29
True or False – Generations and Their Music
Posted on October 29th, 2008 in Worship Leadership, Worship Q&A by Fred McKinnon
I’d like to ask this question and have you respond here on the blog. I hope this will bring forth good dialog. My goal is not to accuse anyone of anything, nor is that my own heart or philosophy. I have my thoughts – but I’m curious what you think.
True or False:
Younger Generations are more likely to accept and appreciate the music of Older Generations than Older Generations are of Younger Generations.
Look forward to the conversation. Let’s keep it respectful and in the spirit of love. This post is not meant to be divisive. It’s meant to open our eyes to various views so that we can be more effective at leading our generations in worship.
Related posts:
65 Responses to “True or False – Generations and Their Music”
Would you join in the discussion? Checkout the responses below, and click "reply" to reply to someone's comment, or scroll all the way to the bottom of the page to leave your own comment in the box!
I have found the young to be tolerant of the old and the old tolerant of the young, However the median adults (30 – 50) want it there way or the highway. The bad thing was the median adults were devided between Contemporary,P/W; or Southern Gospel and they are not tolerant of each other. Senior adults can sometimes be very vocal about there likes and dislikes, but if they have a heart for people and reaching them, they tend to be tolerant. Young people just want the old stuff to be done in a relavent way, some extra instruments and a little more rhythmic interest.
“What the experience seems to be is that older people are vocal and younger people just don’t come back.”
Great comment, Rich.
As to the question, I don’t think you can absolutely answer it one way or the other. Too much depends on each person, church family and regional culture. The key thing is that we have to cultivate an openness in Christians, whether young or old, to accept musical plurality as a good thing. In fact, more than a good thing. It’s a reflection of the doctrine of imago dei — we are created in the image of God. Look at all the variety in His creation: the limitless unique sights, sounds and textures that He put on this earth and beyond.
And when we look at Paul’s “psalms, hymns and spiritual songs” we see variety. Scholars can’t say exactly what the differences must have been in each song, but whatever they were, we clearly see that Paul mentions three different kinds of songs through which we must “speak to each other.”
Bobby Gilless last blog post..Songwriting Workshop Focuses On Children’s Worship Songs
False in our part of the country.
Its a balanced blend of age and musical choice. Todays music is uplifting, cheerful and brave! The old Hymns are uplifting, cheerful and brave! (mostly)
True! The older generation (40+) ALWAYS has a hard time with the “new music”, mainly because the chord patterns are so complicated, the melodies are all over the place, and access to the music too expensive or complicated. As a singer and guitar player, I cannot play half the stuff because it’s so complicated. This is also one of the biggest challenge our piano player finds too – finding the new music, figuring out the melody (if there is one), and then testing if the congregation can actually sing it. If you drop into a church that plays only contemporary music you will just have to notice this: most people are not singing. They are trying, but they are having a really hard time. If you polled them after service, 90% would say, yah, we are having difficulty with the new music, but we are giving the young people a chance. I personally find that sad. If the worship team is sensitive, they will not introduce too many new songs at once, and they will balance old with occassional new until new becomes familiar. You will notice that if the worship suddenly drops into a more traditional song, the old people are singing and having a good time. The atmospher changes, everyone is singing and the young people are singing too.
At our church the older generation is prone to try to ignore the younger generation’s music, particularly Christian rap. There is a lot of crossover type contemporary music liked by all generations, if it isn’t too loud with CD backups. Most of the older generation wear hearing aides and CD music is distorted to them. They would rather have live accompaniments. When the praise bands, with guitar, keyboard, etc. accompany, it is too loud for comfort. We use piano and pipe organ to accompany singing, some of which is contemporary and the older generation is learning to like. Some of the younger generation is going back to traditional hymns along with contemporary songs. The praise choruses have been around since the 70′s.
I would say that both groups are equally as likely to not accept the other group’s music. We have a blended style, and get oppostion about the use of hymns from the youth involved in leading with me. However, it is mostly because so many hymns seem to be “country-fied.” You know, that 3/4 to 6/8 feel. Even our bassist complains about the constant “1… 5… 1… 5…”
JonWesleys last blog post..Living Worship: TRUST
JonWesley -
So, rearrange the hymns!
I think it’s all a matter of the heart! If you love the Lord, you’ll listen to the words of the song, and as they minister to you, then it doesn’t matter if it’s an old hymn or contemporary praise song. Although I agree that we all have “style” preferences. In my church I think the older people (65 – 80) really enjoy the contemporary praise, but the younger (teens – 30 something) don’t care for the older music or hymns. Our praise team has a violinist, and he is 87 years young and he keeps right up with our contemporary praise!!
False.
In my experience, they are equally as unaccepting to the other’s musical styles. We have a blended service at our church, Which to us means we do a hymn or two mixed with mostly praise songs that the older generation defines as contemporary.
One way I’ve found to bridge the gap is to find common ground. From time to time we’ll sing the old southern hymn “Wonderful Grace Of Jesus”. It’s gets everyone smiling. The older generation is happy because they grew up with the song and enjoy celebrating God’s grace through it. The younger generation is smiling because they say it sounds like music on a carousel and they’re mostly making fun of it. Either way, it makes everyone happy.
Now, having said that, I realize making everyone smile is not the objective. We discuss a lot in our services how whatever song we’re singing might not be meant for you. If you’re not connecting with God through a certain song, maybe someone else is. It’s a good idea to look around the room and see if someone else is enjoying it. Maybe you can then worship the Lord simply because of what he’s doing for that other person. I’m thankful that both of these generations at our church are tolerant of the others styles, but I do still hear about it from time to time.
Shawns last blog post..Just an observation
Geez, I am getting in on this way late. Didn’t read through all the comments, but I’ll give you my thoughts.
In our community, I am seeing the opposite. the older generation knows we are changing. They know times are different. They also know that their idea of church is limited to almost being unavailable. There is a changing of the wind that I see. Older are more apt to “deal” with the new.
I am more inclined to see an older person visit a newer more contemporary church than I am to see a younger person visit an older traditional church.
The people serving in our church, giving in our church and generally participating in our church are the older people. I don’t get asked to do hymns anymore. I’m told by younger people that they don’t like the hymns.
I am sure there are those in both camps that are different than what i am saying. but for our church which is contemporary, modern and aggressive in music. I see the older generation flexing…not the younger.
brent(inWorship)s last blog post..The Best and Worst of Halloween
Ive gotta agree. Alot of older people seem to have a hard time learning in general from younger people, whether its music, financial advice or even spiritual issues.
as a 30 year old, I tend to like the oldies, the contemporary adult stuff, as well as the alternative and rock the younger kids like.
I just love music.
Kellis last blog post..Good Man, Great God (Part 2)
I don’t think it matters either way. Whether someone is closed minded or open minded is a matter of the person, not their generation.
It is true. Its true for both gospel music and other music types.
It is true for both Gospel oand other music genres
I can’t think of a way to answer this without making generalizations that are just too big of a stretch. For one thing it depends upon whether we’re talking about musicians/singers who are constantly listening to the latest in Christian music. That group ( including me ) won’t mind more new songs and fewer of the oldies.
I’m 60 and grew up on rock and roll ( and never “outgrew” that to develop much interest in jazz or classical ) so I like contemporary Christian. As a worship leader I do make use of hymns occasionally. Partly because our older crowd likes them and partly because they are so rich in content. I’m now using a few of the modernized hymns such as those I found on Bart Millard’s recent albums ( Hymned Again etc ).
As far as teenagers, I’m not sure they respond too well to any worship band/team where the members are over 30. As an “oldster” I must admit I just don’t get Rap and basically consider it something other than music. Other than that I’m tolerant of everything from hymns to Gaither/Gospel to contemporary. I wish I could do some of the more aggressive Rock tunes in church ( 3rd Day etc ) , but must constantly keep my Pastor’s vision in mind. He says “don’t stamped the sheep” and play songs that will be comfortable to everyone who comes in the door.
That last statement seems impossible, actually. Well I’ve rambled around — tough question that just depends on your congregation I guess. Paul Baloche always mentions “Preferring One Another” in guiding worship teams. This has wider application.