This smacks of the competitive Eisteddfod ideal in Wales.Children are taught to perform set pieces parrot fashion. This seems to result in fixed smiles and almost identical plastic performances.
I have been worried for many years that the English "In The Tradition" idea reveres performances by elderly quivery singers and tries to copy the sound. Unfortunately of course we don't have recordings of these same singers when they where in their twenties with the fine strong voices they would surely have had.
Our music must learn from the enthusiasm of those fine old singers for the words themselves. But surely we should not try to mimic the performance itself as I feel has happened in Wales. Examinations have to work to a set sylabus which I am frightened would set certain ideas in stone.

Right well that's upset my friends in Wales and England..next please!!

Andy