Abstract
Exerpt: We are excited to present issue three in this milestone year in the Journal of Music Therapy (JMT)—its 60th anniversary. In this issue we feature an invited commentary from two published music therapy researchers, Dr. Claire M. Ghetti and Dr. Kendra Ray. They engage in a critical reflection of music therapy research with the aim of challenging ourselves to move forward in a more mindful, user centered, and just way. The authors propose that music therapy research within the JMT would benefit from research focused on the discipline of music therapy, as opposed to research focused on professional practice, which has been more prevalent over the last 60 years. This shift in perspective allows for a broader consideration of music and health, which can include situations where the skills of a clinical music therapist are needed as well as spaces where the act of engaging with music is therapeutic without the involvement of a music therapist. They also share perspectives about the state of research in music therapy, including considerations for who has historically been included (and more importantly excluded) from the research process. These perspectives lead to a series of suggested strategies for building participant trust and improving representation in music therapy research.