Intergenerational music experiences:
Young dogs and old dogs both learning new tricks
by Debbie Rohwer, Ph.D
While I have had many warm-fuzzy experiences in my life as a teacher/musician, I think the feeling I had last spring was the best yet. I watched as a 70-year-old man and a 13-year-old boy high five each other in a rehearsal because they both played the musical passage correctly. These two musicians didn't know each other, really, other than the name introduction that they had done five minutes before, and the very strong bond of both being tenor saxophonists. It didn't matter that they were generations apart in age. The instrument was their link, and it was a strong link; strong enough to give me and each of them a very profound, positive, warm-fuzzy experience.
This scenario was just one of the many wonderful experiences that the senior citizens in my band and the middle school students in a local public school had when the directors of the two ensembles planned a "generations concert." The rehearsals and concert were musically fun, but even more important, the experience engendered mutual respect across the musicians in the two groups: the older musicians noted how well the younger students played and how dedicated they were, and the younger musicians noted how fun the older musicians were, how dedicated they were, and also, how well they were playing. Some of the older musicians were in their first year of playing a musical instrument, and some had been playing their instruments for much longer than the younger students had been alive. This concept of lifelong learning and music making was profound for the young musicians. The youngsters were amazed that they were sitting next to retired doctors, pilots, housewives, teachers, and university professors; all who sincerely wanted to learn music as part of their life. What a strong message for music education to provide.
And these types of experiences are not difficult to organize. With the growing number of baby boomers making music in community bands or in New Horizons senior citizen groups across the nation (over 140 New Horizons bands, orchestras and choirs), there is an amazing array of possibilities. Many directors of adult groups want the variety of performance options that intergenerational experiences can provide. Consider concert programming: I have been conducting my New Horizons band for 12 years now. Some of the band members have been with me since the band's inception. Variety is pivotally important to keeping these people excited, and not bored. For those public school teachers interested in initiating a contact with a new horizons group to plan an intergenerational experience, groups can be found on the New Horizons website at http://www.newhorizonsmusic.org/groups/groups.html. I would also encourage directors of adult ensembles to contact public schools to initiate intergenerational experiences. It seems to be a win-win venture.
In fact, the intergenerational concert was so profound to me that I have formally changed the structure of our band. We have now become much more inclusive, opening the doors to home schooled youngsters that do not have a "home band". These students walk in with similar music abilities to the adults in the senior citizen band, but very different life experiences. The musical similarities make the immediate bond, and learning about different types of people, and different attitudes make up the long-term bonds. Deep respect has been the outcome of these intergenerational experiences in my band, and I think this is an important aspect to consider. Music education may be more than learning about music. One of the true benefits of intergenerational experience may be the ability to appreciate more global, social issues, including the idea that everyone can learn: young dogs and old dogs alike.
