I agree, Ron -- I was noting that said magazine also assumes that folk = grungy and pop stars MUST be beautiful (or vice versa). It may be a marketing fact that the Dixie Chicks had to show some navel to sell their first records, but it's still awfully said.

The vast majority of kids out there won't ever be one of the "beautiful people" (and those that will won't believe it at a young age anyway.) Kids who think they have to achieve some kind of physical or fashion perfection to play music are not going to try. It's because folk, blues, gospel, etc. don't cater to the bare midriff crowd that it can become MORE accessible to kids. They just have to be exposed to it enough to get over the marketing brainwashing -- get past the MTV images and hear the music.

Great call, Dave, on making their own instruments. That might get their brains working in a way that being forced to be an audience member (of something they assume they won't like) won't.