Joomla! site syndication http://handsondrum.activematrix.org 2009-01-06T18:47:53+01:00 http://handsondrum.activematrix.org http://handsondrum.activematrix.org/images/M_images/joomla_rss.png text/html 2007-12-28T16:27:25+01:00 http://handsondrum.activematrix.org http://handsondrum.activematrix.org/content/view/29/3/ The young software designer from India looked across our circle of drummers at his colleague from northern Europe, grinned broadly and exclaimed, “I loved the part you were playing, so I copied it. It was so very easy for me to play!”The other fellow looked surprised, laughed and said, “I thought I copied it from you!”This exchange happend during my Observations Comments session that was part of a drumming program I did in the 1980’s for a young software company... later to become one of the world’s largest. I had been brought in to do an icebreaking and teambuilding program for a group of software engineers from Asia, Europe, India and North America who would be working on a project together. They all spoke fluent English, however the organizers knew that the different work styles and cultural expectations among team members might slow down their process. Their goal was for me to help them quickly create a group culture of communication and cooperation that transcended their deeply ingrained cultural differences.In addition to the instruments I always provide for these programs, I also brought in percussion instruments that were found in the home cultures of all the participants. In this way I demonstrated, in an immediate, down-to-earth way, the universal, cross-cultual connections that already existed among the group members. I then explained how drumming and rhythm-play has been used worldwide for thousands of years to enhance communication skills and to reinforce community bonds, goals and values.After a brief introduction to some basic skills for playing the percussion instruments, I facilitated the group's creation of their own unique rhythm. As we played together, I helped them to learn how to recognize and support each other's talents and personalites. Together, we built pattern upon pattern as we went on a rhythm journey. By the end of the 90-minute session, broken into three segments, the participants had created their own unique culture, values, process and support system... their own Group Groove. Some of the other revelations that they shared during our C O segments included:“When I stopped tryng to make something up, and just listened to the rhythm, it was easy to find something to play!”“If I got off the rhythm, I was able to get back on when I listened to what others were playing!”“I would lose the rhythm when I played too many notes, but I would find it again when I kept my part simple and just played with everyone else!”Group drumming, when done in a focused, purposeful way, is such a great builder of communication skills because both activities have the same core principles and require the same core skills. These include:-actively listening to other group members with open ears, open minds and open hearts-expressing ourselves clearly with positive intentions-responding to what other people contribute, not to our own inner conversations-leaving space for other people to contribute-willingly engaging together to share our ideas, questions and Spirits! ********************************************************************************** text/html 2007-11-27T15:42:14+01:00 http://handsondrum.activematrix.org http://handsondrum.activematrix.org/content/view/10/3/ Hello Visitors,Welcome to my Hands-On! Drumming® Corporate Events Blog!Why Drumming For Corporate Team Building And Conference Ice Breaking?Drumming has been used by people worldwide for thousands of years to:-energize and focus group members-release stress-reinforce community bonds-celebrate important eventsMy corporate team building programs have been so successful because I actively engage the group members in the real-world experience of playing individual rhythmic parts that fit together to create the complete rhythm. This is the same process in which members of groups engage when they contribute their individual skills, talents and personalities to shared goals and to shared values.I've built my programs around my four decades of drumming, percussion teaching and adventure travels throughout the world. This includes two years in Africa where I was profoundly moved by the way people used drumming to literally create personal and community rhythms that reinforced what I consider the three core principles of maintaining a thriving community:*Communicating *Cooperating *Celebrating Drumming, in a focused, purposeful manner, reinforces these core principles in a lively, enduring, down-to-earth way by engaging the participants in the experience of:*Communicating: Actively building listening and verbal skills. We can hear, and feel, the powerful group rhythm we create when we actively listen to each other with open ears, open minds and open hearts, and when we respond to each other (not at each other) in articulate, positive ways. This creates an active exchange of information and ideas.*Cooperating: Committing ourselves to working together toward shared goals. We do this by creating rhythms, ongoing actions, that reinforce our willingness to engage together completely, without hesitation. The group rhythm then supports and encourages group members to take risks and to be creative.*Celebrating: Living life with an upbeat, can-do attitude. The best way to celebrate the blessing that is Life is to live Life completely, and to engage with others in a spirit of celebrating these blessings together!My Corporate Drumming Blog will cover various elements of my work with corporate groups and conferences, including real-world principles and actual case studies. (I've received permission from any of my clients whose names and organizations I include).Please feel free to contact me with your comments, questions and suggestions! All the best, Jim GreinerHands-On! Drumming® Events **********************************************************************************