Clif's Corner | Mysite

Hello my name is Clif and I'm a clinician at the Anatowind Clinic and am on the board of directors.

I come from a musical background. My father was a professional trumpet player in Berlin, Germany and 1st chair trumpet with the fifth and 298th Army bands, and my great uncle was a symphony clarinetist and had his own music publishing company.

I started to play trumpet when I was ten, I continued to play for 8 more years through high school and college, four years of which I had decreased range and endurance due to a lip injury. I was unable to play above the staff because of this.

Now, after studying using the Anatowind method, I can play to high C, and I have good range and endurance at different dynamic levels. I've also taken on extra instruments; the trombone and mellophone. I've also learned about my physiology to the point of correcting my Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ), which used to cause my jaw to lock up.

So often, myself and others find themselves stuck no more improvement or discomfort to the point of injury. The Anatowind teaching process helps to eliminate those hurdles so that you can keep growing. I can play solos and studies like the Arban's Method Characteristic Studies; which used to seem impossible.

I've also started four of my children on musical instruments studying the Anatowind process. They've all been first chair players with continuous growth. I could go on and on about that. Go to the "Parent and Students" article I wrote that can be found on this website.

September 2023

quantifiable measurement of progress in tonal development

measured in the musical process and the quality of it’s formation has always been subjective. The Anatowind Teaching Process chooses to evaluate tone in an objective manner through the is of a device called a strobe; which breaks tone down in a scientific manner according to the laws of physics.

In the course of the teaching process a baseline of tonal formation is established, and a physiological path of development for the performer is created and studied. The strobe is then used as an objective evaluation device to establish the level of development and growth in the performer’s efforts and progress. The tonal formation presented in the strobe is then measured against the other vents of musical performance: tone, tuning, volume, range and tempo.
Through the use of objective measurement, the student is able to quickly judge for themselves their level of growth and progress and can take ownership for the results produced.

This course of study can be applied through both the individual and ensemble study

As mentioned earlier, this was a 53 year journey to what the clinic considers one of the most important technological advances for music in the 21st century, because it deals with the most personal element of the musician's life, tone.

yes, we had the process to properly interpret their strobe for visual tone improvement. The strobe was just not for tuning anymore.

In November 2019, an affiliate agreement was reached that would use the Peterson auto strobe and clinic teaching process to update the music community on a wind instrumentalist tone.

We encourage everyone to learn more about this combination of the strobe and the clinic teaching process as many people are visual learners. This understanding of their tone through visuals helps them to relate better to what they hear and feel.

October 2021

Clif will be updating everyone shortly on his corner of how he's using the Peterson strobe to help update a wind instrumental performer on the understanding of the structure of their own tone, the strobe, not just for tuning anymore

June 2021

The following are somethings done during the Spring of 2021 related to the Anatowind Teaching process
Using the Peterson Strobe 490 and the internet Anatowind records a baseline of pre-conditioning and subsequent follow up sessions to update what the students tone looks with their residue embouchure.
Improvements on the process are being done to improve the Strobe analysis and record keeping
e.g. Having the student Sustain playing the Starter notes so the Strobe and all electronics involved has time to settle and measure accurately especially when the strobe is in Auto Mode

All digital strobes that I've ever seen show all blocks stacked when in tune which isn't correct everybody has a different Tone
Tuning which most musicians see as a needle or spin direction is a lateral or horizontal gauge
Tone on the Strobe display is seen as a Vertical gauge, A stacking of blocks, the note is divided up in harmonic partials from the complete Strobe 490 display the student sees for themselves what their tone and tuning looks like.

Also this spring, reviewing one of the Anatowind students answers to the 250 questionnaire was interesting Allowing the Clinician insight into the Students pre-conditioning and interest in music

March 2021

Conventional Music uses placing for chair position as the testing by conductors or band directors. This involves sight reading and playing a song that the teacher evaluates for chair position.

With Anatowind, the wind manual exercises what we call the "C Series" which can be used as a way to update the students growth and what direction to take next. What part students play (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc..) can also be assigned to expedite the students growth in physiology, not a "who's the best chair position?" tryout

Feb 2021

This winter has been rough for me and my health but I am now putting the Pieces back together. I added a cover over the Bell on one of my horns, Eb horn, like a lot of players are having to do because of covid 19. I noticed that some notes weren't playing, projecting out as well as they would without the cover. I know its the cover and not me or the horn because the notes not playing aren't the lowest note but a couple notes just above the lowest F# note. The Resistance of the Instrument has changed similar to when when using Mutes. But with mutes like the Harmon mute the lowest note F# is gone
Players should keep this Resistance change in mind and not make drastic embouchure changes which could develop into bad Muscular formation that might affect horn playing adversely for when the cover is off
Just emphasis breathing to get the notes out as best as you can

Aug 2020

Stick and Stay

Have you ever watched gymnastics when the Gymnast lands upright after the high bar exercise?

The announcer will say how they, “stick the landing", The clinic process would say how they "Stick and Stay"

This leads me to Strobe readings we get at Anatowind on the Peterson Strobe. An Anatowind student, although there may be room for improvement, is more likely to get a reading in which the blocks displayed are more consistent and stays that way as the Student sustains the Note. While a new student to Anatowind, their pre-conditioned embouchure reading on the strobe reading will be hard to find, scrambled, grayish while possibly staying in tune. This will be part of Records and Baseline assessment.

...Don't even get me started on Vibratos, Until next time

July 2020

Conventional Music uses placing for chair position as the testing by conductors or Band directors
This involves sight reading and playing a song that the teacher evaluates for chair position.
With Anatowind, the wind manual exercises that we call the “C series” can be used as a way to update the students' growth and what direction to take next. What part students play (1st 2nd 3rd etc.) can also be assigned to expedite the students growth in physiology, not a “who's the best chair position” tryout.

2/15/2020

The Anatowind musical teaching process puts the person first, not just instrument and the sheet music. For the parents, Anatowind process, using the Peterson Strobe, can also aid in selecting what model instrument the student should be using. In most cases, it actually saves money for the family by eliminating a lot of the trial and error process. I've recently shown students playing their instrument on the strobe to their parents and this helps include the parent so they can see for themselves where the child is at. In one case, they were able to see the tone looked better than their child was giving herself credit for. There's also the Lab assignment sheet, which gives accountability and again perspective for the parent to be involved.

Feb - 2020

"I've seen an ad for Chop Saver on the computer. After viewing it, It turns out to be a type of Chap Stick. Hmmm Anatowind has a lot more to offer then Chop Saver and wouldn't use terms like Chop Saver unless it related the muscles and jaw that are used in what's termed "Chops". The buzz word "Chops" is a buzz word which I think was termed by Louis Armstrong around 1930"

Jan 2020

Due to the use of technology of the Peterson Strobe, Skype and Facetime we're able to bring Anatowind to people without them having to be in the Clinic. Over the past year I've been working on Bench Marking a Students Tone on the Peterson Strobe and how to present or show that to Students over the Internet Using Skype or Facetime. Along with that we've been comparing the Analog (Peterson 400) to Digital (Peterson 490) Strobe because the Clinic has traditionally been using the 400 but the Newer 490 is what people would buy today.
The Peterson 490 strobe also has some advantages in its display; Auto Mode for example which automatically displays and lets you know which note you are playing without have to manually select the Note name. The 490 does work better with an external microphone ,for different dynamic levels, which the Peterson strobe 400 also has.So I'm working on trying to match up the microphones between the 2 strobes

Oct 2020

I've recently started playing trombone again and am interested to see how my range and endurance is. I don't have a lot of time now, but will still test my embouchure out and see if it adversely affects my cornet playing. On cornet I'm trying to keep centered and not shift to my new residue too soon for high notes. So far so good, but sometimes my jaw gets shaky.
Well hopefully I get some time to get back on the horns.