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Active Listening and Communication - through Making Music!
* an energetic, interactive, hands-on approach to team building , communication, and listening
skills
* guaranteed to get your group working together
* absolutely no musical
experience required - really!
* musical instruments provided
* the highlight of
many conferences
MAKING MUSIC MEANS TEAMWORK
Most music happens through cooperation. Common impediments to working well together such as
competitiveness, hidden agendas, differing styles, cynicism, and soloists disappear while making
music together.
IMPROVE YOUR LISTENING SKILLS
Active and attentive listening is essential in the workplace. Making music as a group is a
powerful way to expand listening awareness and capacity.
LEARN THROUGH THE RIGHT BRAIN
Making music is largely a right-brain activity, giving us a break from logical, linear, practical
thinking. Studies show that productivity and satisfaction comes from using both sides of the
brain.
MUSIC BUILDS NEW THINKING PATHS
Scientists have discovered that the act of making music creates new neural pathways, or thinking
connections in the brain.
LESS TALK, MORE ACTION
A much-needed change from sitting and listening - the ideal and unforgettable learning experience
for a conference or at the workplace. A workshop that energizes and delights while at the same
time giving participants the experience and tools of effective teamwork.
"I CAN DO IT!"
Although the purpose of TeamJazz is teambuilding, many participants claim that the greatest
benefit for them was discovering that they had far more musical ability than they ever imagined.
This leads to increased confidence in many other areas.
PROGRAM INFORMATION:
TEAMJazz
Team Building, Active Listening, and Communication through Making Music
TeamJazz can be tailored to your group's size and time restrictions. Although the full workshop is
a half-day, it is often given as an hour or 90 minute presentation.
TeamJazz is designed to give your group the experience of
* operating as an effective and powerful team
* going beyond their perceived limitations
* having an energized, enlivening, fun, and supportive time as a team.
No musical experience is necessary for participants. This workshop is based on the axiom: If you
have a pulse, you can make music. All exercises are done with either the entire group, or several
subgroups. No one gets singled out.
All music is written by Brian Tate specifically for the workshop. Percussion instruments are
provided by Brian, supplemented by material from the facility as needed (pots and pans from the
kitchen, plastic garbage cans, etc.)
ELEMENTS
The workshop is comprised of four elements, all occurring simultaneously.
1. LISTENING
Making music requires attentive, active listening. Studies have shown that we listen actively for
about 15 seconds before we begin to tune out. Musicians are able to listen for hours at a time
without losing focus.
2. IN SYNC
Keeping the same beat together, finding the groove. There is a principle of physics known as
entrainment, where two or more opposing rhythms will eventually sync up with each other.
3. EQUALITY
Music is a combination of different parts played simultaneously. Although each part is different
in nature, all parts are of equal importance.
4. SYNERGY
The principle that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
CONTENT:
A warm-up of clapping and other rhythm exercises gets everyone in sync. Next, rhythm patterns are
combined in two, three, and four parts. Percussion instruments are handed out, and a rhythm band
is formed with drums, shakers, bells, sticks, and other percussion instruments, each section
having their own rhythm.
This is followed by forming a jazz chorus. After a warm-up, the group learns The Java Jazzband
song, a swing number in four parts.
In the longer version of the workshop, after a break there is a demonstration of the elements of
composing music (How to be an Instant Composer) and the group is broken into smaller groups with
the following assignment:
* your group will be collectively composing and performing a piece of music, 90 seconds in
duration.
* everyone participates in the creation and performance of the piece.
* any combinations of instruments or sounds may be used, including vocal.
* each group must select a leader and a conductor for the exercise.
The leader may or may not be the conductor.
* The piece must be composed, notated, rehearsed, and performed.
The group is given a time limit to create their piece. Following this, each group performs their
piece for the others, followed by a short debriefing to end the workshop.
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