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Focus on Folk

 


View Focus on Folk in a full screen map

soundLINCS is delighted to have reached and supported people working with children and young people, with particular focus on Encouraging Talent and Progression in the East Midlands through our National Foundation for Youth Music Network Programme, EMTaP – East Midlands Talent & Potential, which is heavily subsidised by the National Foundation for Youth Music with additional support from each of the Music Education Hubs in the East Midlands region.

One aspect of EMTaP was an exploration of progression routes available for young people in minority genres and unusual contexts. Through this we began to research the provision to support and meet the needs of children and young people’s progression in Folk Music in the region.

We asked ourselves, “What guidance and support can instrumental teachers and practitioners who do not specialise in Folk music, provide to young people who are keen to develop their interest in Folk on their chosen instrument?”

Our comprehensive inquiry involved consultation with the East Midlands Music Education Hubs, music practitioners, organisations and individuals across the region to ascertain existing participatory opportunities, activities, events, digital resources and much more.

The results of the research were diverse and wide-reaching, with opportunities emerging from Lincoln to Leicester and even London! This collated research is now available as an interactive mapping resource, “Focus on Folk”.

This resource highlights singarounds, ceilidhs, folk clubs, folk concerts, folk festivals, organisations and collaboratives providing folk activities, workshops, courses and events for young people taking place across the region, together with information of nationally available workshops and workforce development activities assisting in teaching and community engagement.

As well as all these opportunities, the map also highlights online resources that assist Folk Progression, such as the English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS) Resource Bank, which provides free, downloadable materials for using English traditional folk song, music, dance, drama in teaching and learning and can be explored here.

How to use the map: Search in your area and click on a marker to reveal more information about an organisation, including their contact details and event times and venues where appropiate.

You can also filter points on the map by which type of group they represent:

Folk Club / Venue That Promotes Folk: This is regular folk clubs and venues who regularly hold or promote folk performances.

Folk Workshop Delivery: This is organisations who deliver folk workshops for children and young people, in schools or other settings.  

Media Opportunity: Radio or television stations etc. which promote the local folk scene or give opportunities for performance. 

Practical Opportunity for Young Person: This encompasses a direct offer designed for children and young people, including college course, summer and day  schools and work experience specifically for folk interest.

Regular Event: This is events such as festivals which occur annually or several times a year.

Singaround / Open Mic: This is any practical self-guiding  group activity at a venue including  open mic or unplugged nights. 

Resources: Any sort of facilitation aid.

The 7 fields appear in different colours on the map, with the key at the bottom displaying what each colour denotes.

If you have a specific group or location in mind you can also use the search bar in the top right to help you locate the folk organisation you’re looking for.

This is just the starting point!  Our aim is for this resource to be a useful and inspirational progression tool for young people, their parents / carers and teachers across the region. We hope it will encourage and enable young people with a love of folk, or those who want to discover more about it, to easily find out how and where to go to join others who share their interest.

We want the map to keep growing so your contributions are welcome!  If you know of any other opportunities or resources in your area not currently on this map, please get in touch with soundLINCS at info@soundlincs.org or by calling us on 01522 510073 and we will happily include them.

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