Thanks Diane; I've read the syllabus, and I agree wholeheartedly. The course appears to be well balanced between the study of the history, forms and tradition of folk music on one hand, and the needs of the modern 'market' for this approach to music performance on the other. In other words, a good mix of theory and practice. I wish it had been around when I was choosing an undergraduate course!

I can't really see what's wrong with this programme in the eyes of some; it seems to be an extension of the mentoring process I described above, with some academic credit attached for use in a world where a degree opens doors that would otherwise be closed. This mentoring used to be carried out in families ('songs I learned at my grandmother's knee'), but with the apparent decline of the extended family network this is perhaps less common.

I think it's important to remember that this degree isn't the only route to a successful career in folk music, nor is there any guarantee (based on the limited evidence currently available) that this approach will lead to greater success than any other.

One more thought; the degree programme gives an opportunity for in-depth study of a wide and fascinating area of the musical spectrum. I would argue that the 'democratisation' of information via the wonders of the web means that anyone with sufficient time, interest and an internet connection can research and explore to their heart's content irrespective of whether their study is formally recognised. Not only that, but the new phenomenon of social networking sites (now referred to as 'web 2.0') allows sharing and marketing of ideas and music much more readily. The world appears to have shifted, and that shift affects the folk music world as well. The question that's bothering me at the moment is not 'what's happening now?' but 'What's next?'.
Tim