To move, or not to move...

[Brandon Jones]

As a euphonium player, I know that there are TONS of different interpretations to playing the euphonium up and down the entire register well. Steven Mead, for example, moves around a lot while playing to really pound out low notes and really keeps tight for the high notes. His cheeks puff quite a bit for lower notes and stuffy notes, yet, he still seems to be able to get around on the horn quite easily. Brian Bowman, for another example, is the opposite. He keeps everything still, yet doesn't have quite the flexibility on the extreme ranges as Steven does. I thought that the "Bowman Way" was the right way to teach people to play, yet that doesn't seem to hold true for the best players in the world. The reason I'm starting this string is because I have students in my own private studio now and I'm not sure what to teach. Myself, I move around on the lower notes somewhat but try to keep things as still as possible and let my lip flexibility take over, but at times, you just can't. What should I teach? Which way is more effective to you all and more "correct", if there is such a thing? Thanks for any and all replies. Sorry this was so long and detailed!

[Ames0325]

well--I have always been taught to move as little as possible when playing--though I do move some especially for low notes. However in the past I have moved quite a bit and have been trying to break this habit as I think it is a (for me) a bad habit and distracts me from playing as well as I could.