Uncover a Symphony of Talent with Boomwhackers

Celebration Jam: The Symphony of Talent is an optional Drum Cafe activity that takes around 10-15 minutes.  Designed as another module to the Drum Cafe team building program, the Symphony of Talent requires that groups are assembled as an orchestra, preferably in theater-style seating.  Each participant is given a boomwhacker which is a plastic percussion tube that plays one of the 5 notes on the pentatonic scale.  Of course, there are 5 different boomwhackers (discernable by tube size and color) so that all 5 pentatonic notes are represented.  Initially, the facilitator will ask for 5 volunteers to join him on stage and create the 5 note orchestra.  Next, the Drum Cafe instructor develops a rhythm sequence for reach volunteer leader.            

Gradually, the notes and rhythms are carefully layered and together the 5 volunteers emerge as leaders of a symphony.  Each color of BoomWhacker begins to play along with their corresponding leader and eventually the room creates a beautifully coordinated, multi-rhythmic harmony.  The feeling of achievement shared by the group as they reach their goal of creating a symphony can communicate the customer’s feelings when each of us successfully completes our work.

Essentially, the Symphony of Talent underscores the necessity of interdependence, trust, and respect required to achieve a unified goal.  Relying on an activity like music, which is collaborative and cooperative, we learn that little can be accomplished without contributions from the whole group.  Moreover, we learn how communication is a key to creating a positive and safe working environment where individual team members are supported in their endeavors.  Making music puts us “in tune” with the actions of the people around us and we realize the level of success that can be attained when we synergize.  With no musical talent whatsoever, a group of people can learn, in a very short time, to create a beautiful symphony through non-verbal communication and respect for the individual contributions that we make.  The main objective of the activity is to internalize the importance of team work in a c