Guidelines
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GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTORS

PHILOSOPHY

The British Journal of Music Therapy is published twice yearly (Spring and Autumn.  Copy deadlines:   1st October for Spring issue;  1st May for Autumn issue).  It is a journal for music therapists and other professionals interested in music therapy in the fields of health, social services and education.  BJMT publishes original articles that have direct relevance to the field of music therapy.  Manuscripts are sent out anonymously for review.  Reprints are not usually considered for publication.  A variety of perspectives and approaches is encouraged in papers which may be concerned with:

research studies
theoretical or philosophical papers
assessment and treatment programmes, including those involving other disciplines, e.g. neurology
music therapy within multi-disciplinary programmes of treatment
case studies illustrating a particular theoretical model or philosophical perspective
professional or political issues, e.g. training, employment or ethical issues
historical reviews
other aspects of music (ethnological, psychological, etc.) if relevance to the theory and practice of music therapy is made clear

The Editors will consider full-length articles (3500-5000 words), and short miscellaneous pieces for publication.  They also welcome book and video reviews, letters and contributions for Stretto (usually 500-600 words).  Prospective book reviewers should contact the Editors describing their areas of expertise and interest.

Copyright

On acceptance of an article for publication, the British Journal of Music Therapy requires authors to assign their copyright to the BJMT, in order to protect both the author and the BJMT for mis-use of copyrighted material.  A Transfer of Copyright Agreement will be sent to the author.  The form must be completed and returned to the BJMT Editors before the article can be published.  Authors are responsible for obtaining permission to include copyright material from other authors in their articles.

Confidentiality

The BJMT requires contributors to guarantee the anonymity of any client referred to in their articles (e.g. by a change of name and other identifying details), unless permission has been granted for the clients' name to be used.

FORMAT AND STYLE

Manuscript

Items for publication should be submitted to the Editors, BJMT,  61 Church Hill Road, East Barnet, Hertfordshire, EN4 8SY.  Enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope with the manuscript.

Manuscripts must be submitted in triplicate and typed double-spaced (including references) on one side of the paper only, with 35mm-wide margins and numbered pages.  Each section of information accompanying the body of the article must be typed on a separate sheet of paper.  The content must be carefully checked.  Substantial alterations at proof stage, other than printer's errors, will be charged to the author.  Authors should retain one copy of their manuscript in case of loss.  Neither the Editors nor Publishers are responsible for such loss.

Contributions should be presented as follows:

  1. Cover page:  to include the title of the article, the author's name, academic and professional qualifications, telephone/fax number and full address to which proofs etc. should be sent.  Describe in one sentence the author's occupation or position (this will be added to the end of the published article.
  2. Abstract:  A summary of 200 words or fewer must precede full-length articles.
  3. Numbered notes:  keep them to a minimum.
  4. Illustrations:  within the text refer to them as 'Figures', number them consecutively, and place them after the references.
  5. References;  type these double spaced in alphabetical order.  The BJMT uses this style:

Bunt, L  (1994) Music therapy:  an Art beyond Words.  London:  Routledge

Sears, W.W.  (1968) 'Processes in Music Therapy'.  In E.T.Gaston (ed.) Music in Therapy.  New York: Macmillan

Tustin, F.  (1994)  'Autistic Children Assessed As Not Brain-Damaged'.  Journal of Child Psychotherapy 20(1):103-31

Computer disks

Authors whose full-length articles are accepted for publication are required to submit a computer disk together with the final manuscript to the Editors.  Disks can be IBM or AppleMac format and should be clearly marked with the following information:

  1. the type of software used (e.g. Microsoft Word 6, or Wordperfect 5.1)
  2. the title of the article on the disk and file name
  3. the author's name and address
  4. if possible the article should also be saved in a text only file, and should use the wrap-around end-of-line feature.  Please keep a back-up disk for safety and for your own reference.  The Editors regret that they cannot guarantee to return the disk to the author.

 

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