Author Guidelines

Submission Guidelines

Table of Contents

• Submission Guidelines
• Aim and Scope
• Instructions for Authors
• Article Types
• Ethical Considerations
• Manuscript Preparation
• Citations
• Reference Lists
• Submission Requirements
• Cover Letter
• Title Page
• Abstract
• Keywords
• Tables and Figures
• Statistics
• Use of Copyrighted Material
• Review Process
• Checklist
• Manuscript Submission

The Canadian Journal of Music Therapy / Revue canadienne de musicothérapie (CJMT/RCM) is a peer-reviewed journal published by the Canadian Association of Music Therapists (CAMT) for dissemination of music therapy scholarship. We accept articles in English or French and publish them in their original language with the titles, abstracts, and keywords translated into both languages. We welcome submissions from music therapists and members of allied disciplines. We publish research (qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method studies) and essays, and remain open to other formats pending editorial approval. Principal criteria for acceptance of material include originality, quality, and relevance. In addition to traditional approaches, we welcome creative, diverse, and alternative presentations and styles. The CJMT/RCM strives for a professional yet accessible tone. We seek articles that are clear and concise, and we encourage the use of the active rather than the passive voice. In addition, while it is important to foreground the research, we accept the use of first person when it is clearer to do so. The annual deadline is September 1, but submissions are welcome any time of the year. Please submit English content to the Editor-in-Chief at journal@musictherapy.ca and French content to the French Content Editor at revue@musictherapy.ca.

Aim and Scope

The Canadian Journal of Music Therapy / Revue canadienne de musicothérapie (CJMT/RCM), presented by the Canadian Association of Music Therapists, focuses on providing a diverse collection of voices, perspectives, and ideas featuring a broad range of music therapy and music and health-related articles, original research, and reviews of current literature, books, and other mediums. This peer-reviewed, open access journal highlights Canadian as well as international perspectives on music therapy and music and health-related topics and strives to present current and essential information for music therapists, music and health practitioners, music educators, and music-based scholars alike, with a focus on advocating for and expanding the role of music therapy in healthcare, education, academia, and research scholarship across the country and throughout the world.

The Canadian Journal of Music Therapy / Revue canadienne de musicothérapie (CJMT/RCM) is under the editorial leadership of Editor-in-Chief SarahRose Black, PhD, RP, MTA, and French Content Editor Annabelle Brault, MA, MTA.

Instructions for Authors

Article Types

Original Research 

• Original qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods research* 
• *The CJMT/RCM remains open and committed to accepting research methodologies that challenge typical Eurocentric research approaches; we welcome methodologies that amplify marginalized voices and holistically support various models that provide diverse representation.
• Research may include topics regarding music therapy, music and health, and music and well-being, and may involve multi-disciplinary teams with music therapists as principal investigators or co-investigators.
• Abstract:250-word limit 
• Text:5000–6500 word limit  

Interview 

• Dialogue between interviewee and music therapist/practitioner
  • This article style is not intended for peer-reviewed research purposes, but for the purposes of highlighting an individual music therapist’s work, career, or a specific area of study.
  • If an author is considering publication of an interview or series of interviews done for research purposes (and has obtained research ethics board approval), please submit this as an original research article. 
• Text: 2000-word limit  
• Interviews will be published in both languages.  

Please contact the Editor-in-Chief or the French Content Editor with intention to publish prior to conducting the interview.  

Literature Review

• Systematic or other style of review of current literature on a music therapy topic 
• Abstract: 250-word limit 
• Text: 5000–6500-word limit 

Clinical Case Study  

• Illustrative or instructive music-therapy-relevant clinical cases(consent from the client[s] must be obtained prior to writing) 
• Abstract: 100 words or less; structured headings are not required
• Text: 2000-word limit, and must include a brief literature review, brief case overview, and a brief summary. NB: Clinical case studies do not fall under the category of original research; research case studies may be submitted as original research but must include research ethics board approval. 

Brief Reports  

• Short reports about pilot studies, preliminary findings, very small sample sizes, or other research findings that are not suitable for a full article. 
• Abstract:100-word limit  
• Text: 2000-word  Must include a brief literature review and a brief overview of the study, details of the study’s methods, and a brief conclusion. 

Reflections on Practice 

• Pieces in which authors share or argue a viewpoint grounded in the literature but not based in specific research 
• Abstract: 100-word limit  
• Text: 5000-word limit 

Letters to the Editor  

• Commentary on recently published CJMT articles
• Must be submitted within 6 weeks of the article’s publication
• Not peer-reviewed
• Text: 500-word limit 

Book Reviews  

• Review of book or similar medium (documentary reviews or non-academic book reviews may be considered) 
  • Please contact the Editor-in-Chief or French Content Editor prior to submitting a book review for approval of the book or similar medium.
    • Please include a brief description of the proposed book or medium.
  • Text:1000-word limit 
  • Not peer-reviewed
  • Reviews will be translated from English to French or French to English as 
  • Include full details about the book, including the year of publication, the publisher’s name, and the ISBN. Be sure to state your name and credentials.
    • Please submit the details of the book in the following format:
      
      

Special Articles  

• These may include guidelines or other articles that do not fit into other topic areas.
• Text:2000-word limit 
  • Please contact editors with intention topublish (including a brief description of the proposed article).

Ethical Considerations 

Authors are expected to take ethical precautions into consideration as detailed in the Code of Ethics of the Canadian Association of Music Therapists. All aspects of the research—in particular, direct study of individuals, surveys or questionnaires administered to individuals, and the use of data derived from records where individuals might be identified—must be approved by an institutional ethical review board and the approval explicitly stated in the submitted manuscript. Where applicable, the name of the research ethics committee (or of the appropriate body) including the reference number of the research ethics approval must be stated. 

Manuscripts submitted to the CJMT/RCM must be original. They must not duplicate any previously published work, including the author’s own, or be under consideration for or undergoing the process of publication elsewhere. Authors should ensure that the manuscript does not contain content that is abusive, defamatory, libellous, obscene, fraudulent, or illegal.

Authors must acknowledge sources and disclose conflicts of interest. Major professional contributions by two or more persons to a common project should be recognized by joint authorship; minor professional contributions can be recognized through an appropriate acknowledgement statement. The corresponding author will be sent a transfer of copyright which they must sign before the paper is published. The editors retain the customary right to edit material accepted for publication. After publication, authors are responsible for reporting errors or inaccuracies and are expected to cooperate with the editors to make corrections or retractions.

Manuscript Preparation

Manuscripts should be prepared in APA Style as detailed in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). In accordance with the APA guidelines and those specific to the CJMT/RCM, manuscripts should adhere to the following requirements:

• Set the page with 2.5 cm (1 inch) margins all around and use 12-point Times New Roman font. Number your pages. Double space the entire paper, including block quotations and lists. Use left justification. Do not use full justification for any part of the manuscript, including the abstract.
• Indent paragraphs using the tab function and do not leave a blank line between paragraphs. However, do not use tabs in the reference list; use the built-in hanging indent function in your word processing program to create hanging indents.
• Use one space after periods and other punctuation marks that require spacing.
• Avoid footnotes if possible. If you are unable to incorporate your footnotes into the text, consider not including the information.
• Avoid italics except where mandated by APA Style. Use bold only when specified by APA for headings. Do not underline.
• Use the APA’s hierarchy of heading levels (section 2.27). Note whether APA requires the heading level to be centred, flush left, or indented; boldface or italicized; title case or sentence case; and whether or not there is a period at the end of the heading.
• Note that the CJMT/RCM uses Canadian spelling. Please refer to the Canadian Oxford Dictionary (2nd ed.) for guidance. In Microsoft Word it is helpful to select “English (Canada)” as the language for your document.
• For manuscripts written in English, see the house style guide for more details.

Citations

• Cite all references using the author–date format as per APA Style.
• Include the page number for any citations that are direct quotations.
• Avoid secondary sources unless the source is out of print and unavailable.

Reference Lists

• List references alphabetically by author on a separate page at the end of the manuscript as per APA Style.
• Ensure that the formatting is correct. This includes the use of italics and roman type; periods and commas; spacing; and capitalization.
• Do not use a reference management program such as EndNote for your references; instead copy and paste references or type them directly into the document. Ensure that all citations are referenced and that all references have been cited.

Submission Requirements

Cover Letter

Information letters should be addressed to the Editor-in-Chief and included as a separate document attached to the manuscript submission email. The author should indicate why the submission would be valuable to readers of the CJMT/RCM and verify the following:

• that the material contained in the manuscript has not been published and is not being considered for publication elsewhere
• that the material contained in the manuscript does not infringe on any copyrighted material
• that appropriate ethics approval was obtained for research with human participants.

Title Page

Since manuscripts are sent anonymously to members of the editorial review board, care must be taken not to reveal the name and affiliation of the author or authors in the manuscript. Include a cover page as a separate document with the following information:

• First name, middle initial, and last name of each author, including credentials and highest academic degrees and the names of institutions with which the authors are associated
• Name and contact information (email address) of the author responsible for correspondence
• Short biography of 50 to 65 words for each author.

Abstract

• Include an abstract of 150 to 250 words depending on type of submission (see requirements listed above).

Keywords

• List six to eight keywords or phrases that identify the main themes of the article.

Tables and Figures

• Do not paste figures and tables into your document. Include them in separate files and indicate in the document where you would like them to appear. Be sure to label your files clearly. Supply titles for tables and captions for all figures at the end of the manuscript. See the house style sheet for more details about formatting these elements of your manuscript.

Statistics

Every article that contains statistical testing should state the name of the statistical test, the n value for each statistical analysis, the comparisons of interest, a justification for the use of that test (including, for example, the actual p value for each test, not merely “significant” or “p < 0.05”). Use of the word “significant” should always be accompanied by a p value; otherwise, use words such as “substantial” and “considerable.” Authors should be particularly attentive to APA style when typing statistical details.

Use of Copyrighted Material

Authors must obtain permission to reproduce all matter attributed to others including the following:

• Maps, diagrams, figures, drawings, and photographs
• Single passages of prose exceeding 90 words.

Please supply a copy of the publisher’s letter of permission to reprint along with full information for the work cited, including author, date published, publisher, and page numbers.

Review Process

Please note that this process may take up to several months:

1. The Editor-in-Chief or French Content Editor acknowledges receipt of the manuscript by email.
2. If accepted by the Editor-in-Chief or French Content Editor, the transfer of copyright from author to the CAMT, required after the manuscript is accepted, is executed, and signed by the first author.
3. The manuscript is sent for blind peer review by two or more members of the editorial review board for evaluation as to quality and suitability (this does not apply to book reviews and other non-peer-reviewed article types).
4. The Editor-in-Chief or French Content Editor advises the corresponding author about the decision of the editorial review board and then guides the author through a revision process that is informed by the results of the blind reviews.
5. Once the revision process is complete, the manuscript goes to the copy editor for editing of language mechanics and use in consultation with the author.
6. As applicable, the manuscript and/or title, abstract, and keywords may be translated.
7. This revision then goes to the Editor-in-Chief or French Content Editor for final review before going to the printer.
8. When the proofs are ready, the author receives a copy of the PDF for final review and approval and the opportunity to make minor editorial changes.

Checklist

• Study these submission guidelines carefully and refer to the house style sheet for further details.
• Please consider having a professional editor or colleague proofread your manuscript prior to submission.
• Make sure that your citations and references match and that they are presented according to the 7th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.
• Ensure that your article includes an abstract, keywords, and titles for your tables and figures (as applicable). If you are submitting a research study that includes human participants, please ensure there is a statement in your paper regarding approval from an ethics review board.
• Include with your manuscript, the following files as separate attachments:
  • Cover letter
  • Title page
  • Manuscript
  • Tables and Figures (if applicable)
  • Publisher’s letter of permission for any copyrighted material (if applicable).

Manuscript Submission

Please submit your manuscript electronically to the Editor-in-Chief, SarahRose Black, PhD, RP, MTA (journal@musictherapy.ca) or the French Content Editor, Annabelle Brault, MA, MTA (revue@musictherapy.ca). Hard copies are not required.

Guidelines Design

We would like to extend a warm thank you to the editors and journal staff who have contributed over the years to the development of the components of this guide. Many thanks to Dr. Laurel Young for her invaluable advice throughout the development of this new edition of the guide.