Diverse group of people playing african drums in cartoon style

Corporate Team Building: Drumming vs Traditional Methods

Diverse group of people playing african drums in cartoon style

Corporate Team Building: Drumming vs Traditional Methods

Looking for a better way to build stronger teams? Drumming workshops might be the answer. Unlike many traditional methods, which can feel awkward or forced, drumming promotes teamwork, communication, and stress relief through rhythm and shared experiences. We’ve been providing workshops for over twenty five years – they really do work. Here’s a quick comparison to help you decide:

Key Points:

  • Traditional Methods: Trust exercises, group discussions, and off-site events often lack engagement, can feel insincere, or have high costs with limited long-term impact.
  • Drumming Workshops: Inclusive, engaging, and stress-reducing. They improve teamwork, communication, and creativity in a fun, collaborative environment.

Quick Comparison:

 

Aspect Traditional Methods Drumming Workshops
Engagement Often limited or awkward Active and inclusive participation
Accessibility Can exclude less vocal members Open to all, regardless of ability
Stress Relief Variable Proven to reduce stress
Real-World Impact Effects fade quickly Long-lasting workplace benefits

Drumming workshops combine rhythm, movement, and teamwork to create lasting improvements in workplace dynamics. Whether it’s African or Samba drumming, these sessions are tailored to fit your team’s needs, making them a fun and effective alternative to traditional methods.

Team Building Activity: Corporate Drumming Events

Why Drumming Stands Out

Drumming brings a distinctive approach to team-building, combining rhythm, movement, and group participation to create an engaging way for teams to connect and grow.

Open to Everyone

Drumming is an activity that welcomes everyone, no matter their background or abilities. Unlike some team-building exercises that might leave certain individuals out, drumming uses flexible instruments, rhythms, and tempos to ensure everyone can join in – whether young, old, experienced, or new to the activity. Steve Rivers from Unbeatable Energy showcases this inclusiveness by tailoring workshops to fit the unique makeup of each team.

Reduces Stress and Sparks Creativity

Drumming blends physical activity with creative expression, making it a great tool for improving workplace wellness and team interaction. The act of drumming releases endorphins, eases stress, and encourages teams to think more clearly and creatively.

Fosters Communication and Teamwork

Drumming naturally encourages teamwork through shared rhythms and non-verbal communication. Unlike typical team-building exercises that can feel awkward, drumming creates an organic environment for collaboration.

By focusing on listening, coordination, and synchronizing rhythms, teams build genuine connections that carry over into their daily work. The result? Stronger communication and smoother collaboration without the usual forced interactions.

Drumming workshops come in various styles, each designed to meet specific team-building goals, making it a versatile option for organizations.

Comparing Drumming Workshop Styles

Drumming workshops provide engaging experiences that bring teams together, offering a fresh approach to team building compared to more rigid, less interactive methods.

Workshops with African Drumming

African drumming workshops focus on layered rhythms, where every participant adds a distinct beat that contributes to a unified sound. This reflects workplace dynamics, encouraging trust, collaboration, and active listening. Using instruments like the Djembe and Dunduns, participants learn to create intricate rhythms, boosting communication and strategic thinking.

Workshops with Samba Drumming

Samba drumming workshops bring high energy and synchronized movement to the table, helping teams develop quick decision-making and coordination – key skills in fast-paced environments. These sessions use a variety of percussion instruments to create an engaging setting, breaking down social barriers and fostering a sense of shared success.

Both approaches improve team communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills, making them effective tools for workplace development. African and Samba drumming workshops each bring something distinct to the table, allowing organizations to choose the style that best fits their objectives.

How to Use Drumming in the Workplace

African and Samba drumming workshops can be a fun and effective way to address workplace needs, but they work best when planned thoughtfully and aligned with company goals.

Scheduling Regular Sessions

Holding drumming sessions on a regular basis can help teams see lasting benefits. Consider scheduling monthly or quarterly workshops during work hours, with each session lasting around 60-90 minutes.

Tailoring Workshops to Business Goals

Customizing workshops to meet specific business goals ensures they provide real value to the workplace. Here’s how different goals can shape the focus of a drumming session:

Business Goal Workshop Focus Implementation Method
Communication Call-and-response patterns Practice leading and following rhythms
Problem-solving Layered rhythms Work together to create complex patterns
Leadership development Rotating conductors Take turns guiding the group
Innovation Freestyle sessions Experiment with new rhythm combinations

Aligning with Company Values

Drumming workshops can also reflect your company’s values. For instance, you could emphasize sustainability by using ethically sourced instruments or celebrate diversity by incorporating rhythms from different cultures. Collaborate with experienced facilitators who understand corporate dynamics to create programs that are both enjoyable and aligned with your professional goals.

Conclusion

Drumming workshops bring a fresh approach to team-building, tackling workplace challenges like disengagement and poor communication. By using rhythm and shared experiences, these sessions help improve workplace dynamics in ways that last far beyond the workshop itself.

Key Takeaways

Drumming stands out because it creates an engaging, inclusive space where everyone can participate equally, regardless of their background or experience. This shared activity naturally strengthens connections and enhances communication through collaborative music-making.

Here’s how drumming workshops compare to more traditional team-building methods:

Aspect Traditional Methods Drumming Workshops
Engagement Level Often limited to surface-level Encourages deep, active participation
Skill Application Minimal real-world relevance Directly improves workplace communication
Accessibility May leave some members out Open to everyone, regardless of ability
Stress Relief Results can vary Proven to reduce stress through rhythm
Long-term Impact Effects often fade quickly Creates lasting workplace improvements

For organizations looking to build stronger teams, drumming workshops offer an engaging way to combine fun with personal and professional growth. By trying out creative approaches like this, companies can strengthen connections and make a real difference in their workplace culture.


Learn Classic 'Sunu' Djembe Drum Pattern

Learn Classic 'Sunu' Djembe Drum Pattern

In this video, I show you a step-by-step guide to playing the Malian 'Sunu' djembe pattern. Like the classic 'Djembe Populaire' rhythm, the Sunu pattern has lots of special hand coordination techniques which provide a great foundation for tackling more challenging phrases in the future. In the process of nailing this pattern, we will have some fun by using the Quincy Jones' 'Soul Bossa Nova' (aka Austin Powers theme tune) as a way of understanding the feel of this pattern around the pulse. Enjoy!

In this video, I show you a step-by-step guide to playing the Malian ‘Sunu’ djembe pattern.

Like the classic ‘Djembe Populaire’ rhythm, the Sunu pattern has lots of special hand coordination techniques which provide a great foundation for tackling more challenging phrases in the future. In the process of nailing this pattern, we will have some fun by using the Quincy Jones’ ‘Soul Bossa Nova’ (aka Austin Powers theme tune) as a way of understanding the feel of this pattern around the pulse.

This practice video supports the learning of the Malian ‘Sunu’ rhythm. See the full breakdown of this rhythm in the video entitled ‘Learn Classic ‘Sunu’ Djembe Drum Pattern’. Play along with me as I take segments of the classic pattern to create solid grounding in the coordination.


Learning Djembe - creating a positive mindset

Learning djembe - creating a positive mindset

As I'm about to embark on a big Africa study trip adventure, I wanted to talk about learning and practising djembe and the attitude I have found useful to adopt on the way. As someone who has often fallen victim to the dreaded 'I'm not good enough' thought, this video is really about the things which motivate us to play a musical instrument. I hope some of you find it useful.


Learn Samba Rhythm... Using Sweets!

Learn Samba Rhythm... Using Sweets!

Wait! Don't eat those tic-tacs yet - make a funky rhythm first! Want to know how your mints can make music? Find out how in this video!


Djembe Drumming Lesson - Djembe Tone, Not Djembe Thud

Djembe Drumming Lesson - Djembe Tone, Not Djembe Thud

In the early stages of learning djembe technique it can be difficult to create resonance when making the tone beat on the side of the drum. This video looks at what might be going wrong and what you can do to change a flat thud to a nice rich tone.


Free African Drum Lesson - Four Pulse Exercises

Learn Samba Rhythm... Using Sweets!

This video provides four exercises for playing African rhythms where the counting is in 'threes'. There is an easy exercise which for many people comes naturally; one which is a little trickier to feel; a harder exercise and finally a nice challenge exercise at the end. All these patterns lend themselves to 12/8 and 6/8 patterns for West African djembe and Dundun drumming. Good luck with it and do leave us a comment on the video to tell me how you get on.


Beginners Djembe Drum 'Ice Cream' Rhythm

Beginners Djembe Drum 'Ice Cream' Rhythm

This rhythm is one of my favourite groove patterns, as it creates a nice sense of momentum when played alongside other patterns which play on the beat. It is loosely inspired by Senegal rhythms such as the Mbalax rhythm from Sabba drumming. In the video, I use a silly 'ice cream' chant to help grab the feeling of the beat. I also break the rhythm into parts so you can focus on the different techniques and coordination.


FREE TUTORIAL: Learn Djembe 'Populaire' Rhythm

FREE TUTORIAL: Learn Djembe 'Populaire' Rhythm

Djembe 'Populaire' is one of the most important rhythms in West African Djembe playing. It is often called the 'Passport Rhythm' - play this and you can cross the boundary from a beginner to a pro! This seven video playlist starts with a full overview of the rhythm and its specific coordination, followed by six practise patterns that take you in stages to mastering the pattern in full.


Drum Team Building – it’s great to be back in business!

Beginners Djembe Drum 'Ice Cream' Rhythm

I know it has been said already by thousands of businesses the length and breadth of the country, but I will say it again – it is so amazing and such a relief to be back to near normality once again. It is fantastic to be able to meet people face to face. To talk to a real person and have a real conversation without anyone’s screen freezing or people being muted. And to drum live with other people – that is something I vow never to take for granted again. The theme of this month’s blog is gratitude; because for all the people and things we lost in this terrible year, for many of us a sense of gratitude has been gained.

Our event for Hightown Housing Association was planned and booked in January 2020; two months before the pandemic.  Like so many other events, it was delayed again and again over the course of 18 months.  Finally on the fifth attempt, it really happened! So last month nearly 250 of the Hightown’s staff came together at Shendish Manor in Hemel Hamptead to take part in their ‘Connect’ day – a special event for staff to have a well-earned rest from their work agendas and take part in a series of fun, creative activities with the company of other colleagues.  As you can expect we were providing the ‘unbeatable energy’ with a series of interactive drumming and percussion group sessions.

Throughout the day we ran three big African Drumming Team Building workshops, each for 50-60 participants, plus a big post-lunch ice breaker where everyone participated in a percussion activity using our harmonic ‘Boomwhacker’ percussion tubes.

I had forgotten how exhilarating the sound is from a big group drum session.  In the African drumming team workshops, you could feel the rumbling, vibrating bass of the djembes and dundun drums in your belly. You do not get that via Zoom or YouTube! As is always the case, with the support of the big group playing together it was easy for everyone to access and feel the beat. Only minutes into the session, the West African rhythms were in full swing.  In fact, it wasn’t long before some of the participants were on their feet dancing!

In the ‘Boomwhacker Energiser’ session it was extraordinary to hear 250 people all playing in synchronicity throughout the room: fusing multiple patterns into one giant musical sound. Who could imagine this had been achieved by the group in only 10 minutes!

So how did such musical magic happen in such a short space of time? I think it is safe to say that everyone was so happy to be out of lockdown and so grateful to interact with others, that the entire group of delegates were always fully engaged throughout. There was no complacency present.  All the activities on offer gave everyone a much needed sense of release as reservations were let go of and group positivity prevailed. For corporate events it is rare to see so many participants dance to the rhythms being created.  Participants are so enthralled by the rhythms that they really want to get up and dance, but it is often hard to overcome the shyness that comes with dancing in front of other colleagues. That so many felt able to let down their guard and participate, just showed how positive the atmosphere was and how safe everyone felt to express their joy of the music. I very much felt it too.

“SO glad we finally managed to make this happen!! Well worth the wait. The drumming circles were amazing and SO many staff have already commented that they and the Boomwhackers were the highlight of their day! Thanks for the energy”

— Lucy Taylor, Learning and Development Manager, Hightown Housing Association

If your organisation needs to re-connect, please contact us to discuss how we can help.