Thank you very much to the actual students and tutors who have added their comments here. More please! Here are a couple of questiobs.
What particularly interests me is the sort of people on the course. (1) What proportion are there to study folk music as a subject worthy of study, and what proportion are studying with a view to being a performer? I believe both types of course are available, though I might be wrong.
(2)Also, while I see that the study of recordings of traditional perfomers is an activity everyone indulges in, how about studying with actual traditional performers in the flesh?(I use the term "traditonal" here obviously in the sens of "as opposed to revival", not as in "performer of traditional material").
(3) Also, could a student or tutor actually comment on a bone of contention earlier. Is a certain technical standard of performance expected as a condition of entry to the course?(eg something akin to the classical grades. A figure of VIII was quoted earlier).Do people on the course think a considerable technical proficiency is necessary, or only desirable?