"I think it's good to encourage the folk tradition of performing by memory, but accept the use of songbooks."
Why?
Classical music is not folk song.
Some years ago Yehudi Menuin, arguably the world's best classical violinist, presented a television on Scots fiddle-playing.
The climax of the programme was when he joined in one of the great traditional players - half way through the set Menuin laid down his fiddle and confessed he wasn't up to the creative virtuosity of the Scot.
A book is for repetition not creativity - simple as that.
Jim Carroll