tree wind, I lived in East Anglia from 1978 to 1989, I remember John Howson arriving from Liverpool, about 1979/ 1980.
I think John has done a comprehensive job collecting and recording singers from East Anglia.
however I don't recall you at all, where were you living at the time?
I met and heard Oscar Woods, Font Watling, Billy Bennington and many others, many of my then family knew Billy Cooper and Walter Bulwer,and their music.
you asked me a question so here is a HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE...if someone is very specific and says I am teaching THE traditional style of farhquar macrae, and then plays recordings of macrae and illustrates his style, That is fine, or says, here are recordings of angus grant, and illustrates it or here is so sand so , that in my opinion is a good way to pass on information about the music, I think it is really important that as a general principle that people are made aware of all the different traditional players and styles within an area.
    it is not quite the same as the comhaltas homeogenisation, they actively encourage [through their stupid marking system] a Comhaltas style.
in my opinion good teaching should not be just about showing one style, but should be about letting people hear and analyse different traditional musicians from an area.The material is available