The sad thing to me, is that the author is from rural NC - a place that has a history and culture of music made for and by people of backgrounds similar to her

The sad thing to me, is that the author is from rural NC - a place that has a history and culture of music made for and by people of backgrounds similar to hers. Bluegrass and folk music still have an audience (see the success of Greensboro-based Carolina Chocolate Drops), but not a ton of prestige, and sadly it's not something I've ever seen taught in public schools. I don't blame the author for her choice to pursue classical, she didn't know there were options. But not only has the author sacrificed her own talent and well-being to a class of people who would view her community with disdain - she denied her own culture of new talent and life that could have been sorely needed.