Corporate Team Building - Blues Jam Factory

So what is it ?

It‘s simply the most vibrant and exhilarating style of team building developed in years.

‘Blues Jam Factory' is a uniquely fun session in which delegates learn to play the Blues Harmonica. They get to play the blues, have loads of fun, dance, wear dark glasses, take a harmonica home and to assimilate your message subconsciously through accelerated learning! (We've been told!)

It is a brilliant new team-building event designed to level the playing field, to inspire your people, to enliven them during an away day or conference, to break the ice and to bond the team. Your team will share reachable challenges, share laughter, get to know each other better, work better as a team and learn better communication skills. They will NEVER forget your event! And, critically, the company's bottom line will actively benefit by having more engagement, team spirit and enthusiasm - all this by learning to play the Blues Harmonica!

All this by learning to play the Blues Harmonica!

It is the most vibrant and exhilarating style of team building developed in years.

Blues Jam Factory is unforgettable; it will fix the impact of this event in their minds for years to come – and to underline that idea, everyone and take takes home their own Harmonica PLUS A £10 HarmonicaWorld.com Website Voucher!

They will NEVER forget your event !

BLUES JAM FACTORY SESSION AND DEBRIEF PLAN

The Session (60-75 mins)
Keep group together, rather than splitting into smaller groups. Any size is okay, assuming availability of microphone for Ben and CD player on PA.

1. Introduction: Ben plays the blues, allow group to listen and relax.

2. Brief history: Ben plays a variety of ancient harmonicas. Hand out blades of grass to play (all have a go – it’s a great leveller.) Ben plays tunes on grass.

3. Explain that the concept of sound is constant though materials have changed, and instruments have been innovated.

4. Distribute 10 hole harmonicas and demonstrate grip, posture, breath and leading directly into:

5. Classic 1950s Chicago Blues Track
• Play recording and sing along to learn words and riff
• Encourage group to support (play riff) and individuals to speak out - fill 1.5 second space with mobile mike (‘Encapsulate the day in 1.5 seconds’, play harmonica or be silent…)

6. In pairs, have a whispered harmonica conversation. Relax into it. Teach simple blues, breathing in and out. Speed variations to slightly challenge. Encourage solos. Praise, show impressed, joke – make it safe. Moving into:

7. Learning the 12 bar blues with chords, structure, turnarounds, solos and how to end it. Wear sunglasses. Leading into:

8. Grand Finale: give out hats as well. Do a song and dance routine (prescribed, taught and led, following cd). Ok to get it wrong – hilarious.

Thoughts to prepare for Debrief Session;
Facilitation of group discussion of Change (goes with part 2)
- what concerns did audience have when grass distributed?
- how did audience feel actually playing grass?
- was it easy? who gave u ? why?
- introduce ‘Change’ model
Facilitation of further group discussion of innovation and change
(goes with part 3)
- why are designs different?
- what dictates design?
- why are we not satisfied with what’s already around?
- what are you dissatisfied with currently?
- who’s responsible for changes?
Reflection on team motivation and camaraderie at this point
(goes with part 5)
- how do group feel about what they’ve achieved so far?
- what difference if doing this alone?
- achieving more because they’re working as a team?
- how can they translate this feeling back to workplace?
Session on whispering into harmonica (goes with part 6)
- how did audience feel ?
- is communication ever an issue?
- what needs to happen to work it better?
Facilitation of group discussion of success (goes with parts 7-9)
- what motivates them?
- how did they feel when success achieved?
- what would make it even better?
- how much praise and recognition do they receive?
- what effect does that praise and recognition have?

The Debrief (45 mins) Run by YOUR Coach/Trainer or we can provide one

Taking the best from the Blues Jam Factory experience and translating it to working as a team – globally and locally. Add in the ideas in blue (above) to explore further issues and feelings to suit current learning situation.

1. What happened in the Blues Jam Factory session? Group share their thoughts and feelings. On screen, display camera shots taken during session of individuals and team to remind of what happened and trigger thoughts.

2. Draw out themes (can prescribe these or take what comes)
• Change, innovation
• Communication
• Working as a team
• Success and achievement
• Fun and work

3. How did you ‘do’ that Blues Jam Factory state of proactivity, getting stuck in, working together, having fun etc? Model the physiology and beliefs of the Blues Jam Factory state.

4. What’s it like as a team member? Compare to Blues Jam Factory experience, using the same themes/headings. (Model the state??? Work in different area of room. Mark on flip.)

5. How can you map parts or whole Blues Jam Factory state into the rest of the workshop and then out into the workplace? What specifically? How? Where? When? With whom? When not?
Share individual ideas and actions.

Document compiled by Ben Hewlett with huge (and gratefully received!) help and advice from Pippa Basan and Ian Scotland.