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Frequently Asked Questions about the Voice & Speech Review (VSR)
The upcomging issue of the Voice & Speech Review is titled: A World of Voice
- What kinds of articles does the VSR accept ?
- Are articles juried?
- Do all articles have to relate to the cover topic?
- Who do I contact if I have an idea for an article?
- In what format should I submit an article?
- Do I need to have a finished article before I contact an editor?
- What is the deadline for submitting to the VSR?
- What should I expect from the editorial process?
- I have an idea for a research article, but I need assistance in formulating my project. Are there research guidelines available?
- What is the history of the VSR?
- What are the mission and goals of the VSR?
- How can I get a list of articles from previous editions?
- How do I subscribe to the VSR?
- How do I buy an individual copy of the VSR?
- I want to use a reprint of an article in my class. How do I do this?
What kinds of articles does the VSR accept ?
The VSR publishes a variety of types of articles including the following:
- letters to the editor
- research articles
- interviews
- roundtable discussions, questionnaire results
- essays (burning issues, opinion essays)
- practical advice for running a private studio
- book/video reviews
- play reviews from a vocal perspective
- thesis/dissertation abstracts on voice/speech
- columns
- survey of resources on the cover topic
Each issue of the VSR includes a number of peer-reviewed articles. Research articles, longer essays, and interviews/discussions where the writer has made comparisons or drawn conclusions may be considered for peer review. Letters, reviews, columns, short opinion essays, advice, straightforward interviews and abstracts are not subject to peer review. Though the latter are not juried, they must be approved by the editors before publication.
Do all articles have to relate to the cover topic?
Each edition of the VSR has a cover topic. The theme for the 2011 edition is "World of Voice."
Approximately one-third of articles relate to the cover topic, and two-thirds are on other issues in professional voice and speech training.
Who do I contact if I have an idea for an article?
The VSR is made up of nine departments. Each department has an Associate Editor. If you know which department your article fits under, you can contact that Associate Editor directly. If you are not sure which department is appropriate for your idea, you can contact the Editor-in-Chief.
Editor-in-Chief
Dudley Knight - vsr.editor@vasta.org, dknight@uci.edu
Associate Editor-in-Chief
Lynn Watson - jwatson@umbc.edu
Associate Editor, Ethics, Standards and Practices
Rena RCook - renacook@ou.edu
Associate Editor, Heightened Text, Verse and Scansion
Ellen O'Brien - vze2x5wy@verizon.net
Associate Editor, Pedagogy and Coaching
Jeff Morrison - jmorrison@mmm.edu
Associate Editor, Private Studio Practice
Ginny Kopf - gkvoice@cfl.rr.com
Associate Editor, Pronunciation, Phonetics, Linguistics, Dialect/Accent Studies
Erik Singer- eriksinger@earthlink.net
Associate Editor, Reviews and sources
Tara McAllister-viel - Tara.McAllister-viel@cssd.ac.uk
Associate Editor, Singing
Joan Melton - joan.melton@onevoicebook.com
Associate Editor, Voice and Speech Science, Vocal Health
Ronald Callaway Scherer - ronalds@bgsu.edu
Associate Editor, Vocal Production, Voice-Related Movement Studies
Dana McConnell - candlethree@aol.com
In what format should I submit an article?
Articles should be submitted electronically, preferably as an e-mail attachment in Microsoft Word. For style guidelines click on the link below. For style issues not addressed in the guidelines, please refer to the Chicago Manual of Style .
Do I need to have a finished article before I contact an editor?
If you have an idea for an article, you are encouraged to communicate with an editor at the earliest stages of its development. Editors are ready and anxious to mentor writers throughout the process. Many writers begin by contacting an editor with just a thesis, an issue, a question or an outline. The editor can then offer suggestions, resources and guidance that can prevent a writer from heading off in a direction that may be less than useful. Early contact is not a requirement, and fully developed articles can also be submitted.
If you wish to write a book or play review, you can approach the editor with a specific book or play you have in mind or you can come with just an interest in writing a review. In the latter case, the editor can suggest possible titles that are available for review.
What is the deadline for submitting to the VSR?
Completed articles are due by September 30 of even numbered years (e.g. 2006, 2008). They may be submitted way in advance of this deadline and early submissions are certainly encouraged. Editing and peer-reviews take place in October and November, and revised articles are due by December 15. The VSR is scheduled to be published in the summer of odd years.
What should I expect from the editorial process?
Your article will be carefully edited by an Associate Editor and will also be screened by the Editor-in-Chief. The editor will be looking for a viable thesis, logical development of ideas, clarity in writing, appropriate supporting references, a consistent style, and proper grammar. Most likely, you will receive a number of suggested revisions and a couple of weeks to make changes. Many articles go back and forth between the writer and the Associate Editor a number of times during this process. Of course, not all articles are accepted for publication.
Once an article goes through the initial revision process, and if it is deemed appropriate for peer review, it will be submitted anonymously to two or three expert reviewers. These reviewers can choose to pass the article with no further changes, pass the article contingent on certain changes being made, or fail the article. If changes are required, the writer makes revisions and the article is resubmitted to the reviewers for approval.
I have an idea for a research article, but I need assistance in formulating my project. Are there research guidelines available?
Associate Editor Marth Munro and her husband Allan Munro have developed two useful documents outlining standard research methodology. To access them, click on the links below:
What is the history of the VSR?
The VSR is the official journal of the Voice and Speech Trainers Association and was first published in 2000 with Rocco Dal Vera as founding Editor-in-Chief. Since that time, four issues have been published with the following cover topics:
Issue 1: Standard Speech (2000)
Issue 2: The Voice in Violence (2001)
Issue 3: Film, Broadcast and Electronic Media Coaching (2003)
Issue 4: Shakespeare Around the Globe (2005)
Issue 5: Voice and Gender (2007)
Issue 6: The Moving Voice (2009)
Currently, the VSR is published every other year. It is the first journal in the field of voice and speech training for actors (though it is commonly referred to as a journal, it is actually a serialized monograph).
What are the mission and goals of the VSR?
The mission of the Voice & Speech Review is to disseminate information pertinent to the education, welfare and promotion of voice and speech training.
The goals of the VSR are:
- to provide for the continuing professional development of practitioners in the field through the publication of pragmatic articles outlining useful methods and approaches to a variety of problems in voice and speech training;
- to foster a scholarly and intellectually rigorous approach within the profession;
- to provide an outlet for the publication of scholarly research, and to stimulate new research;
- to provide an open forum for discussion of ideas and opinions related to the profession;
- to encourage good vocal hygiene and healthful vocal use through the dissemination of practical up-to-date and accurate information;
- to promote communication and collaboration with allied professions and disciplines;
- to promote discussion toward the refinement of professional standards and practices;
- to promote international perspectives in the training of voice and speech
How can I get a list of articles from previous editions?
The Table of Contents of each edition of the Voice and Speech Review is available online, as a pdf file.
- Standard Speech
- The Voice in Violence
- Film, Broadcast and Electronic Media Coaching
- Shakespeare Around the Globe
- Voice and Gender
- The Moving Voice
Can't open the files? You'll need to download and install Adobe Acrobat Reader.
How do I subscribe to the VSR?
The Voice & Speech Review is published bi-annually (in odd years) in the spring, e.g. 2005, 2007. VASTA Members receive a free copy if their membership is paid up on August 15th of that year. Go to the membership page for more on becoming a VASTA member.
How do I buy an individual copy of the VSR?
Current and past issues are available for purchase by individuals and Libraries. For order information, click on the link below:
I want to use a reprint of an article in my class. How do I do this?
Those interested in getting individual articles reprinted for classes may do so through the Production Editor of the Voice & Speech Review. A local copy place or Kinko's should be able to handle everything for you. They'll get permission from us to reprint, make the copies, sell them to your students and pay VASTA. All you need to do is place the order. Contact for more information. If you are interested in an article from Editions 4, 5, 0r 6, you can contact University Readers to get specific articles.
This site is maintained by VASTA Director of Technology, Michael J. Barnes. Original site design is by Eric Armstrong.