I don't mean to offend you, Marion, but I know that you are just starting out, and am concerned that you might get sidetracked by taking on too much, and especially too much that is totally new--

For quite a number of years, I played mostly Balkan, Scandinavian, and Russian music(the odd time signatures, 7/8, 9/8, 11/16, and even 15/16 and 25/16, are favored in Balkan folk music, particularly dance music)--there are quite a few folks who come on to the International Folk Music scene wanting to learn to play everything at the same time, and ending up getting nowhere--

I am not opposed to doing ethnic stuff at all, just in keeping it from getting away from you. If you add the odd song to your own repertoire as the need presents itself, over time, you will accumulate a rather formidable arsenal--