Many people still acquaint folk music with bearded men and woolly jumpers.

But 32-year-old Jane Lawrence is a world away from that clichd image.

A Lancaster resident with a masters degree in ethno-musicology', she studied in London with teachers including an 80 year-old Indian who taught her the tabla.

And now she is to launch a class of her own - teaching other folk fiddlers all about different folk tradition.

Jane plays traditional English folk but also specialises in European, Indian and Klezmer sounds.

And answering the tricky question of what is folk music, she has plenty to say.

"Folk is music that has been passed on either manually or in manuscripts, it is music that evolves and people can learn it by ear, it is music where you don't have to be restricted and where people can get together in a pub and sing.

" The thing I love about it is that it is music for the people by the people, it's music that changes all the time."

And she adds: "It should have a higher status as there are some people out there that are as good in their field as classical artists."

Jane is involved in two bands. One is Tabuka', a trio who play English, Irish and Jewish Folk music at weddings, and the other is Choucheen,' a six piece that play at festivals and concerts in England, France and Portugal.

Now she is starting HoBow,' an informal class for fiddle players.

"I did a couple of instruction days and several people came along, so there is definitely an interest in the area. I am hoping to build it up so I can get two groups going," she says.

Lessons will be at Lancaster's Gregson Centre on Thursday evenings, starting on January 23 for 10 weeks, from 6-8pm. For more details, call Jane on 64689.

January 16, 2003 09:00