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What kinds of articles does the VSR accept?

The VSR welcomes articles from a broad array of voice-oriented subjects. We also welcome scholarly articles, essays and interviews, as well as book and other resource reviews. 

Each issue generally includes three kinds of articles: 

Peer Review Articles

These articles are often cross-disciplinary, using theories or research methodologies to explore an element of the voice field or voice pedagogy. All articles must cite primary academic sources to backup assertions. The VSR is one of the few academic journals that welcomes authors and articles from the humanities, the performing arts, the social sciences, and the natural sciences. The VSR uses a double-blind peer review. 

Forum Articles

Forum articles provide relevant commentary on current topics in voice. Forum pieces are often based on personal experience and use anecdotes and quotations as evidence to backup assertions. Writing for this section is often pragmatic, focused on solving problems, and is typically inspired by a coaching or teaching experience. Interviews are published in this section. Forum articles are generally not peer reviewed.

Reviews

Reviews are short, analytical responses to a book, piece of software, or app. VSR reviews focus on the usefulness or relevance of the material to the voice and speech community as a whole. Reviews are not peer reviewed.

 

Are articles juried (peer reviewed)?

Research articles and essays may be considered for peer review. Letters, interviews, reviews, columns, short opinion essays, and advice are not subject to peer review. Though the latter are not juried, they must still be approved by the Editorial Board before publication.

If you want or need to have your article peer reviewed, make sure you indicate this very early on in the submission and editorial process. Once an article goes through an initial revision process, and it is deemed appropriate for peer review, it will be submitted using a "double-blind" review of two or three expert reviewers. These reviewers can choose to approve the article with no further changes, approve the article contingent on certain changes being made, or reject the article. If changes are required, the writer makes revisions and the editors determine if the author has met the charge given by the reviewers.

Some articles have a "single anonymized" review. This is when the reviewer knows the author’s name, but the author does not know the identity of the reviewer(s). This commonly occurs when the authors identify themselves in the body of the article.

If the article is accepted, then it is in line to be published. However, the Editor makes the final determination regarding which articles will be published and when. 

 

Do all articles have to relate to the themed topic of the year?

The VSR publishes three issues per year, two of which are typically general issues and one of which is typically a themed issue. The general issues have articles with a variety of topics. The themed issue relates only to the selected special theme/topic. 

Who do I contact if I have an idea for an article?

You may contact the Editor.

For book and media reviews, please contact the Reviews Editor.

In what format should I submit an article?

Articles should be submitted electronically, preferably as an e-mail attachment in Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx). The VSR uses the Chicago Author-Date formatting Style. Resources include templates and other helpful information.  


 

Do I need to have a finished article before I contact the Editor?

The VSR considers developing content and mentoring authors as part of its mission. If you have an idea for an article, you are invited to communicate with the Editor in the early stages of its development. Many writers begin by contacting the Editor with just a thesis, an issue, a question, or an outline. The Editor can then offer suggestions, resources, and guidance that may prevent a writer from heading off in a direction that may be less than useful. Early contact is not a requirement.  You may submit articles ideas to the Editor

If you wish to write a review, you can approach the Review Editor with the specific item you have in mind or you can come with just an interest in writing a review. In the latter case, the Review Editor can suggest possible titles that are available for review.

 

What is the deadline for submitting to the VSR?

The VSR accepts article submissions on a rolling basis. Nevertheless, the journal offers regular deadlines to give prospective authors publication goals.

 

What should I expect from the editorial process?

The VSR prides itself on helping new scholars and artist-scholars. We like to think of ourselves as a “friendly” journal, so the VSR may offer more editing support than is typical in academia. For many peer-reviewed articles, the VSR process is this:

  1. You submit your article to the Editor. This may take place via email (Forum Essays) or via the Publisher's Portal (Peer-Reviewed Articles)
  2. The Editor and potentially members of the Editorial Board approve your article for the editing process. Once approved, the Editor may offer some initial thoughts. 
  3. The Editor then approves the reworked draft before peer review.
  4. The article goes to two or three peer reviewers whose expertise best matches the content of your article. The peer-review process is “double-anonymized.” You will not know the reviewers, and they will not know you.
  5. The reviewers (a) accept the article without changes, (b) ask for additional revisions, or (c) reject the article.
  6. After any revisions from the peer reviewers, the Editor may approve the new draft, and the VSR officially accepts the article for publication.
  7. You work with the publisher (Routledge/Tayor & Francis) directly on the final typesetting and “proofing” process, which involves two sequential steps: (a) you digitally sign the publication agreement; and (b) you review and approve the article in its final form.

On a case-by-case basis, the Editor may “fast track” an article from submission to immediate peer review. Examples may include articles from veteran scholars and articles that have already gone through a period of gestation such as those based on a graduate dissertation or thesis. Most likely, you will receive a number of suggested revisions and be given a few weeks to make the changes. Many articles go back and forth between the author and the Editor a number of times during this process. As stated above, this is unusual for an academic journal, so if you are accustomed to minimal editing, you maybe surprised by the amount of editing you are asked to do. Of course, even with extensive editing, not all articles are accepted for publication; nevertheless, a part of the VSR’s mission is to support new scholars and artist-scholars who wish to publish, and we endeavor to keep the publishing process positive and helpful.

 

I have an idea for an article but need assistance. Are research guidelines available?

Yes, the VSR has many resources to help authors including research guides and templates.

 

What is the history of the VSR?

The VSR is the official journal of the Voice and Speech Trainers Association. The journal was established in 1999 and VASTA published its first volume in 2000. Rocco Dal Vera as founding Editor. For fourteen years, VASTA published the VSR’s first seven volumes, publishing every other year. A leader in academic, worldwide publishing, Routledge/Taylor & Francis began publishing the journal yearly in 2014.

Volumes and Themed Topics

Published by VASTA, the following are the cover topics for the first seven volumes: 

Volume 1 (2000): Standard Speech
Volume 2 (2001): The Voice in Violence
Volume 3 (2003): Film, Broadcast and Electronic Media Coaching
Volume 4 (2005): Shakespeare Around the Globe
Volume 5 (2007): Voice and Gender
Volume 7 (2011): The World of Voice 


Published by Routledge Press, the following volumes contain general issues unless noted:

Volume 8 (2014)

Volume 9 (2015) 

Volume 10 (2016) 

Volume 11 (2017) 

Volume 12 (2018): Australian Voice Training (12.3)

Volume 13 (2019): The History of Voice Pedagogy (13.1) 

Volume 14 (2020): A Vision for the Future (14.2) - Special Issue Guest Editor, Matthew Hoch
Volume 15 (2021): Voice and the Artist-Scholar (15.1)
Volume 16 (2022): Voice and Identity (16.2)
Volume 17 (2023): Canadian Voice (17.3)
Volume 18 (2024): The Range of Voice Research (18.1)

Editors

 2000 - 2003:   Rocco Dal Vera, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music/University of Cincinnati, USA
 2004 - 2007:      Mandy Rees, California State University, Bakersfield, USA
 2008 - 2009:   Rena Cook, University of Oklahoma, USA
 2010 - 2011:  Dudley Knight, University of California, Irvine, USA
 2012 - 2016:  Jeff Morrison, Marymount Manhattan College, USA
 2017 - 2022:  Rockford Sansom, Louisiana State University, USA
 2023  Shannon Vickers, University of Winnipeg, Canada
 2024  Miranda Guettlein, Independent Scholar, USA Rockford Sansom, LSU, USA
 2025 - 2026  Miranda Guettlein, Independent Scholar, USA 


What are the mission and goals of the VSR?

VSR Aim and Scope

Voice and Speech Review (VSR) is a scholarly journal focused on voice and speech topics and training, particularly for the performing arts and voice professionals. The journal features writing about cutting-edge theory and practice in arts, communication, and interdisciplinary aspects of voice. The VSR is the only scholarly journal that publishes work about voice and speech training for stage, film, TV, and radio. 

VSR Mission and Goal

  • to provide for the continuing professional development of scholars and practitioners in the field through the publication of pragmatic articles outlining useful methods and approaches to a variety of topics and problems in voice and speech training;
  • to foster a scholarly and intellectually rigorous approach within the voice 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 voice profession, the performing arts, and communication;
  • 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; and
  • to promote international perspectives in the training of voice and speech.

 

How can I get a list of articles from previous editions?

 

All table of contents are listed on the Routledge website.

Titles, abstracts, & 
authors of all articles
The VSR is delighted to offer a variety of free sample articles for the general public.

Free Sample VSR Articles

VASTA members enjoy free access to all content.  

Routledge Journal Access

 

How do I subscribe to the VSR?

Current members of VASTA will have access to the online journal after logging in to the VASTA website and following this link. Members who are current as of October 1 may elect to receive the bound hard copy of the VSR. See "How do VASTA members receive the printed version of the VSR?" below for more information. 

 

How do I buy a print copy of an old volume of the VSR?

If you are a current VASTA member and you did not receive your most recent copy of the VSR, then please contact the VSR Editor. For inquiries about reprints of older volumes, please contact the Taylor & Francis Author Services team at reprints@tandf.co.uk. For VSR authors, to order a copy of the issue containing your article, please contact the Taylor & Francis Customer Services team at Adhoc@tandf.co.uk.

For Volumes 1 (2000) through 7 (2011) before Taylor & Francis publication, some print copies may still be available at various online stores. Also, all previous volumes and current issues are available online and are free to VASTA members.

 

I want to use a reprint of an article in my class. How do I do this?

Generally, yes, if a teacher wishes to use a single article from an academic journal for classroom purposes only, then the teacher may usually do so under the "fair use" rule of the USA Copyright Act, provided that students are not directly charged for the article.

Fair Use Policies*

*Provided by the University of Chicago Library.  

The VSR recommends that you contact your school's administration and/or library for help with your specific needs. The VSR and Routledge/Taylor & Francis do not assume responsibility for any misuse of the fair use rule. 

 

How can I promote my published VSR article?

Here are answers to commonly asked questions about publicizing your article:

  1. VSR authors CAN post their published articles on personal websites at any point after online publication. (This includes departmental websites and social media websites like posting to Facebook, Google groups, and LinkedIn and linking from Twitter.) To encourage citation of your work, we recommend that authors insert a link to their published article on Taylor & Francis Online with the following text:

    “This is an article published by Routledge/Taylor & Francis in the Voice and Speech Review on [date of publication], available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/[Article DOI].”

    For example: “This is an article published by Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group in the Voice and Speech Review on Oct. 6, 2018, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23268263.2017.1374082

  2. You CAN post your article to an institutional or subject repository or to academic social networks such as Mendeley, ResearchGate, or Academia.edu.  HOWEVER, you must wait 18 months after the online publication date before doing so. See http://authorservices.taylorandfrancis.com/journal-list/ for further details.
  3. You CAN print copies for educational and non-commercial use, so you CAN give copies to students and colleagues as long as there is no fee associated with this.
  4. You CAN present your article at a meeting or conference.
  5. You CAN use your article internally within your institution or company.
  6. You can NOT sell your article in any commercial way.
  7. You can NOT re-use your article in a book chapter or edited collection on a commercial basis. You can NOT reprint the article in another journal or magazine.
  8. You CAN quote and reference your article as you would any article in academic literature.
  9. Expanding your article into a book IS often possible; however, Routledge highly recommends that you contact the permission requests department before doing so in order to avoid any complications.

If you have any additional questions, then please contact: permissionrequest@tandf.co.uk


For full information from Routledge, see Sharing your work

 

How do I troubleshoot technical issues when accessing the VSR  online from the VASTA website?

There are typically four things to check when experiencing technical difficulties accessing the VASTA members' online access to the VSR:

  1. Make sure your VASTA membership is up to date.
  2. Make sure you follow these steps to get access:
    1. Log in to your VASTA account at www.vasta.org
    2. Go to Publications > Voice and Speech Review
    3. Click on "Member Access to Routledge Journals and Discounts"
    4. Click on “Online Journal Access for VASTA Members”
    5. Click on "Voice and Speech Review"
  3. Make sure you're using a reliable browser. Routledge recommends using either Chrome or Firefox.
  4. With any browser, clear your cookies and cache regularly.

This issue tends to resolve the most problems. If you are unfamiliar with how to do this, then Google search your browser's name with clear cookies and cache. For example: "clear Chrome cookies and cache." It's been my experience that trouble shooting these four things resolves 99% of all issues.

If after troubling shooting these four steps, you have continued access problems, then contact the VSR Editor.

 

How do VASTA members receive the printed version of the VSR?

 

All current VASTA members may  receive a free printed copy of the Voice and Speech Review, but members must sign up through the VASTA website if they want a printed copy.


The due date for updating your profile and making this selection is October 1.


Please be aware that Routledge cannot deliver to incorrect addresses, and they will not resend copies for incorrect mailing addresses once the order is confirmed.

 

 

To Receive a Printed Copy of the VSR:

  1. Go to the VASTA homepage (www.vasta.org)

  2. Click “Member Login” at the top right

  3. Click on the dropdown by your name at the top right

  4. Click Profile

  5. Update or confirm your mailing address in the “Contact Info”

                Be sure to click “Save” if you make changes

  6.  Go to “Additional Member Data”

  7. At the top of the page, select “Yes” when asked:

    Would you like to receive a print copy of the Voice and Speech Review mailed to your address on file?

  8. Click “Save” at the bottom

Additional Questions:

When will I receive the printed VSR?

The yearly volume prints and mails by December of each year. However, members in various countries receive their copies at different times because of global shipping. Allow up to three months for delivery (March 1).

My address is already up-to-date on the VASTA Member Directory of the VASTA website. Do I need to reenter my address?

No, the volume will be mailed to your address as listed on the Contact Info page. Just make sure that you have selected “Yes” when asked if you want a VSR printed copy in the Additional Member Data section of your profile on the VASTA website. 

If I do not want a printed copy of the VSR, will I still have complimentary digital access?

Yes, all VASTA members receive complimentary digital access to the VSR. You can access every volume since the journal’s founding in 2000.

Can I change my mind about receiving a printed version of the VSR?

Yes, you may change your selection at any time. However, be mindful that your selection is recorded on October 1 of each year for the annual printing.

Do I have to select “Yes” each year if I want a printed copy of the VSR?

No, once you select “Yes” and elect to receive a printed VSR copy, you will not have to update your profile yearly. Nevertheless, we highly recommend that you confirm your selection and your current address each year before October 1.

 

How do VSR authors access their work after publication?  


To access your article through the Routledge website: 

  1. Go to https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rvsr20
  2. Click “Log in” on the top right.   For the user id, use the email address linked to your article.  If you don’t have an account, then please create one using that email address. 
  3. Once you’re in, click “Your Account” on the top right.
  4. Click “Account settings” on the top right.
  5. Click “Authored works” on the left.
 

Are there any fees associated with publishing?

 

In short, there is no fee to publish in the VSR. Authors are not paid, and authors do not have to pay for publication. The VSR is sponsored by the Voice and Speech Trainers Association (VASTA). So VASTA pays all publications fees to Routledge/Taylor & Francis each year.

 

There are some items of note: (A) once an article has been accepted for publication, authors have two publication options. Option 1 is the standard publication option, which is free for all authors; most authors select this free option. Option 2 is the Gold Access (or “open access”) option that allows anyone without library or subscription access to read the article; this option typically costs the author(s) several thousand US dollars. Authors are NOT required to select this open access option in order for the VSR to fully publish the article. If authors choose the free option, the article will still be in the VSR’s full digital and printed editions, and the article will still appear in major worldwide online academic databases.

 

(B) When an article is accepted for publication, then the authors must sign the article's copyright to the journal. This is standard operating procedure for most academic journals including the Journal of Voice, American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, Theatre Topics, and thousands of other highly regarded academic journals. (C) All VSR editors and reviewers serve as volunteers from VASTA.