Actually, you do know how to do it wilco48! You don't have to have formal teacher training to do it. You just have to get to the place in yourself where YOU made the choice to learn and perform the music you do. It is that simple. We all choose the music we learn and perform, unless our parents or teachers are dictating it to us, which is the case in formal schools where "music" is being "taught". We choose what we choose because it speaks to us, grabs us, whatever. That is all you are trying to do with any music you perform for people of any age.

People get WAAAAAY too hung up on the "folk" label. Music is music. Stop labelling, start singing and/or playing your instrument with a sense of joy and excitement. Songs don't have to tell stories (remember, there are both story songs--ballads--and impressionistic songs--lyric songs). A song can tell a story to music, but that isn't all that music is. Music is pure fun. Learning music should be hard work, but fun hard work. Music is also thoughtful and thought provoking. Music is mood enhancing. Music is healing. Music is a non-verbal way of communicating emotions. Music is culturally (NOT nationally!) specific.

Go crazy, do what you want with it. Just don't fall into the trap of teaching "folk" music with a capital F, instead of teaching music.