Ian Cobb was born in the city of Kingston Upon Hull in East Yorkshire during the 1960's. At the age of seven he started his musical journey as most children do by taking up the recorder at school, shortly followed by the trombone in the school brass band. His natural ability to quickly learn almost any instrument resulted in the Christmas gift from his elder brother of a classical guitar when he was nine.
Ian studied classical guitar with Martin Glover and had a brief period of tuition at the age of 14 with Oliver Hunt (formerly Professor of Guitar at the London College of Music). At the age of fifteen, Ian took his Grade 8 exam on classical guitar and on leaving school joined the British Army as a Military Musician, retraining from trombone to clarinet.
Three years later Ian studied at the Royal Military School of Music Kneller Hall under the Professor for Clarinet - Mike Farnham, and returned a year later to the Duke of Kent's Band of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, as principle clarinettist - a total study period on the instrument of four years!
He completed his army service in 2005 as the Band Sergeant Major of The Normandy Band of the Queen's Division. His 22 year career saw him turning his hand to many different aspects of music, from arranging and performing for military band and small ensembles to taking up bass and electric guitars for the many pop bands and pit orchestras within the Yorkshire and Durham areas.
Ian currently works for the Instrumental Music Service North as a Peripatetic Music Teacher, as well as teaching privately at his home in Richmond, North Yorkshire. His broad knowledge of music and instruments enable him to teach Classical, Bass, and Acoustic/Electric Guitars; as well as Flute, Clarinet, and Saxophone. As a hobby, Ian is the Musical Director of Reeth Brass Band (a well renowned band in the area) and so can offer basic brass tuition should the need arise.
Biography
