Diane: I can sight read perfectly well. And play scales and arpeggios, though not as well as when I was student. But I do not regard any of those accomplishments as having any relevance whatsoever to being a folk musician. Leadbelly seemd to manage OK without them, as far as I am aware.It would be fine for the degree course to teach such stuff to those who were interested but never got round to learning: but if, as you say, it is some kind of prerequisite to getting on the course, I would think it a disgraceful betrayal of what folk music is.