Access Issues in English Folk Singing Styles and Techniques
A Review of The Roundtable Discussion ‘Singing Styles and Techniques in English Folk Singing’
Abstract
In this reflective summary of one of the Access Folk 2023 Singposium roundtables, the event moderator Jessie Thompson draws on the contributions of panellists Frankie Armstrong, Kate Thompson and Paul Wilson to lay out some central views on folk singing style and technique. Although styles and techniques are not generally understood to be access issues, the panel used the framing of accessibility to refer to the ease with which a singer can participate in English folk singing. In most genres, mastering technique is the domain of professional singers. English folk singing is rooted in non-professional community singing. The accessibility of stylistic vocal information is therefore vital to encouraging participation, as a singer’s vocal choices and habits reinforce social connections to their communities (Diamond, 2011; Potter and Sorrell, 2012). The roundtable and this reflective paper begin a conversation about the process of English folk singing and experts’ opinions of these processes, with the intention of identifying key vocal choices and habits.
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