Pro Platform: Jonathan Pippen interviews Simon Cowen
While holding the position of principal trombone with the Brighouse and Rastrick band and during studies at the Royal Northern College of Music Jonathan Pippen was appointed the founder Principal trombone of Portugal's Remix Ensemble. He later returned to the UK as a freelance player and has appeared as guest principal trombone with many of the UKs finest orchestras including the Philharmonia, English National Opera and the Hallé. In this month's Pro Platform feature, Jonathan catches up with his friend and colleague Simon Cowen – Principal Trombone of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Musical Director of Besses o’ th’ Barn Band.
JP: Can you tell us a little about what inspired you to become a musician and what led you to your first brass band experience?
SC: After spectacularly failing my Grade 1 Guitar, I can remember the teacher taking his glasses off and, whilst polishing them and staring a 1,000-mile stare, uttering the words: "Boy, there is no way in this world you are destined for anything to do with music."
I was delighted, but Mum had different ideas. Having desperately searched the school instrument cupboard for one that didn't possess strings or a reed, a week or so later my life as a baritone player began! Alas, the baritone was quickly confiscated, and I was given a trombone and a ‘phone number for the local brass band.
Not knowing how to hold a trombone or how to count bars rests, let alone work out slide positions, there I was at my very first brass band rehearsal. There was a somewhat gruff-looking man at the front, fag in mouth, pencil in hand... "'reet' band, Slaidburn." The band sparked up and I sat there desperately pretending that I knew what I was doing, whilst others around me blew merry hell out of this fantastic piece of music - it was electrifying! When it stopped, the man at the front turned to the trombone player on my right, nodded reassuringly and said: "He'll do." When I realised he was talking about me, that feeling of acceptance swept through me like a glorious wave. That was the day the trombone became ‘my everything’.
JP: You attended the Chetham’s School and subsequently London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Tell us a little bit about that education and how it affected you growing up.
SC: I'm not exaggerating when I say that most of my four years at college were spent in a practice room. I'm not being all 'holier than thou' saying that, but I just loved the routine of playing long notes, lip slurs, slow scales and Arban studies. Most people would say there's more to life and now I'd quite agree, but I guess I was an addict. My trombone teacher once took it upon himself to confiscate my instrument as he felt I was over- practicing. I borrowed my mate’s when they were busy chatting up the girls, sneaking out to local pubs and doing things any normal teenage folk got up to. Not me - I was busy trying to perfect F# melodic minor. I certainly knew how to enjoy myself!
Before starting my first year at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, I requested a lesson with Eric Crees, a month or so before term started. He agreed, so I asked what he charged for a lesson and the reply came, ...
To read this fascinating interview in full, and much more from Febuary's edition, subscribe to BBW Digital here.
Photo: Simon Cowen (right) with Classic FM's John Suchet
.gif)
