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In the age of remote work, there’s a lot riding on those handful of hours we set aside for the traditional company outing. When you only have a little bit of time to create connections at work, you want something more impactful than the typical happy hour and escape room options.

That’s why many Boston companies are turning to something a little more upbeat to bring everyone together–the power of music. Developed by Musicians Playground, a top Boston music school and community for adult music hobbyists in Downtown Crossing, the Battle of the Bands event is putting microphones and guitars into the hands of ordinary Bostonians–and it has seen a rapid rise in bookings since its launch.

“I wanted to create something beyond conventional team-building activities. Companies are looking for experiences that genuinely enhance team cohesion and individual growth,” says Alyssa O’Toole, founder of Musicians Playground. “We saw an opportunity to offer something that improves both team dynamics and employees’ well-being.” That offering is a two-hour music education experience that allows up to 30 participants (of any skill level in music) to break out into teams and learn to play a complete song together as a band, culminating in a final, collective performance.

The result is a fun, transformative afternoon that makes the most of the time the modern workplace has together. And as it becomes increasingly popular with Boston’s workforce, the event is redefining our idea of what a work outing can do.

Designing a Better Work Event

The Battle of the Bands emerged from O’Toole’s belief in music’s transformative power for adult learners. “I recognized early on through my teaching that there’s a high demand for adults who are interested in learning and making music, but in a way that is for fun, for personal development, growth, and wellness,” O’Toole says.

Unlike many music studios that focus on kids, Musicians Playground caters specifically to adult hobbyists, making it an ideal place for supporting creative expression among professionals. This also means that O’Toole, and the other coaches carefully selected and trained to instruct adults, excel at helping people who are completely new to music feel comfortable and excited to learn.

“Battle of the Bands is designed for people who have never played or sang in their life. We truly cherish the opportunity to work with complete beginners. Like you might go to paint night and not be Picasso, you can come to battle the bands and not be Beethoven,” O’Toole says. “We just expect people to come in ready to have fun, have some drinks and some food, and play some music together.”

During the event, participants take part in musical challenges in both small and big group settings. Each person gets the chance to learn a hit song on either piano, voice, or guitar, while being supported by expert instructors.

It all takes place in Musicians Playground’s high-end studio, one of the most advanced of its kind on the East Coast, which makes learning a new instrument an even smoother process. Thanks to private headphone systems linked to instruments, for example, participants learn and practice in a private environment, where they can feel free to make mistakes and learn at their own pace.

Supporting Personal and Professional Growth

The experience isn’t just fun and inclusive. Its impact separates it from any other work outing–starting with how it supports teamwork.

“One of the most powerful aspects of this event is that it levels the playing field,” O’Toole says. “Everyone is on equal footing because they’re all learning something new together. It’s an amazing way to build trust and foster collaboration.”

While other events might allow people to fall back into old structures, with managers taking charge and cliques forming, the event breaks down familiar dynamics and encourages collaboration by randomly assigning participants to groups and instruments.

“By mixing people up and giving them different roles, we help them build new connections and work together in ways they might not in their usual work environment,” O’Toole says. As a result, different personalities can shine and contribute. That experience, in turn, can help employees feel more comfortable in being creative back at the office.

That has an impact on a personal level as well, as participants learn to think about themselves in new ways. In fact, some of the participants who are the most shy or hesitant about playing an instrument often end up being the performers who love playing the most.

“For a lot of people, this is the first time they’ve ever tried playing an instrument or performing in front of others. It’s an empowering experience that stays with them long after the event is over,” O’Toole says. “A lot of people have felt hesitant to do it at the start, but they were so proud of themselves in the end. They felt like it was an extremely safe, supportive environment, and that they were grateful to have a way to exercise that growth mindset and feel a newfound confidence in themselves.”

Perhaps even more importantly, the Battle of the Bands can contribute to overall well-being to a greater degree than a typical work event. The wellness-oriented approach to music-making offered by Musicians Playground can produce mental and emotional benefits, akin to setting aside an afternoon for meditation or yoga. “The benefits of participating in this event are similar to what you’d get from mindfulness practices,” O’Toole says. “Participants leave feeling more confident and energized.”

Creating a Deeper Engagement with Music

The positive experience can lead participants to take up an instrument as a hobby, O’Toole says, or seek out a long-term relationship with Musicians Playground, joining their community of several hundred adult hobbyists.

“People who enjoy the event are often a great fit for the larger program. It’s a concentrated sample of a lot of the fun class offerings that we have on a regular basis for our core members. We’re really a gym for musicians, and many of our members use music to support greater wellness,” she says, noting that they offer over 50 classes a month for people to choose from, as well as personal training and practice space.

For O’Toole, that focus on wellness and personal growth through music is central to the popularity of the Battle of the Bands event.

“Our mission has always been to integrate music into people’s lives in meaningful ways. This event is a perfect example of how we use music to create positive, lasting impacts on both individuals and teams,” O’Toole says. “By merging my love for music with the need for effective team-building, we crafted an event that truly resonates with participants.”

To inquire about a corporate event or individual classes, visit musiciansplayground.com, or call 617-356-8206.