination in the Playing of Musical Instruments through Personal Demonstrations, Clinics, Reports, etc." In 1963, the Clinic secured a building with the set up of being the same as a medical concept. The building was purchased in 1966 and has been the home of all Clinic developments until 2013. The Clinic is now located at 854 Bluff Street in Beloit. In 1975, a Doctoral Dissertation was prepared and published through The Catholic University of America -- its title: "A Comparative Study of an Experimental Method for Increasing Range and Endurance on Brass Instruments (Cornet-Trumpet)".

With the growth of the AnatowindSM Clinic, it was inevitable that the movement would need more people to carry it forward. James Simmons became interested in the AnatowindSM Musical teaching process and received early training in the clinical process. As a result, he has developed into an active clinician and his many years of training have added new dimensions to the course. James became director of clinical operation in 1978 and has moved the Clinic to its present existing role.

The AnatowindSM musical teaching process furnishes the first physiology-based study of instrumental music performance. Our clinical process can diagnose any performance and reduce its muscular merits to positive and negative results.