If clubs are serious about caring for the music the onus is really on them to help new singers - and not by encouraging them to 'prctice in public' which is all too often the case.[quote]
I think you will find that that is the purpose of workshops,the LEWES[Sat]club put on a variety of different workshops,some instrumental and some vocal.
something that other clubs would do well to emulate.
apparently the folk club that used to be run by Red and Myra Abbott, in the sixties [leigh on sea or possibly Southend ]used to do just that.
Forthcoming workshops in 2010 -Lewes[Sat]Folkclub.
27th.Feb        Coope Boyes & Simpson        Vocal harmony
27th.Feb        Georgina Boyes        Folklore (participatory talk)
27th.March        Ben Paley        Fiddle
17th.April        Shirley Collins        Traditional song masterclass
18th.April        Shirley Collins        Traditional song masterclass
24th.April        Issey Emeney        Melodeon
22nd.May        Joe Penland        North Carolina song & social history
5th.June        Mike O'Connor & Barbara Griggs        Cornish traditional tunes from source manuscripts
6th.June        Mike O'Connor        Songwriting in the tradition
10th.July        Karen Tweed        O'Carolan's music (any instrument)
18th. Sept        Moor Music        Dartmoor music (any instrument)
9th. Oct        John Adams        Village Music Project (any instrument)
10th.Oct        Chris Coe        Ballad forum
31st. Oct        Martin Carthy        Guitar
13th.Nov        Frankie Armstrong        Singing & vocal techniques
20th.Nov        Tim Laycock        Concertina (all systems)