"If you want a song to be given (the full choir) treatment, should it have to be presented to as a solo over and over, until the group finally learns it by 'osmosis' and can finally start to sing along?" (Genie)

When it come down to it, that is more or less what I do believe, and I think most people in the places I know in the folk world probably see it that way too. If I hear a song that is new to me, I want to listen to it. If I know and like a song, I can find myself wanting to sing along, and maybe put in a harmony and so forth - if I'm sure that's what the singer wants to happen.

But I wouldn't dream of trying to lay down the law on these kind of things, even if I could. If I found myself in a session where there was some rule that noone could use written or printed words, I wouldn't stay. Or if there was some conventioin that people should be embarassed if they feel happuier with the words in front of them.

"Songs that have 6ths, 9ths, major 7ths, augmented or diminished chords, or key changes." Maybe this is a quibble, but I don't see songs as having chords. It's the arrangements and accompaniments (including some types of vocal accompaniments) that have chords. That's fine - but the song comes first, and there are virtually infinite combinations of harmonies for any melody. One of the great things with a good crowd of folkies is that they can come up with harmonies no one would think possible that work.