My son's school band did a medley like this, too, and it was pretty uninspiring. The songs can be good with the right instruments and voices, but somehow the over-arranged sound of a concert band with horns and drums and unison violins doing them makes it too glitzy for folk and too predictable to be impressive.

I was particularly offended by some elaborate piece passed off as original which contained distinct melody lines from "Whiskey Before Breakfast" and other traditional pieces.

An inspired music teacher might do something like showcasing individuals throughout the arrangement and keeping the folk character of the songs, rather than turning it into a "Broadway in the Mountains" medley. A good music teacher can make all the difference.

I hope you don't get discouraged. Take the songs and do something with them on your own. Get together with friends and try variations. Change the music (the "folk process") and add turns and touches you like. Make it yours. It is yours, after all.