The Reflective Framework

Before, During and After

A three-part cycle for planning, facilitating and evaluating music therapy and music education sessions with an improviser’s mindset.

The Improviser's BDA Device, showing the cyclical relationship between Before, During and After reflection

Swipe sideways to explore the complete device

The Improviser’s BDA Device · Al Fuller and Brad Fuller

Explore Each Phase

Reflection in Motion

Select a phase to see the reflective action and a question to hold.

Before · Reflection-for-action

Think deeply. Plan lightly.

Imagine forward. Draw on knowledge, context and past experience to prepare a flexible plan with enough shape for meaningful musicking and enough space for discovery.

A Question to HoldWhat might help participants enter the musicking with clarity and agency?

Retrospective Planning

The Next Phrase Grows From the Last

Like an improviser shaping a phrase in response to what has already been played, practitioners can use reflection to make new sense of what is unfolding and adjust what comes next.

The BDA framework is a cycle rather than a checklist. Preparation informs real-time responsiveness; experience becomes material for reflection; and reflection guides the next act of planning.

From Reflection to Decision

How Much Support Is Useful Now?

The Prescription Spectrum can be used throughout the BDA cycle to consider how much structure, prompting or other support will help create the conditions for purposeful, agentic musicking.

Try the Prescription Spectrum