a group performing at a music team building program
I recently read an article highlighting team building activities using music and it made me realize I haven’t yet shared my own ideas and recommendations. So here we go.

Below are 4 team building activities using music that I highly recommend. While my top 4 require bringing in outside musicians with team building expertise, I’m also including some do it yourself ideas to start you off.

Here are a couple of easy exercises you can try to get your team’s creative juices flowing.

DIY Team Building Activities Using Music

Do it yourself music based ideas are always great because you’re in control of when and where. These are activities you can do whenever you want, without the expenditure of having to bring in experts like me!

My first suggestion is very simple, yet surprisingly effective. This is an icebreaker you can do at the start of a meeting, keeping it informal and conversational.

Sharing Favorite Songs – 

  • Ask your team members to each share their favorite song and talk a little more about it. Does someone remember where they were when they first heard the song? Can people share why the song has meaning for them?
  • You’ll get insight into your colleagues in new ways, and you may learn you have more in common than you think. This can get really interesting when two people share the same favorite song but have completely different personal stories about their connections with the music.
  • In addition to songs, you can do this with favorite bands too.

If you want to plan a more formal do it yourself musical session, below is a songwriting exercise that’s modeled on the more formal team building through song sessions my company facilitates. This a great way to get everyone in your group to engage and open up.

Create and Record Original Team Lyrics –

  • Bring in a karaoke track of a well known song or better yet, if you have a musician on your team, ask them to play the music for you. Use a flip chart to capture ideas.
  • Ask these questions to get source material for your song: If your team had a title what would it be? What is you team’s mission? What differentiates your products and services? What’s your favorite thing about your job. What’s your least favorite thing? As people share ideas, capture key phrases on flip charts. You’ll see common themes emerge.
  • Turn one of your main themes into your song title, commonly known as the hook. Once you have the hook, complete your song chorus lyrics around the hook. Your chorus is the sing-along part that repeats. It should include your big ideas and themes.
  • After you’ve created your chorus, go back to brainstorming. Fill flip charts with details about the work you do. Highlight details that support the theme of the chorus you’ve already written. Use these ideas and create your song verses.
  • Make sure to keep referencing the karaoke track, or having your team musician play the melody, as you continually fit the lyrics to the music.
  • When your lyric is done, ask everyone to stand up and sing your song. You can easily record your performance using the digital recorders built into your smart phones. You’ll most definitely want to shoot video of everyone singing your original song.

Whether it’s sharing favorite bands and songs, or creating your own song; bringing music into your work life is a great way to create new connections and jump start conversations that aren’t just about work.

Now for a list of my 4 favorite music team building activities run by the pros.

Professionally Facilitated Music Team Building Programs

1. Team Building Through Song

Even if you don’t consider yourself to be musical, songs are part of the narrative of your life. This narrative includes songs like your favorite tune from high school or the first dance at your wedding. The programs we offer through Kidbilly Music bring the power of emotion, song and story to organized team building.

Whether you’re part of a corporate team, a small company or an association you have a message and culture that differentiates you from others. Song programs will help you tell your group story. You’ll create powerful take-aways as you write your own team chart toppers.

Here’s a video showing how song and music brings people together. 

2. Drum Circles and Conference Drumming Events

drum leaders performing at a corporate eventDuring my days as a jazz pianist in New York, it was fun to debate with the drummers in our group as to whether they were really musicians. Well of course they are! And of course drumming is real music.

Drumming is one of my top favorite team building activities using music. Drumming is high energy, visceral, high engagement fun. A main takeaway is learning how to collaborate and work together to achieve a unified result. You’ll contribute by playing individual parts but ultimately come together as an ensemble. 

Drumming programs are great conference openers. They’re highly effective as short sessions to get everyone engaged and motivated. While drumming is not my personal area of expertise, we’ve partnered successfully with a world renowned drum leader to offer our own style of drum programs through Kidbilly Music.

3. Orchestral Music Team Building

Talk about a large group instrumental; how about an entire orchestra! In this program, the way in which a successful orchestra collaborates and thrives becomes a metaphor for team work. You’ll be inspired by great musicians on stage and you’ll get to sit in with the orchestra.

You’ll learn how a section, such as woodwinds or strings, contributes to the success of the entire orchestra or team. This is not a low-budget program, but it’s one of the most inspiring music based team activities I know of. While there are several companies leading these types of programs, Music Paradigm was one of the originators. There are qualified leaders who facilitate this program in the US and in Europe.

4. A Musical Keynote Speaker

Are you tired of boring keynote presentations? Consider turning your plenary, general session, into an interactive team building event that allows people to bond and work together, while learning something new. My company facilitates a session in which you’ll learn how to harness your creative power to be more innovative and improve your organization’s ability to solve problems. But this isn’t a typical conference session. Everyone will be engaged as you actually create an original song about your shared experience. 

Other musical keynotes include having an accomplished singer-songwriter observe some of your conference and then take the stage to create a song about your organization on the spot. You’ll come away with a memorable piece of music, an anthem for your organization. And you’ll gain insight into the creative process.

Get Started With Music Team Building Today

Music brings a great mash up of intellect and emotion, great for motivation and engagement. But bottom line and most importantly, team building programs with music are fun!

Whether you decide to try a DIY activity or bring in a professional, this is a powerful way to bring a team together, creating energy and enthusiasm. Consider the role music plays in your personal life – It helps you make emotional connections, it can inspire you or act as a great pick me up. Musical programs can have the same power in your work life and it’s really worth integrating into your team activities.

If you want to learn more about how we can help you succeed, please contact us so we can help you weave great team building activities using music into your organization.

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About Billy Kirsch

Billy is a Grammy & Emmy nominated, CMA & ACM award winning songwriter with numerous Top 10 hits to his credit. His team building programs and keynote speaking presentations help people tap into their creative abilities to become more innovative and engaged in their work. Clients include Fortune 100 companies and organizations throughout the world.