Reviews
Purpose and Content – The Reviews component provides a comprehensive survey of books, textbooks, periodicals, and instructional materials. CMS Reviews also provides opportunity for member contributions of resources, commentary, and discussion.
The Editor – After consultation with members of the Board of Editors, the Board of Directors, and other members of The College Music Society, the General Editor of College Music Symposium will make a recommendation or recommendations to the Board of Directors for the position of Editor of the Reviews component. The Editor is usually appointed for a three-year term.
Responsibility of the Editor – It shall be the responsibility of the Editor to (1) solicit materials for publication, (2) receive materials and make a final decision on acceptance, (3) distribute accepted materials to a member of the Editorial Board for review, and (4) forward completed materials to the Executive Office for inclusion in College Music Symposium. The Editor shall also be responsible, either directly or through delegation, for monitoring online discussion of CMS reviews.
Editorial Board – An Editorial Board will consist of members appointed by the General Editor in consultation with the Editor of the Reviews component. The disciplines of music represented on the Board of Directors will also be represented on the Review Board, as will three major areas of The College Music Society’s work: professional activities, engagement and outreach, and career development; a balance of representation of these areas will be maintained on the Editorial Board.
Review Objectives – The Reviews component meets the need of musicians and music teachers for (1) information concerning historic and recent scholarly and teaching materials, and (2) a fair and equitable assessment of these materials. By making available informed opinions concerning recently published music-related literature and materials, broadly defined, the profession may keep abreast of significant trends and needs of the field.
Review Principles – Reviewers are expected to address the stated or implied purpose, methodology, evidence, and conclusions of a text and to identify its virtues by citing examples. Likewise, notable flaws, such as disappointing omissions and conspicuous errors, are identified but are not be berated in a mean-spirited manner. The text under review is considered in light of what its author intended, not what the reviewer might have preferred. Reviews are informative and instructive with a high level of detail. Reviews do not take the form of a personal diatribe. If an author and a reviewer hold opposing points of view, both are announced for the benefit of the reader.
Review Procedures – The Editor of the Reviews component, within two weeks of receipt of a text or other material, shall determine the suitability of its review for inclusion in College Music Symposium. Materials to be reviewed will be forwarded to the Reviewer of the Editor’s choice. Reviewers shall (1) receive the item and (2) provide a review to the Editor by an appropriate, agreed-upon time. The Editor will make a decision to accept, reject, or return the review to the Reviewer for further revision. The Editor may also elect to revise or edit the review. Decisions by the Editor are final. Upon acceptance of a review, the Editor will transmit the completed text file to the Executive Office for posting to College Music Symposium.
Features of the Reviews Component – Eventually, the Reviews component will include the following features and opportunities for users of College Music Symposium:
• Master List of Materials – The Reviews component will include a master list of materials received by College Music Symposium. This list will include:
(a) materials received and reviewed;
(b) materials received but for which College Music Symposium does not provide a review. A short descriptive summary (e.g., 250 words) may be included.
• Member Reviews and Comment – opportunity for members to comment on the official CMS review and to submit their own review.
• Link to Amazon.Com – materials on the list will include the opportunity to order the reviewed or listed item.
• Link to SheetMusicPlus.Com – music on the list will include the opportunity to order the reviewed or listed item.
• Resource Pages for Teachers – CMS members may set up their own page on which the member-teacher may list their required texts, music, or other materials. Through this page, students may order the materials from this page through Amazon.Com, SheetMusicPlus.Com, or other vendors.