Whether an interactive workshop with just a handful of colleagues is your intention, or even putting on a full scale company event, as ambitious as even an Opera, CMS can cater for all your teambuilding needs. Our mission is to create a unique & bespoke event just for you and your people.

You will see three very different examples of events, below. The first is a 90 minute workshop with a group of 25 international CEO’s; the second is a substantial teambuilding project, which was carried out over 5 months, culminating in a packed opera house at Glyndebourne. The 3^rd example is of a ½ day workshop delivered to a group of communications specialists, within one of our FTSE 100 clients.

Example 1.

During a dinner break, as part of a teambuilding day for a group of 25 international CEO’s, they were presented with a ‘menu of songs’; from this menu the group, as part of their challenge, had to decide upon one song [these were carefully chosen in advance, taking into account different languages, styles and possible tastes].

One of our CMS Voice Coaches then took the group away and worked with them on their chosen piece for 30 minutes; at the end of which the group had memorised the music and words [as best they could]; they were then handed over to one of our choreographers, who then physically coached the group on a variety of movement/dance, suitable to the style of music and appropriate to the group.

The last part of their challenge, saw the group working with one of our professional theatre directors, helping them to come up with an interesting and entertaining scenario for the music and dance learned, allocating/improvising dialogue within the team to help weave together a coherent short piece of drama. This again was achieved within only half an hour.

The final part of the challenge was for the group to perform the piece and it was captured on film.

Feedback:

“One of the best connected teambuilding activities I have participated in” 

“Thoroughly enjoyable experience” 

“Truly an enjoyable activity”

“Good fun, great for bonding”

Example 2.

Performance of the Magic Flute at Glyndebourne

February 13^th – 2010

Allen & Overy, one of the leading firms of Lawyers, internationally, with offices in 22 countries worldwide, with the help of the highly acclaimed City Music Services, put on a ground breaking corporate event in February 2010, by rehearsing & performing a full production of Mozart’s – Magic Flute, in Glyndebourne Opera House.

CMS had to cast and then rehearse the large number of solo parts, chorus and orchestra, from within the firm, Alumni and ‘soon-to-be’ A&O trainees [Law College Students]; one of the main sopranos was actually brought in from A&O’s Paris office; other roles were often double cast, ensuring as large a number of people as possible, got to experience singing an operatic role on an international platform.

Within the firm [as would be the case within any City organisation], there are numerous musically talented individuals, who are passionate about making music and together, A&O & CMS have built upon the success experienced during the last few years, in putting on productions of G&S operettas such as the Pirates of Penzance, HMS Pinafore and in 2009 a hugely successful performance of the Mikado, for the first time with a full orchestra.

The team of nearly two hundred arrived at Glyndebourne on the Friday evening, after work and had final rehearsals on stage all day Saturday in readiness for a ‘full house’ on the Saturday evening.

Not only did the team of amateurs include, soloists, chorus and orchestra, but many others were fully involved in other key areas, such as - back stage, wardrobe, front of house and even the car park.

Testimonials

“CMS have now built up a unique knowledge of how music and the workplace can interact and how to ensure that music can flourish despite the everyday pressures of business life. Their expertise can help individuals to retain and develop their musical skills and their general confidence whilst enabling groups of people to develop valuable team-working and project management skills which directly benefit the businesses within which they work. CMS have proved that performing art can flourish in the workplace and at the same time provide great value to it.”

Guy Beringer – Senior Partner at Allen & Overy 2000 – 2008

"I would like to thank Howard Charles and the rest of his team at City Music Services. They have been inspirational in training our soloists, chorus and orchestra to perform in such a wonderful arena and to enable us to make the most of this wonderful opportunity”

Don McGown – Partner at Allen & Overy

 Example 3.

Be transformed in 3 hours; this is an extremely important practical session for every employee within your organisation.

During this unique session/workshop, delegates will focus upon 3 modules:

 MODULE 1: BREATHING

A safe assumption is that most of us breathe ineffectively!

Learn how to re-develop the natural & powerful breathing we once had as babies & children; 1 hour with your CMS trainer could transform the way you breathe with huge positive knock upon effects in other areas

MODULE 2: POSTURE

What could be more important than the way you use your body? Through our tried & tested techniques in adjusting & correcting postural weaknesses, you will begin to rediscover an improved health & energy that perhaps you haven't enjoyed for a long time.

MODULE 3: USE OF VOICE

It is now widely recognised that we are judged more on 'how' we sound and the 'way' in which we say it - content alone doesn’t get you through.

In this module, learn what it takes to produce a consistently good spoken sound; whether for the telephone, the boardroom or presentation situations, we can guarantee you'll discover a new confidence in your own voice, which will significantly enhance everything you ever have to say.

Workshop Schedule:

9.30 am – Registration and Coffee

Delegates enter, tea & coffee is provided and mobile phones are switched off.

9.45 am - Start

Starts with a few suitable ice-breakers to relax everyone but also to get the group thinking more creatively

10.00 am – Breathing

Delegates will be physically fast tracked through the techniques involved in re-developing correct and natural breathing

10.30 am – Posture

Delegates will learn about the importance of correct postural alignment and be trained in our tried & tested ‘6 point system’

11.00 am – Use of Voice

Learn the principles of how to develop a natural, but effective use of voice. Delegates will learn the techniques necessary for using all the above in conjunction with the rudiments of producing a confident spoken sound.

11.30 am – 12.45 pm – Working as a Team

We will create a bespoke challenge for this interactive and collaborative part of the day, to suit the needs & requirements of your particular group.

12.45 pm – 1.00 pm - Summation, handing out worksheets and post-seminar questionnaires for completion before leaving.

Feedback:

“Great session, learnt lots of relaxation & breathing techniques”

“Fantastic, interactive, would like all day one”

“Potentially life changing”

“Has motivated me to re-discover music”