Here's another topic that's dear to my heart. Saw a newspaper article about a local "folksinger" who is in demand in the area as an entertainer. When questioned about how she chooses the material she uses, she said she writes folksongs using subjects that people never tire of...like Love, for instance. It seems that people don't not equate "folk" with aurally/orally transmitted song from a particular region, consciousness or time. As Sandy mentioned, anything that's accompanied on an accoustic instrument is often designated: "folk." The perpetrator of this music is frequently unaware of ballads - native and naturalized, old time string bands, collections of family songs that document other times and events, blues and kidsongs. etc., etc.. Question? How do people get exposed to the real thing? Through cultural visits to schools? Community concerts? More programs on the media using trad. music as themes? Hmmm. Joan