Compass does incredibly important work supporting the mental health and well-being of children and young people. The Away Day gave the whole team an opportunity to come together, reflect on their shared values and enjoy some time together away from their day-to-day work.

100 people making music together

The musical part of the day began with all 100 delegates taking part in an hour-long Boomwhacker team-building session.

Our Boomwhacker experiences have been developing musically, increasingly bringing together the instrument with influences from West African music – something we’re now exploring across our corporate, education and community work.

For the Compass session, one of our established Boomwhacker arrangements was combined with singing – using a song from Mali associated with the Sunu rhythm, taught to me by Hans Sutton.

It created a rather magical moment. The different Boomwhacker parts gradually came together across the room underneath the singing, with 100 people creating the music together – and clearly having a lot of fun in the process.

From Boomwhackers to African drums

After lunch, the focus moved from Boomwhackers to djembes, with two smaller African drumming workshops during the afternoon.

It made for a great combination: the entire organisation participating together through Boomwhackers in the morning, followed by the energy and immediacy of African drumming in smaller groups later in the day.

The Compass team were an incredibly warm and enthusiastic group to work with, and it was a real pleasure to contribute to a day centred around the people behind such important work.

Could this work at your next Away Day or conference?

Unbeatable Energy provides interactive Boomwhacker, African drumming, Samba drumming and percussion experiences for corporate Away Days, conferences, team-building events and staff celebrations throughout the UK.

Sessions can range from a short, high-energy conference icebreaker to a longer team-building experience. Boomwhackers are particularly effective when you want to bring a large conference audience together, with hundreds of people able to participate simultaneously.

We’d be delighted to discuss your event and explore how African drumming could work for your team.

There’s something particularly satisfying about watching a group of colleagues arrive expecting “a drumming workshop” and leave having created something they never imagined they could.

That was exactly the case when we recently visited Optimal Solicitors in Manchester to deliver a two-hour African drumming and samba team-building workshop for around 45 members of their team.

The event formed part of a relaxed summer afternoon at the company’s offices, with pizzas being served outside and colleagues enjoying the opportunity to step away from their desks and spend time together. Rather than hiring an external venue, the workshop took place in their own office – proving that, with a little planning, a familiar workspace can be transformed into a fantastic setting for a memorable team-building experience.

Before the event, we carried out a visit to the office to make sure everything would work smoothly. By looking at the layout in advance, we were able to advise on the best way to arrange the room and ensure there was plenty of space for everyone to play comfortably.

Watch the highlights

Here’s a short highlights video from the workshop, giving a flavour of the energy, teamwork and atmosphere created during the session.

More than just learning rhythms

People often assume that an African drumming workshop is simply about learning a few rhythms.

Of course, music is at the heart of what we do, but creating a successful team-building experience is really about understanding people.

Every workplace team is made up of different personalities. Some people throw themselves into an activity from the very first minute. Others prefer to watch, listen and build their confidence gradually. Then there are usually one or two groups who arrive determined to make everyone laugh!

One of the things we enjoy most as facilitators is recognising those different energies and working with them rather than against them. A little playful banter, a smile or a gentle reminder to focus is often all that’s needed to keep the session moving while still allowing people to relax and be themselves.

When people feel comfortable, something special begins to happen. The group stops thinking about whether they’re “musical” and simply starts enjoying creating something together.

Building confidence together

The workshop began with simple African rhythms that everyone could master quickly before gradually introducing new layers and musical ideas.

One of the highlights was a rhythm challenge where beats travelled around the circle in opposite directions. As the pace increased, the room filled with laughter, encouragement and friendly competition as each side tried to complete the challenge first.

It’s a simple activity, but it’s incredibly effective. People naturally start supporting one another, concentrating together and celebrating each other’s success. Before long, a room full of individuals begins to think and play as one team.

What was particularly enjoyable during this workshop was the quality of the listening. Alongside all the laughter and relaxed atmosphere, there were some excellent natural musicians in the room, and the group’s timing became remarkably tight as the session progressed.

By the end of the afternoon, we combined the African drumming with samba rhythms to create a powerful finale. The sound produced by forty-five people, many of whom had never touched a drum before, was genuinely impressive and a wonderful way to finish the session.

A memorable afternoon in Manchester

One of the things we particularly liked about this event was its relaxed atmosphere.

There was no pressure for anyone to perform. It was simply an opportunity for colleagues to enjoy themselves, encourage one another and share an experience that was completely different from a normal working day.

Events like this remind us that successful team building isn’t about creating perfect musicians. It’s about creating moments where people laugh together, support one another and leave with shared memories that continue long after the final rhythm has faded.

After the workshop, Rachel Simpson from Optimal Solicitors told us:

“It was certainly well received with lots of positive comments.”

Feedback like this means a great deal because it reflects exactly what we aim to achieve every time we work with a team.

If you’re looking for a corporate team-building activity in Manchester—or anywhere across the UK—that brings people together through music, energy and plenty of laughter, we’d be delighted to hear from you.

Interested in African Drumming for Your Team?

Whether you’re planning a conference, team-building day, staff well-being event or company away day, African drumming can provide an engaging and memorable experience for your team.

We’d be delighted to discuss your event and explore how African drumming could work for your team.

When teams spend much of the year communicating through screens, bringing people together face-to-face becomes increasingly valuable.

That was certainly the case for Timely Software, a global software company with teams based across New Zealand, the USA, Australia and the UK. As part of a company gathering at Rossington Hall in Doncaster, the UK team wanted a memorable way to start the day, create energy in the room and encourage genuine interaction between colleagues.

We were delighted to be invited to deliver an African drumming experience for the group as part of their event.

The Challenge

One of the biggest challenges facing modern organisations is that so much communication now takes place online.

Video calls, emails, messaging platforms and virtual meetings have made it easier than ever for teams to collaborate across different locations. However, when colleagues do have the opportunity to meet in person, those moments become especially important.

For Timely Software, the event wasn’t simply about bringing people into the same building. It was about creating meaningful interaction from the very start of the day and giving colleagues the opportunity to share an experience together.

Why African Drumming?

African drumming offers something that is increasingly rare in today’s working environment.

There are no screens, no presentations and no passive observers.

Instead, participants are actively involved from the very beginning, learning authentic African rhythms and experiencing the energy that comes from creating music together.

Our workshops are carefully structured so that participants learn simple rhythm patterns which gradually build and lock together. As the different parts combine, the room begins to fill with a powerful groove that everyone has helped to create.

No previous musical experience is required, making the activity accessible to everyone regardless of background or ability.