APOD Music is an innovation in team development for businesses that see creativity as a way of bolstering their competitive advantage.

APOD Music takes executives to their state-of-the art studio in the heart of the West End where they become a fully-fledged band, using music to push both personal and team boundaries with the aim of achieving seismic shifts in effectiveness back in the workplace.

“These days we live in a less structured and ordered business world and solutions don’t come from the same tried and tested places.  APOD’s role is to work with organisations to create new models and ways of working.  Leaders must be able to improvise and rely less on a plan to achieve the very best results.”

Jake Farr C.Psychol. Founder, APOD

What is APOD Music?

APOD Music was developed by business psychologist Jake and her partner, record producer and artist Jon Hall.  Combining Jake’s 20 years expertise in business psychology and Jon’s extensive experience on both the production and performance side of the music industry, clients are given an experience in team building that they won’t forget, that has impact well beyond the event itself.

Noticing the parallels between coaching executives and producing artists, Jake and Jon developed their groundbreaking process that challenges participants to escape the confines of the office environment and make music in their state-of-the-art West End studio.

The APOD team handhold participants through the creative process enabling them to write, play and record original tracks regardless of their level of musicianship or previous musical experience.

Working throughout the event with a business psychologist, participants are encouraged to reflect on the process and its application to their work and lives.  This is further embedded with a follow-up workplace coaching session focused on the transfer of learning.

The studio event utilises a combination of electronic composition, drumming, lyrical and musical coaching, and sees the band create and leave with a professionally produced and mastered CD of their original track.

Events are tailored to a client’s particular requirements.  Programs are open throughout the year and are available in a number of formats including half day, one day, and two day events.

“For most people, the prospect of spending a day in a recording studio, making music, fills them with dread. But guided by the skilful hands and minds of the team at APOD, a transformation from dread to wholehearted participation to the heady excitement of achievement is a fantastic experience in itself. Then, with the follow-up coaching sessions, the benefits to the business become palpable.”

Jeremy Tester, Director of Insight, Sky Media

Why APOD Music?

Being somewhere and doing something completely unfamiliar encourages individuals to think and act differently, learning something new about how they can operate in any situation.

Participants learn from the world of music and musicians to improvise, create harmony and disharmony and distil the benefits of both.

“…improvising with the band long into the night, I learned once again about the joys of stealing good ideas, of jumping all over some entirely serendipitous passage, hearing intriguing possibilities in someone’s mistake…”

Jerry Hirshberg, President, Nissan Design International

For the team there’s a deepening of relationships through the shedding of everyday roles to allow real connection as human beings.  Motivation and morale is enhanced as creativity and a ‘can do – will do’ attitude manifests as the team’s belief in what they can achieve shifts.

For the individual APOD Music helps develop confidence, creativity and motivation, allowing self-imposed boundaries to be pushed through, and provides a unique, memorable and fun experience.

APOD has proved it’s own success over the last few years with some huge companies and brands passing through the studio doors, including Sky, British Gas, the Department of Innovation and Skills and O2 to name but a few.

“Via their music process APOD take a fresh and innovative approach to traditional team building. Leading the team through the immensely creative and rewarding process of creating your own CD, you will gain valuable insight into your team’s collective and individual strengths in a fun and relaxed environment. Highly recommended”

James Parton, Capability & Innovation, O2

Do participants need to have musical experience?

Participants do not need to be able to sing in tune, play an instrument or have had any musical training or experience.  Conventional ‘rhythm’ is also not essential or required.  This is not about making a hit single or about identifying the next Robbie Williams.  The APOD creative team will find the music in you and it’s likely it won’t be what you expect.

“I ran an event two days later feeling much more confident and with less anxiety than I usually would have… I was more in tune with what was going well and how people were feeling -It all came naturally.  I now have more confidence and know something about how to achieve that confident state before big events”

Simon Day, Organisational Development Manager, AAH Pharmaceuticals Ltd

How can APOD Music benefit your business?

APOD are confident that this unique programme is hugely beneficial for every group, team and organisation..

Here are some examples of how APOD Music can be used…

- As classic team development partnered with team or leadership coaching
- A leadership or executive challenge
- To support a team start-up or team-merger
- An extraordinary part of a company reward and recognition process.

“It’s taught me a lot about stepping back and letting things happen…experimenting.  The importance of creating space for stuff to happen”

Laura Price, Senior Commissioning Editor, Cassell Illustrated, Octopus Publishing Group Ltd

CLICK HERE TO VIEW FULL LENGTH APOD MUSIC PROMOTIONAL FILM