The Importance of Cross-Generational Mentoring and it's significance for the future of the Bakersfield Sound
Welcome to our rockin' round table discussion for today. My name is Dr. BLT. I'll be your host. I teach Developmental Psychology at Chapman University on the beautiful campus of College of the Canyons in Valencia, California.
One of the things I'll bring to the table is my understanding of what conditions are most conducive to the most fruitful manifestations of human development.
The topic of the Bakersfield Sound generation gap is one that I've only introduced recently to the Kern County community, and to the Bakersfield Sound community in general. And yet, it has sparked a new. healthy, vigorous debate that continues to grow on a daily basis.
So far I have focused on the problem, but today, we will begin to examine the solutions.
I will be applying developmental psychology to the future direction I envision for the Bakersfield Sound movement. It's all about bringing it forward to a new generation. It's all about urging the next generation to accept the call to stand on the shoulders of giants in order to create spectacular music of the future. I call that generation The Coalition of the Willing and Generation Next.
Mentoring, or, more specifically, the taking on or assumption of mentoring roles by pioneers from the older generation is an important step in bridging the Bakersfield Sound generation gap. It's all about old dogs teaching new dogs old tricks, and new dogs (or, dawgs, if you will), being appreciative enough about what the older generation has to offer to get excited about learning these new tricks. I'll be blogging more on the subject, but today I just want to introduce the concept of mentoring as a potential resource in cross-generational bridge building.
Here is my question to you: What practical ways can old-timers of the Bakersfield Sound era, like Sonny Langley and Red Simpson, use mentoring as a tool to pass on the Bakersfield Sound to a new generation? Welcome to the...
Bakersfield Sound Underground Rockin' Round Table Discussion
Remember: If you ain't goin' underground, you ain't goin' anywhere!
Yes, mentoring is a great way for skilled members of a society, aka ‘old-dogs,’ to pass on their knowledge and support to the ‘new dawgs’ of a new generation. Mentoring gives the musicians of today an opportunity to step into the shoes of those who came before them by involving them in joint activities and what’s known as ‘guided participation.’
These ‘active apprenticeships’ can build a bridge, or even meld together, the diverse styles of old and new. In the writing community, weekend retreats are often organized where hands on seminars give new writers an opportunity to, not only meet successful writers, but also to get to know them more personally. They receive firsthand feedback and many times work together in collaborative projects.
If the old timers of the Bakersfield Sound were to hold workshops open to the musical community, I think it would encourage a more open connection between the old and the new. I believe that any creative process is more than just the act of creating, but is also the sharing of oneself. Workshops, seminars, and retreats, if organized as an intimate gathering of people to share their craft are wonderful ways to open the door to new relationships and ultimately a new sound.
After all, mentoring is different than just dishing out information, but rather it engages both the student and the teacher in the learning process. Although a form of mirroring is involved, it’s really more of a two way street where each learns from the other. Because music has a natural layering onto itself, it seems to me that the layering of personalities within the old and the new will ultimately be the very tool that passes the sound of one generation on to the other.
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In my previous response to a blog article I responded with the notion that it is important for all of us to preserve and expand upon our own histories. Just as it is important for us as students to learn world history or classic literature, it should be equally as important to learn music history, not just classical music, but generational music. Bakersfield Sound is historical in the field of country music and has had an effect on thousands of people without them probably even knowing it. When we understand history, of any kind, we appreciate and recognize the present and future of our societies, as well as the importance of preservation.
Mentoring or an “apprenticeship” is a great way for the legends of Bakersfield Sound to preserve and pass on the tools which made their music historical. Lev Vgotsky was proponent of mentoring he felt, “each person schooled or not, developed competencies taught by more skilled members of the society, who are tutors or mentors in an apprenticeship in thinking.” (Berger, 2006, p. 49) Acting as mentors these legends of country music could help bridge the generational gaps that are expanding. Not only providing them a chance to share and teach but a chance to learn as well. It is often said, “That the teacher becomes the student.” Musicians of today collaborating with music legends of old would create opportunities for new music to grow. Together in a studio a brand new era of country music could emerge.
I also feel weekend workshops might be something helpful in the fight to bridge this gap. When life is so busy and committing several hours of time to a mentoring program might be overwhelming for some, a workshop might be the first step. Just as local businesses have “mixers,” you might have a Saturday night dedicated to showcasing local music talent with some of the “old dawgs” present. Providing an opportunity to meet people and exchange information. An informative presentation that describes Bakersfield Sound and its influences may also help. Sometimes people benefit from being shown or told exactly where their influences originated and why it is important for it to be honored and preserved.
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Adults teach children how to do activities and how to behave in society. Children depend on adults to guide them through life. They don’t know the world without an adult telling them what’s right or wrong. Adults can mentor children and guide them through life until the children don’t need them anymore. Children are taught by skilled adults who know what they are doing. Apprenticeship in thinking is a skilled adult usually a parent or teacher who mentors to a child who wants to learn how to do a task. Mentoring only works if the adult masters the skill. There are also adults who guide the child to do a task. They direct the child to do something. Sometimes they participate in the activity with the child. For example, a child wants a piece of candy from a candy dish. The child asks the parent if it’s okay to take one. The parent says okay and asks the child to say thank you to whomever the candy dish belongs to. The parent guides the child through a situation. Sometimes children mirror adults in everyday situations. For example, a mom feeding her baby some lunch. The older sister mirrors her mom by feeding her baby doll some lunch. Mirroring is important to a child. Sometimes the adult acts inappropriately like cursing at another adult then the child will do the exact same thing to someone else thinking that it is okay because their parents did it. Children pick up everything that an adult does without the adult realizing it. Children learn by mirroring or having the adult mentor them.
I think that the Bakersfield Sounds artists have to play their music to the older and younger generations. I think the older generation will teach the younger generation the Bakersfield sounds. The artists should mentor their kids their style of music. Maybe their kids will grow up and play music like their parents did before them. I’m sure that the young generations hear the music and start playing the guitar and making up songs. When they get older they will become famous and start singing songs. I don’t think the Bakersfield sounds will ever die. Music will never die as long as people are interested in playing it. Music is a part of everybody’s lives.
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Mirroring vs. mentoring The idea of mentoring has been around for many generations.A great example of mentoring was demonstrated in the movie Secondhand Lions.
The young man learned the basic principals of life after he received "the talk" from his uncles whom he admired and respected."a man must have courage, virtues and true love. "One does not need power and money to triumph." "The old lion died with her boots on"
This young man was given a life experience at a very crucial age and time. He received a sense of worth, a sense of importance and belonging that was priceless. His uncles taught the young man what it means to live wearing boots and why one should die wearing boots.
"Live life to the fullest with no regrets is how I interpreted this saying." the uncles died at 80 years of age flying a plane they built upside down. I'd say they died like the old lion; with their boots on.
Mentoring is an art like no other learning experience.A child is encouraged and motivated to wear boots as they begin their journey of life.
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Every one of your comments provides a strong rational for the benefits of mentoring, both in terms of the degree to which society can benefit, and in terms of the role of mentoring in facilitating normal, healthy development in children.
Bandura, in particular, speaks of the importance of modeling, and of adult examples, and mentoring is central to the type of modeling that Bandura believed would be of optimal benefit to children.
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Mentoring is definitely a wonderful way for an older generation to share their knowledge with a younger one. Perhaps a way to encourage younger musicians to spend some time with older ones would be workshops and maybe even open mike nights where all generations can come out and play together. I also think it would be a great idea for the older musicians to put down some of their stories, experiences and wisdom in writing or perhaps be videotaped telling their life stories. This way the wealth of knowledge is available for the generations that have not been born yet as well as those who haven't yet realized how much they have to learn from the pioneers of the Bakersfield Sound. I also think mentoring can go both ways. There are many things that older people can learn from younger ones as well. Many older people have problems with all the technology we have, perhaps there could be events where the younger guys/gals can teach the older ones about the technology out there and how it can be used in the music world. There could be some great collaborations born from this. By showing each other something new everyone can benefit and bridges can be built between the generations. I think this idea of learning from each other was shown so well in "Seconhand Lions", the boy learned to trust and become a good man and the uncles learned to open up their hearts. In the end all three became better people by sharing their experiences. I think mentoring at its best is when everyone, not just the younger generation, grows as a person.
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Mentoring and Mirroring are very important in a childs development. One an individual mentors a child,they tend to pass down a great deal of knowledge that can have an impact on how the perceive the world around them. Mirroring helps a child learn what actions are right and wrong. Whatever type od behavior a child is expose to, that is most likely the type of behavior they will tend to exhibit.This ties in with Lev Vygotsky concepts of apprenticeship in thinking and guided participation.
One should also remember that as adults we still apply these concepts now that we learned in our early years. For example, the way we raise our children and the things we teach them, we learned from our parents and we are mirroring their behavior. When it comes to mentoring, we are our childrens mentors and they are learning what we are teaching them.
This is why I think it is important that we understand how these concepts impact children as they are growing up by understanding the different types or psychological theories that these concepts play a role in such as the social learning theory.
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Mentoring our children is very important because many children learn behavior and ways of being from their parents. The way the parents act (caring, giving, loving, responsible, etc.) the children are most likely to mirror and grow up with the fundamentals that were instilled in the child. Not only do the parents play a role in mentoring the children, but so do their peers, singers, teachers, there are so many influences on the children. It is the parent’s ultimate role to make sure the children are heading in the right direction. Music plays an important part in many children’s lives. For example look at Brittney Spears and Kurt Cobain which are just a couple off the top of my head which have set very bad examples for our children. Children look up to singers and some follow in their path. There are many other singers, actors, sport figures that also play a part in showing our children correct behavior crazy society and the wrong behaviors. Bottom line is mentoring is very important in showing our children the correct way to behave in a c.
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Mentoring our children is very important because many children learn behavior and ways of being from their parents. The way the parents act (caring, giving, loving, responsible, etc.) the children are most likely to mirror and grow up with the fundamentals that were instilled in the child. Not only do the parents play a role in mentoring the children, but so do their peers, singers, teachers, there are so many influences on the children. It is the parent’s ultimate role to make sure the children are heading in the right direction. Music plays an important part in many children’s lives. For example look at Brittney Spears and Kurt Cobain which are just a couple off the top of my head which have set very bad examples for our children. Children look up to singers and some follow in their path. There are many other singers, actors, sport figures that also play a part in showing our children correct behavior crazy society and the wrong behaviors. Bottom line is mentoring is very important in showing our children the correct way to behave in a c.
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When one speaks of mentoring it makes one think of an "old man" teaching a "youngster" a skill or trade. The old guy pours his wisdom into the young man's cup of youth and energy. Extolling the virtues that can only come from time,experiences and need we say; mistakes.
In every venture the truition of age vs. youth is a game that can go into extra inning. In business the manager says he can hire 3 college grads for the salary he is paying the grizzled veteran. The school teacher with tenure who may be "going through the motions" taking the spot from the young, energized and credentialed tutor who wants to "change the world". In sports the 32 year old who is at the end of their career and the rookie who would take the last remaining roster spot.
All these examples are where youth and experience need to blend. The mentor and the protege' can live in harmony, and must.
Enthusiasm of youth and experience of time need to melt together for any succussful operation to perform at the peak level it was created. The championship basketball team, the sales team, the college halls all need the stregth of youth and the wisdom of the ages to blend into and fine tuned machine.
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