60 Years of a Professional Journal in Music Therapy.

Abstract

This year marks the 60th year, or Diamond Jubilee, of the Journal of Music Therapy (JMT). To commemorate this event the coeditors have asked that I write an editorial that provides a brief overview of the historical events related to the creation and publication of the Journal. As a start, I want to give the reader more clarity about my own identity and experiences with this journal. It is now 20 years since I began my undergraduate studies in music therapy. As a white, cisgender, middle-class student at the turn of the 21st century, I studied with past archivist Dr. Bill Davis at Colorado State University where the archives for the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) are kept. I developed a growing interest in the history of music therapy as a graduate student at The University of Iowa, an interest that continued when I returned to Colorado State University as faculty. Together these experiences led me on a path to be the archivist for the AMTA. More specific to the journals I have served as a guest peer reviewer for the JMT and currently serve on the editorial board of Music Therapy Perspectives.