I have dipped in and out of this thread, out mainly because of the non constructive vitriol, however some good points have been made. We have healthy sessions and a very healthy folk club in York, at the York day of folk I noticed some of the youngsters that go to the tap session, just out of University (grads) and still in York, carrying mandolins and violins etc. I was surprised because I hadn't seen them at the sessions with instruments but they said they were learning together, thought I would share that with you, music is alive and well and still inspiring a younger generation, so encouragement however competent, one has to start somewhere. And, yes, one has to be sensitive to everyone attending but it also requires everyone to be a little forgiving.