Henry’s folk journey
English Dance and Song Summer 2023
This news item is based on articles 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.
Hello! Meet Henry Walker – writes Henry’s Mum, Clare.
Henry is 20 years old and has been a member of the London Youth Folk Ensemble for almost five years now. Henry has chosen to play viola with LYFE. He also plays piano and violin, and has been known to turn up with a ukulele too!
Henry is profoundly autistic, which means that he finds using language and conversation difficult, but he has always loved music. Who doesn’t? But in Henry’s case it has the huge advantage of enabling him to have conversations without those pesky words.
Henry’s first experience of Cecil Sharp House was English Folk Dance and Song Society’s Folk Unlimited group for learning disabled people, which is funded by John Lyon’s Charity. The atmosphere was joyous and the mood-enhancing effect of the music was tangible. Henry immediately felt at home so, when he was given the opportunity to apply to join LYFE, he didn’t need to be asked twice. It was a challenge not to have sheet music to fall back on, or the trusty formula of an A piece, B piece and so on; but the freedom to play by ear was a liberation – and a valuable lesson that there are so many different ways of learning to be a musician. Henry’s special school had been unable to offer music as a subject, so LYFE opened up a whole new world for Henry – almost literally given that the folk pieces LYFE played came from a whole variety of different countries and cultures.
One of the most valuable opportunities LYFE offered was the chance to belong and to be part of a group. When you’re a teenager, friendships can be tough. If you find language a challenge, they become almost impossible. LYFE was welcoming, un-judgy and completely understanding. Henry has had a blast. Perhaps the most memorable occasions have been performing in the heat of a summer’s day at Folk by the Oak (as Henry put it: “it was such a lovely day with the sun out and the crowds of people being surrounded”) but there have also been ceilidhs, line dancing, concerts, and Sunday afternoon sessions to look forward to every term.
Henry is now at Trinity Laban College of Music & Dance where is doing a foundation course in music performance – the viola is his first instrument but the uke is still smuggled in occasionally. He would love to take his musical education further but being unable to access the academic side of higher education closes this door. Thanks to EFDSS, however, other doors will open, and in the meantime there is fun to be had and music to be made. Folk music – all music – will always be a huge part of Henry’s life so if there are any other neurodivergent musicians out there who would like to explore putting a band together, please get in touch.
It all started with Folk Unlimited.
