Australian Journal of Music Therapy

Australian Journal of Music Therapy is an annual, refereed journal. It reflects current research and debate in the profession. The nineteen volumes of AJMT exemplify the diversity of Australian music therapy clinical work and research. AJMT is indexed in the Australian Medical Index; Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature; Music Therapy World Journal Index; PsycINFO. Editor: Dr Katrina McFerran, PhD RMT

Subscription rate is $52.00AUD per annum (single issue)

Membership of Australian Music Therapy Association includes subscription to the Australian Journal of Music Therapy.

The Australian Journal of Music Therapy (ISSN 1036 - 9457) is published by the Australian Music Therapy Association, Inc.

To arrange membership or subscription please contact the National Office .

 

New editor and associate editor for AJMT announce updated structure

The Australian Journal of Music Therapy is welcoming in the new year with some exciting news. Building on the success of the existing journal - with top quality peer reviewed articles and international commentaries - we have created a new way of encouraging the development of articles that are interesting and exciting for Australian RMTs to read and to write. The Australian Journal of Music Therapy is our journal and it partners with the annual national conference to keep RMTs informed and stimulated about the profession. We believe that RMTs are interested in reading about new ideas at a range of levels, so instead of reviewing all articles based on the same criteria, we now have distinguished three tiers of articles. Please see the 'Contributor's Notes' under Publications / AJMT on the AMTA webpage.

The first is Perspectives on Practice - shorter articles that focus on excellent examples of music therapy practice. These articles may be interesting because they describe an innovative way of practicing, or a new context of work, or an outcome worth reporting. Authors still need to reference the current literature so that their ideas are located alongside contemporary thinking, and articles still need to be well written, but they will not be reviewed by the same criteria as a research article. A more encouraging and gentle style of providing feedback will be offered to authors who choose to submit in this category and our aim will be to help authors reach the standards that are required.

Perspectives on Research will remain focused on the presentation of world-class research with a stronger emphasis on clarity in relation to the researcher’s worldview (epistemological stance / philosophical orientation). This requires that authors communicate an understanding of how their beliefs about knowledge have influenced the way the research was designed and interpreted. Doing this will assist our readers to truly understand the implications of the results - what does it mean for music therapy practice, who is the audience that is convinced by, and interested in, this kind of research. Transparency and clarity will be sought through the review process if not included initially.

Finally, a new section is being offered to contributors called Perspectives on Theory, where experienced music therapy authors have the opportunity to contemplate the field and the implications of recent research and emerging practice for the discipline. There are many RMTs who have undertaken extensive professional development activities both within music therapy and by studying more widely, and this is an opportunity to contribute new theoretical perspectives. These may be informed by less well-known ways of approaching research and practice in music therapy, or by seeking depth in perspectives that have already been constructed. Separate criteria have also been developed for these articles.

To assist me in ensuring that this more nuanced approach can really happen, I would like to welcome Dr Helen Shoemark to the AJMT team. After many years of reviewing Helen has agreed to act as Associate Editor for the next three years, and will be taking responsibility for finalising articles so that they are perfect and print-ready. Helen has an impressive track record of publications and is well placed to carry this responsibility and I am grateful that she is willing to make this contribution. As you know, many anonymous reviewers also make the journal possible, and although I cannot name them, they are unquestionably the backbone of the journal.

I am thrilled to be volunteering as Editor of AJMT for the next few years and I look forward to reading your contributions from a new perspective during that time. Please be in touch.

Dr Katrina McFerran

Senior Lecturer in Music Therapy

Editor of the Australian Journal of Music Therapy

Melbourne Conservatorium of Music