Drum Workshops
Accolades

Contact Info:
Artistic Director
126 Camp Hill Rd.
Ny 10970
(845) 362-0207

The Rhythm of Team Work
A highly interactive and exciting drumming workshop led by award winning composer and musician: John McDowell

Goal: Create an experience that is a metaphor for working as a team in a work environment. The workshop allows a group to experience the full cycle of team building, action and closure in a single day and translates that experience into their work place over the extended period required for team activities.

The group analyzes the team experience as they perform together. Through this analysis, insight into the relationships and individual feelings of the members can be explored.

Objectives: Upon completing this workshop participants will be able to:

• Experience their individual rhythm while sensing their place in the team ,
• Identify team rhythm as a factor that is more than the sum of individual rhythms
• Enhance creativity by experiencing the difference between left brain (intellectual/analytical based activity) and action that is rooted in the heart and body and the right side of the brain
• Explore the ability to concentrate and the effect on concentration of random thoughts, fears and other emotions through keeping a beat using a percussion instrument
• Clearly identify the different experiences of being and thinking - being entirely present in the moment - and their effect on individual and team performance
• Discuss their experience of being a single part of a team engaged in a focused activity
• Identify and explore the role of an effective leader/facilitator
• Identify and examine the quality of their team activities when they return to work
  
  
  Typical scenarios:
  • a newly formed project team
  • an established team needing to change direction a team with a new manager
  • two or more teams being merged
  • a team struggling to resolve problems with either tasks or relationships
  • a team needing a "break" between two demanding periods of work

  Every workplace has a "sound."

  In a smooth functioning work environment, the sound is lively, harmonious and is carried on a current of rhythm that draws the best from everyone involved. This high level of functioning is reflected, not only in the bottom line, but in the harmony and general happiness of the individuals and the team as a whole. Participants feel as is they are "in synch" and it shows.

  In a dysfunctional work environment, the sound is dreadfully flat, chaotic and totally lacking in any sense of rhythm. There is little momentum and little fulfillment in being a member of a well functioning group. In this condition of "all work and no play", creativity is the first quality to go.

  Rhythm is a work-enhancing quality that is generated by the group and, once well established, it sustains the group. This is true for a musical group and equally true for any other group where cooperation and creativity are essential to output. Group drumming and rhythm work gives participants an opportunity to quickly develop a greater sensitivity to how their "voice" is expressed and heard in the group. When the drum ensemble is working, you can hear it.

  The three essential ingredients of teamwork, creativity and vitality are present and well-integrated. When the ensemble lacks in any of these three fundamental areas, you "hear" that as well. No debate is necessary.

  Just as any musical group must get together regularly to practice, so too must business groups continually practice the fundamental skills of communication, cooperation, focus and empowerment. Every work group is a team of ensemble players.

  The Rhythm of Teamwork & Creativity seminar gives participants the sensitivity to identify dissonant functioning and the ability to return to a more productive and enjoyable level of performance.

  Joseph Jastrab and John McDowell ©1999 Mamma Tongue Productions