How to Create an Informance: A Step-by-Step Guide
Creating an informance can be an enriching and creative process for both you and your students. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you design and execute a successful informance.
1. Decide on the Purpose and Format
Before planning the details of the informance, clarify the purpose of the event. Do you want to showcase a specific aspect of your curriculum (such as rhythm, composition or the artistic processes)? Are you hoping to highlight student growth over year or demonstrate how a particular piece of music is learned from start to finish?
Once you’ve established the goal, choose a format that fits your objectives. Some possible formats include:
- A chronological journey through the learning of a piece, starting with the introduction and moving through stages of learning.
- A series of demonstrations that focus on different musical skills (e.g., rhythm, sight-reading, improvisation).
- An interactive session where the audience participates in some of the activities.
2. Plan the Content
Once you have the purpose and format in place, you’ll need to plan the specific content that will be featured. Consider the following elements:
- Student Demonstrations: Select students or groups of students to demonstrate specific activities or exercises. These could be things like vocal warm-ups, rhythm exercises, or a section of a piece that the class has been working on.
- Teacher Narration: As the educator, you’ll need to prepare to narrate the event. Explain the purpose of each activity and how it connects to the overall learning process. You can also highlight how each skill contributes to students’ musical development.
- Student Narration: Instead of doing all the narrating yourself – you might want to consider having students narrate the showcase. This really shows the audience what students learn from the student perspective, but also gives opportunities for students to rise up in leadership roles.
- Student Reflections: Similar to narrating, you might want to Involve your students by having them explain parts of the process in their own words. This could include asking them to share what they found challenging and how they overcame those challenges, or what they’ve learned through their practice.
3. Rehearse the Informance
Though informances are less formal than traditional performances, it’s still important to rehearse the event. Rehearsals will help students feel confident and allow you to fine-tune the flow of the informance. Make sure that everyone knows their roles and that the pacing of the event feels natural. Rehearsing will also help you gauge whether certain sections need more explanation or whether adjustments should be made.
4. Invite the Audience
Once you’ve planned and rehearsed the informance, it’s time to invite the audience. Be clear in your invitation that this is not a traditional performance but rather an educational experience. Let them know that they will gain insights into the learning process and see firsthand how music is taught in your classroom.
Encourage families, school staff, and community members to attend, as this can be a great opportunity to foster a stronger connection between your music program and the broader community.
5. Engage with the Audience
During the informance, invite the audience to engage with the material. You might ask them to participate in a call-and-response rhythm exercise or to observe how students react to feedback during rehearsals. By making the event interactive, you create a more memorable experience for everyone involved.
6. Reflect After the Event
After the informance, take some time to reflect on the event with your students. What went well? What could be improved? What did they learn from the experience of sharing their process? This reflection will not only help you refine future informances but also deepen the learning experience for your students.
Final Thoughts
Informances are a powerful way to shift the focus in music education from the final product to the learning process. They provide students with an opportunity to reflect on their progress, offer educators a chance to highlight the value of their teaching, and give audiences a deeper understanding of how music is learned and taught.
By making learning visible, informances create a richer, more dynamic experience for all involved. If you haven’t yet tried incorporating an informance into your music education classroom, it’s time to consider this innovative and rewarding approach!
Blog Post Contributor: Erin Zaffini