I couldn't agree more with Erica--and I love Allen's story--maybe that's the way to start our 200 member Shape note choir!

I have another thought about what discourages people, and that is the "ethnic police" mentality--"only blacks are entitled to sing spirituals", "you can't sing that song, your ornamentation isn't Bulgarian enough" you can't play "Blue Moon of Kentucky" on an "A" mandolin-- you need an "F" mandolin!