Article Submission

Submission Guidelines for the Journal of the American Viola Society

The Journal of the American Viola Society (JAVS) welcomes well-written, original submissions that explore any aspect of viola-related scholarship, performance, pedagogy, repertoire, biography, history, instrument-making, or related interdisciplinary fields. Articles should aim to be engaging, informative, and relevant to the broad viola community, including performers, teachers, scholars, students, and enthusiasts.

Article Requirements

  • Minimum Length: Articles must be at least 1,500 words. There is no maximum word count; however, authors should maintain clarity, conciseness, and relevance throughout.

  • Formatting: Submissions must follow the Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition).

  • Footnotes & Citations: All research-based submissions must include complete footnotes:

    • Either embedded at the end of the article (before the bibliography)

    • Or provided in a separate file clearly labeled

  • Images, Musical Examples, and Score Excerpts:

    • Must be submitted as separate high-resolution files (300 DPI or higher)

    • Accepted formats: PDF, TIFF, JPG

    • Files must be clearly labeled to indicate placement within the article

    • Score excerpts should be:

      • High quality and engraved

      • Concise (showing only the specific section being discussed)

      • Clean and clearly legible

  • Permissions: Authors are responsible for obtaining all necessary permissions for reproduction of images, musical examples, score excerpts, and quoted materials.

  • Accuracy: Authors are expected to verify the accuracy of all quotations, citations, musical examples, and other factual content prior to submission.

Editorial Process

  • Submissions are initially reviewed by the Editor for general suitability.

  • Articles appropriate for specific departments (e.g., Alternative Styles, In the Studio) may also be reviewed by the relevant departmental editor.

  • Feature articles undergo peer review.

  • Authors will be notified of the editorial decision, which may include acceptance, conditional acceptance pending revisions, or rejection.

  • All accepted manuscripts are subject to editing for clarity, consistency, and conformity with house style.

Submission Deadlines

  • Fall Issue: August 1

  • Spring Issue: December 1

  • Summer Online Issue: April 1

Late submissions may be considered for future issues.

Submission Instructions

Please submit your article as a Word document via email attachment. Supplementary materials (images, footnotes if separate, musical examples, and score excerpts) must be included as clearly labeled, high-resolution files.

Submit to: editor@americanviolasociety.org

Raising Scholarly and Artistic Standards

We encourage authors to:

  • Present original research or offer new perspectives on established topics

  • Engage with current scholarship and cite a range of relevant sources

  • Use an accessible yet scholarly tone suitable for a diverse readership

  • Submit articles that are well-organized and professionally presented

  • Include diverse repertoire, voices, and perspectives where appropriate

  • Contribute meaningfully to the growing body of viola literature and research