Introduction: Team Building Through Music
Do you think team building through music is possible?
For many years I have received emails from Drum Cafe and have always deleted them. But recently, I read one and decided to attend an event they hosted to let others know about their services. While I was at the event there was a long period of networking. At one point I remember thinking about all the work I had to do, that I could have been doing. I stopped myself, and decided to simply BE. For that evening, I shut down the introvert and tried to be an extroverted introvert, and it worked. I had a really good time and had an amazing experience in the process.
The audience consisted of event planners, small business owners, corporate executives, service providers like massage therapists, reflexologists – all very different kinds of people. But we all had one thing in common; we were all looking forward to experience what it was like to play the drums.
At first, there was no harmony because each one of us was playing his/her own music. Then the leader from the Drum Cafe gave us instructions and guided us, and in a very short time the most beautiful music filled the air, not bad for novices playing the drum. Every one was loose, relaxed and having a great time. People were chosen to go to the front and dance, and I still cannot believe that when I was chosen I went to the front and started dancing, not that I am a great dancer. But I got involved and it felt great letting the music seep into my soul. And it was easier to go to the front because I was among others.
Music is a universal language capable of breaking down barriers. People relaxed and allowed the music to seep inside them. Even though we were drumming together, we still had our individual touch. The guide brought out what was already inside of us. And the most amazing thing happened, after the musical interlude that we all participated in, people bonded, and conversation was much easier and flowed better. Drumming, and I suspect other kinds of music, would facilitate team building, because it would relax and open up participants to new ways of thinking and behaving.
Have you ever had a similar experience? How can you use this information? What do you have to add to the conversation? Let's keep the conversation flowing, please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below. Many readers read this blog from other sites, so why don't you pop over to The Invisible Mentor and subscribe (top on the right hand side) by email or RSS Feed.
