In case you haven’t noticed, music games for adults are having a moment in the corporate world, and for good reason! If you want your team to crush their goals and work together smoothly, it’s crucial to get everyone in sync.
We’ve seen music bring people together, build trust, banish stress, and create unforgettable memories countless times in our 25+ years of team building.
Trust us, it works.
In this guide, we’ll explore what music can do for your team and why it works, before diving into some seriously cool music games for adults. You’ll have your employees harmonizing in no time! Let’s get to it.
Why Music Games for Adults Are Team Building Gold
Did you know that listening to music is scientifically proven to improve your health and well-being?
There’s a ton of research to back it up, with more astonishing results being published every year.
Brilliant minds have been fascinated with the benefits of music for ages, and after all this time, one thing is abundantly clear: Music is a powerful tool that brings people together and promotes trust, empathy, and stress relief.
Feel the Beat
We had a chat with pro percussionist Josh Robinson in the latest episode of Team Building Saves the World—How Music Connects Us When Words Can’t—and he had some powerful insights to share on why we’re all so responsive to a good tune:
“Everybody’s heart is beating in a rhythm. You breathe in a rhythm. You chew in a rhythm… Even your windshield wipers are a rhythm that’s practically inviting to tap on the dashboard and feel the beat.”
This universal quality is exactly why musical team building activities are so effective—everyone can join in!
All of us live in a series of rhythms every single day, and when we design music-related games for adults, we intentionally create activities that will tap into this primal element that connects us all.
Sense of Belonging
Researchers have investigated the tie between music and a person’s sense of group belonging. What they found is that those who are reactive to music are more successful at living and interacting with others.
Essentially, music helps us fit in with groups. In fact, several studies have shown that people feel closer and more connected to each other through music.
Cultural Understanding
Music is an essential element of culture. It has been around since the beginning of time and can be used to give insight into different cultures and ways of life. What better way to learn about the uniqueness of the world than through beautiful tunes?
When people listen to music, they’re more likely to share stories from their lives, upbringings, and cultures, too.
For example, in our Salsa Showdown program, we play Latin music to set the tone, and we’ve seen it spark conversations about people’s heritages on multiple occasions.
Happy Moods
Did you know that when we listen to or play music, our body releases “happy” hormones called endorphins and dopamine? Yep. So, if you really want to host an event that’ll boost morale, make sure it includes music.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re playing it or listening to it; music just makes people feel better. That said, live music does have some extra health benefits—all the more reason to schedule a team building music event!
Creative Thinking
When people make music together, they’re pushed to think in new ways and come up with fresh ideas.
This creative energy often spills over into work, making the whole office buzz with new perspectives. Plus, it’s fun to see your coworkers in a new light, jamming out and sharing ideas.
Before you know it, people are bringing that same innovation to tackle work problems, coming up with solutions they might never have thought of before.
Communication Skills
Music, teamwork, and communication are all interconnected—people tend to get better at working together and communicating when they’re listening to music and having fun.
Why? Because when we’re making music or learning to play it, we’re sharing that language. And when we share the language of music, we naturally foster better communication and listening skills with our peers.
Josh summed it up nicely in our podcast episode, saying:
“There are a lot of metaphors—a lot of parallels—between music, teamwork, and communication… There are so many life lessons and communication skills we can sharpen and hone with music, all under the umbrella of fun.
“When we’re having fun with music, we’re out of our comfort zones and connecting with people. And that connection is key for corporate settings.”
Top 9 Next-Level Music Games for Adults: Transform Your Team
Is your team bored with standard team building exercises? Step into these music-powered activities to transform your office into a rhythm-driven powerhouse of collaboration and creativity.
Here are our nine favorite events designed to make team building musical.
1. Music Tour Bus
Your team will take on the role of roadie on the Music Bus—it’s a mystery-style citywide adventure with a musical twist.
The premise for this event is centered around the search for the band’s lead singer. Along the way, your team will encounter challenging puzzles, zany activities, and a hilarious original story as they work together to crack the case.
The best part? There’s no musical talent required!
2. Beatswork
We couldn’t feature the podcast episode with drum aficionado Josh Robinson and not talk about some of our drumming-centric events. In Beatswork, you and your team will move and groove together as a thundering percussion band!
This exhilarating music game for adults is an effective team building activity with the power to unite any group of teammates. It’s a guaranteed way to get everyone having fun, connecting, and opening up.
3. Boom Time
Say hello to the Boomwhacker—it’s a lightweight plastic tube tuned to a specific musical pitch. Using these simple color-coded instruments, your group will be transformed into a hilarious orchestra.
Naturally, with Boom Time and just about any other music event, teamwork is key. It relies on everyone’s involvement and collaboration, and it’s a great way for people to de-stress while having fun with colleagues.
4. Crescendo
Crescendo is an ear-opening event where your team actually learns to perform together as a string orchestra—all in less than an hour.
This is a fast-paced musical exercise that begins with participants listening to music played by our instructors. Next, instructors assign each person either a violin or a viola and guide them through a practical lesson covering the basics.
From there, everyone learns the simple part they’ll be playing for the big performance. Finally, accompanied by a pre-recorded backing track, everyone is making real music!
This unique approach generates amazing results, especially for those with no previous musical experience. You have to see it to believe it!
5. Drumming Up a Team
Here’s another percussion-based event! In Drumming Up A Team, your group will be listening, moving, and grooving together in a communal celebration. You don’t need a musical background, and the benefits of the drumming exercises go beyond the beat!
This event is led by an expert facilitator and seasoned drummer—each participant will receive their own drum or percussion instrument because your group is guided through engaging percussion activities that promote communication and teamwork.
“In my events, everybody surprises themselves because they’re like, ‘I’m not good at music, but then everybody starts sharing the power of that pulse, riding that same wave, and then they’re doing it,” says Josh.
“They look around at other people and realize they’re having the same shared experience. It’s really wonderful. The power of drumming and the power of rhythm is bigger than you or me.”
6. Playing the Blues
Learning to play harmonica is easier than you think, especially with our Playing the Blues event. In fact, we’ll teach your entire team in a single session. This one’s a great team icebreaker with music taking the center stage.
We’ve designed this blues-themed program to bring everyone together while injecting passion, confidence, and fun into the workplace—your team will be talking about it for years to come!
7. The Best Dueling Piano Show
Would your team prefer to listen to great music instead of creating it? No problem—we’ve got you covered!
You can enjoy a memorable interactive experience as the Bangin’ 88s and their twin pianos join you live from a Boston-area recording studio. In The Best Dueling Piano Show, your guests can request songs, sing along, and even direct parts.
This one’s another fun music icebreaker because people can have fun listening to music and getting to know each other without worrying about how well they’re playing.
8. Global Music Festival
Want to really dive into the benefits of music? Embark on a melodious journey with our Global Music Festival Game! Using our custom app, teams conquer a variety of challenges, collect points, and engage in friendly competition.
The group with the highest score emerges as the unrivaled Global Music Festival Game Champion! And if your team is remote, check out our virtual music festival experience.
9. Charity Guitar Build
The Charity Guitar Build is perfect for teams that want to rock out and give back at the same time. You’ll have a rockin’ good time in this upbeat experience that harmonizes teamwork, creativity, and giving back.
Kick off a day filled with crafting guitars, creating melodic masterpieces, and spreading joy to aspiring musicians in our community.
Ready to Plan Your Music Team Building Activity?
If you’re looking to synchronize your team while stirring up some creativity and laughter, check out some of these music games for adults and watch the magic happen.
Whether it’s an upbeat office playlist or planned activities, music has the well-documented ability to reach deep into the subconscious.
Our music team building activities help teams accomplish things they never knew they were capable of. Don’t forget to check out our other team building programs, too—they’re all designed to create extraordinarily interactive experiences.
Ready to get some events in the books? Contact us today, and we’ll start customizing the perfect musical program for your team.
