Hello, help with my next assignment please...

I am writing a paper on the benefits/uses of folk music/song and dance within school contexts - either as part of the curriculum or as extra-curricular activities.

I have a list of questions (see below) which I am asking anyone with experience in the matter to answer, or please just give me your comments on its relevence or whatever else you think about it.

Ta, Fay xx

In what context were you working in a school? regular music teacher, one off workshop, series of after school sessions etc…


What kind of material did you present? Music/song/dance/history/folklore etc…


What are your reasons for using folk material in your educating process?


What teaching methods do you employ during your sessions (please give a mark of 1-10 describing the importance of each in an average session)

Historical instruction
Practical
Experimental
Research
Learning by ear
Learning from notation
Disscussion/question-answer
1-1        Instruction
Group instruction
Student led
Tutor led


Did you make use of 'world music'? From where, for what purpose?


How did you approach the issue of introducing music from different cultures?


How important do you think it is to place folk material in a context, or can you just use the material as part of the normal musical repertoire?


Is there anything inherent in folk music, song and dance that has specific educational benefits?


Do you include improvisation/composition as a part of your course of education? What relationship does this have to the use of traditional material?


What aspects of education can be successfully fulfilled by using folk music/song or dance?


Is there enough provision within the current system for students to have access to traditional song/music/dance? How would you like the system to change?


If you teach in a position where you submit students for Associated Board exams, are you aware of the Traditional based equivalent, do you use it, why/why not?


This could turn into a long thread, if you would rather PM your answers back to me, that would be fine too.

Thanks, Fay xx