Completing Six Years of Publications and Moving Forward

Abstract

Welcome to this new journal issue of Approaches. This issue begins with an interview of Dag Körlin. Interviewed by Anna Böhmig, Körlin talks about certain basic aspects of Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) as a receptive music therapy method, while he makes particular reference to the GIM training programme in Greece and his contribution to the programme’s development. Then, Aglaïa Maria Mika presents a qualitative research study exploring music therapists’ understandings of mindfulness and its role in their work. Through a case study, Paige Rose and Karyna Johnson explore the effects of structured musical activity sessions on the development of communication skills of a child with autism. Daphne Rickson’s ethnographic study focuses on an inclusion project of students with intellectual disabilities in a professional musical orchestra in New Zealand. Informed by socioculturally sensitive conceptual frameworks, Rickson discusses a number of issues regarding the social construction of disability, the role of music participation and the sense of belonging in relation to social inclusion and the sense of wellbeing both of the individual and the wider community.

In addition to the papers above, this issue includes six book reviews, while Mitsi Akoyunoglou-Christou and Potheini Vaiouli write about their experience from the World Music Therapy Congress (7-12 July 2014, Austria). Finally, you will find the journal’s standard information sections (new international publications, upcoming events, and the translated abstracts of this issue’s articles) as well as the abstracts from the pre-conference of the ISME Commission on Music in Special Education, Music Therapy and Music Medicine (17-18 July 2014, Brazil).

This issue marks the completion of six continuous years of publication of Approaches. Establishing its identity as an interdisciplinary and bilingual (Greek-English) journal, during these years Approaches has published texts by 204 authors who come from 28 countries and different fields within the wider area of music and health (such as music therapy, music education of vulnerable populations, and community music). The work of editorial board members and reviewers – and, of course, the contribution of authors and the ongoing support of the readership – have been instrumental for the journal’s development until today.

Now it is a time of change. Responding to the emerging perspectives for the journal and the needs of the scientific and professional communities it serves, a number of changes are under way. Among other things, these changes concern the expansion of Approaches’ editorial team and the enhancement of its ways of communicating with the readership, to include the use of social media. (1)

With this opportunity I would like to warmly welcome Catherine Carr as the Associate Editor of Approaches. Catherine, who is based in Queen Mary University of London (United Kingdom), undertakes this role after four years of experience in the journal’s team, and she brings with her an invaluable experience as researcher, tutor and practitioner within the field of music therapy. Catherine’s work will assist significantly in managing submitted manuscripts and ensuring the high peer-review quality offered in Approaches. Closing this editorial, I note that the next chronological year (2015) is dedicated to the publication of two special issues:

• The first issue is about “Music Therapy in Europe: Paths of Professional Development”. This issue, which I co-edit together with Hanne Mette Ridder, is a collaboration between Approaches and the European Music Therapy Confederation (EMTC).
• The second issue for 2015, with Vicky Karkou serving as the Guest Editor, is dedicated to “Music, Drama, Dance Movement and Art Therapy: Interdisciplinary Dialogues”. The submissions deadline for this issue is on 15 February 2015.

In parallel, the submission of manuscripts which do not fall within these special issues will carry on as normal. Such manuscripts will be published directly on the journal’s First View section.

(1) You can stay informed about these forthcoming changes through Approaches’ mailing list. To sign up, please email: approaches.adm1@gmail.com .

Suggested citation: Tsiris, G. (2014). Completing six years of publications and moving forward. Approaches: Music Therapy & Special Music Education, 6(2), 71-72. Retrieved from http://approaches.primarymusic.gr