On February 17, a drum workshop for students of the School of Design was held at the Kirpichnaya Street campus. This format involves making music together, rather than listening to it. Students participated, and live rhythms and collaborative music-making served as a platform for experimenting with collective interaction.
The training was conducted by Alexander Baru, instructor of the workshop «From Presley to Rap: The Best of the Last 70 Years.» Instead of the usual lecture, there was a circle, instead of theory, there was rhythm, instead of individual results, there was a common sound. Each participant was part of a unified process, where it was important not to «play correctly,» but to hear others and integrate into the overall movement.
The format of collaborative music-making has proven to be an unexpectedly powerful tool for developing team skills. Working with rhythm clearly demonstrates how team spirit is formed, how leadership manifests itself, and why no complex project can succeed without careful interaction with others. All this happens without words, through sound, tempo, and responsiveness to partners.
One of the most striking moments was the joint performance of rhythms recognizable from world music hits. At this moment, the disparate parts came together to form a cohesive sound, and the group became a true team. Music acted as a universal language, understood by everyone without translation.
Following the training, students noted that the format was not only engaging but also truly useful. After the session, there was a demand for similar events to be held regularly—as a space for collaborative action, recharging, and developing teamwork skills.
Such practices demonstrate that educational environments can transcend traditional formats while preserving meaning and enhancing impact. When learning becomes an experience, not a manual, the results are long-lasting.
