Educators celebrate 10 years of knowledge sharing

English Dance and Song Spring 2021

This article appears in English Dance and Song, the magazine of the English Folk Dance and Song Society. The world’s oldest magazine for folk music and dance, EDS was first published in 1936 and is essential reading for anyone with a passion for folk arts.

Kerry Fletcher, Folk Education Network Coordinator, celebrates a decade of activities for folk educators.

As the English Folk Dance and Song Society’s Folk Educators Group turns 10 years old, we are delighted to announce a name change to the Folk Education Network. This renaming reflects the wonderfully wide reach that has grown out of the small, dedicated group of 30 folk educators who attended the launch event in March 2011. I’m delighted to have been at the helm as the network’s coordinator over this past eventful decade.

The group has done just as our new name suggests. There are now over 330 members from England and beyond. We have travelled the length and breadth of the country with our Folk Education Development Days, providing free continuing professional development for educators, highlighting regional and local projects, connecting with arts and heritage
organisations, and meeting and sharing experiences and knowledge with fellow educators. Each of our online Folk Education Development Days are attracting around 70 attendees from across the country and the globe. The Folk Education Network has built a vibrant and thriving community that supports, advocates and connects everyone involved in folk learning and participation with each other and the wider world of arts – a great achievement to celebrate and a new name to ring in the future.

To give you a flavour of what one of our Folk Education Development Days involves, enjoy this abridged review of one of our recent online events, Inclusive Folk Arts and Disability, by professional musician, singer, educator and dance caller Alex Cumming.

Well, here we are, the second online Folk Education Network Development Day. It’s 5.30am as I’m on the east coast of America, a large cup of coffee in hand and feeling a lot of excitement about the day to come. As somebody with disabilities, this was an event that seemed very important to attend, not only to connect with others, but to also learn much more about the vast world of disabilities and how we can all work to be much more inclusive.

Kicking us off in fine style was Jane Bird, a great caller with experience of running dances for people with a wide range of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). A discussion-rich session with contributions from many about experiences of dancing with dyspraxia and mobility issues, it involved dancing the Canadian Barn Dance, which is easily adaptable. Due to a pain and fatigue flare, I danced whilst sitting down, but this did not take away from the enjoyment. We discussed our own experiences dancing it; how we may adapt it for different situations, for example, doubling figure lengths or using unphrased dances – a particularly helpful tool for people with mobility issues or wheelchair users (of which I have much experience); and the importance of gender/left/right free terminology. This was a very fruitful and important discussion which left me bubbling with new ideas

Next up was Miryam Solomon, Programme Coordinator at Drake Music. She gave a presentation on Drake Music’s work on increasing the number of disabled music leaders through their Emergent Trainee Scheme. In particular, Miryam covered the amazing ensemble Soundbox, an inclusive music group for young disabled and non-disabled musicians. This group
uses a mix of instruments, voices, percussion and incredible music-making technology to create a full and exciting sound.

Pete Sparkes, Artistic Director of Drake Music Scotland, followed with an insightful look at their work creating equal opportunities for disabled musicians. Pete talked about technology, particularly their MusicSPACE programme’s move online, innovative technology and music resources, including an amazing notation called Figurenotes. This was completely new to me and I’m very excited about the opportunity to learn more about this in the future. Tablets and apps such as ThumbJam were also discussed. Pete shared videos of their inclusive group, Equilibrium, and a collaboration with Aidan O’Rourke.

This all-too-short session wrapped up with some important words: Rachel Elliott, Education Director at the English Folk Dance and Song Society, gave an update on the incredible work the Society is doing addressing two key issues – safeguarding and abuse, and racism. Rachel explained the new safeguarding webpage and safeguarding policies, code of conduct and links to resources, with advice for setting up your own safeguarding policies, where victims of sexual harassment can seek help and more. Rachel touched on the Society’s undertaking to combat racism, underlying that this, “falls within our work striving towards greater Equality/Equity, Diversity and Inclusion within folk. A lot more will – and needs – to follow.” 

Sarah Jones, Programme Manager of the National Youth Folk Ensemble, updated us on the Ensemble’s strange year moving online; despite not being able to meet in person, the group
has spent a lot of time together. A great video collaboration was shared featuring tunes learnt during virtual gatherings. The new cohort and tentative plan for the year (pandemic pending) was also introduced. 

Folk singer and educator Rosie Hood shared her knowledge and experience of using folk music with children and young people in SEND schools through organisations such as Live
Music Now!. Rosie led a ‘hello song’ with sign language and guided us through her many residencies in SEND schools, sharing some wonderful examples of creating an inclusive, educational and rewarding experience. She demonstrated this clearly by touching on the importance of songwriting to help develop creativity and interaction and the important role folk songs can play. She also talked about continuing to work during the pandemic, learning a new way to deliver music online and in schools with COVID regulations, and some great tips creating engaging video content, saying: “The importance of music making has not gone away.”

The Inclusive Folk team at the English Folk Dance and Song Society gave an insightful look at their work in creative music making using storytelling frameworks. Project manager Esbjörn Wettermark, lead tutor Emmie Ward, tutor Nick Goode and trainee music leader Alice Barnard shared experiences and knowledge, focusing on work with people with PMLD (Profound and Multiple Learning Disability) through programs such as Folk Unlimited. The importance of multi-sensory experience was explained, and the idea of using movement, touch and smell, for example, through the song Tree In The Wood. For each verse, a different sensory experience was suggested, like a wood-scented candle for ‘All in a wood there was a tree’. This idea of sensory storytelling is pretty new to me, so I’m really excited to explore it. The group shared experiences of moving online, discovering soundscapes work well. However, despite best efforts, the online experience doesn’t work for everyone, so maintaining the connection with students through the pandemic has been really tough.

The day rounded off with small group discussions – a really great opportunity to discuss thoughts, feelings and insights from the day.

This was a truly inspirational, educational and enlightening day and an important step forward for the folk scene’s journey to become more inclusive. I can’t wait to see the knowledge shared come to life in our community. Traditional folk music has always been an ever-evolving thing, and our work to make our community more inclusive should be the same. Today gave me hope and reassurance that this work is happening.

The Folk Education Network is free to join. It’s for anyone involved in folk learning and participation in any context, including folk arts in community settings and schools, and calling. For more information, see efdss.org/folk-education-network

Photo: Eric Aydin-Barberini, courtesy of A New Direction.