Engaging in the arts has been purported to offer many social and personal benefits. According to a recent research review at the NORC at the University of Chicago, arts engagement is often cited as a vehicle for strengthening social bonds and reinforcing social identity. The Magoffin County Cooperative Extension Service recognizes these benefits of arts education and utilizes arts programming to foster those social bonds, social identity, and develop community.  

In an effort to engage more youth in the arts, the Magoffin County Cooperative Extension Service partnered with the Magoffin County High School Music department to offer an intergenerational Appalachian Dulcimer Workshop with funding provided by a Berea Folk Arts and Culture Grant. 

The agent worked with Paul Williams of the Appalachian School of Luthiery to offer the program. Participants in the class spanned three generations and ranged from ages 5 to 75. One group of three generations (grandparent, parent, child), 14 intergenerational pairs (parent/child or grandparent/child), and 8 individuals (four students and four adults) completed the workshop, which would have cost more than $400 if they had to pay for the class on their own.

Class participants were thrilled to have the opportunity to learn the history of and construct the only true Appalachian instrument, alongside their child/grandchild and indicated the following:

• 100% said they would have likely never been able to participate in a class like this due to the associated costs.

Intergenerational programming has been proven to be beneficial in closing the generation gap. The instructor, the agent, and several attendees commented on the refreshing environment of bringing generations together to share their talents and resources while supporting each other to achieve a specific goal. Each group/pair/individual was actively engaged in the construction of their dulcimer and was eager to learn to play their new instrument.

As a result of the program, 23 Appalachian dulcimers found their way into 23 Magoffin County homes.