Familiar Territory: Embracing Revisions As Norm

After months of research, writing, and careful editing, my article “Dissing Ability: Rethinking Value, Skill, and Inclusion in Music Education” has reached that familiar yet often daunting milestone: revisions requested! It’s the next step in a journey that is both exhilarating and a bit humbling, like so many stages of academic writing. This time, though, instead of the six-week window to achieve them, I have been given 30 days.

The feedback I received was thorough, thoughtful, and at times challenging. It’s a mix of minor tweaks, like tightening phrasing and clarifying key terms, and larger structural shifts to strengthen the manuscript’s argument and impact. It’s a reminder that no matter how many times we’ve rewritten a piece, there’s always room for refinement. The process can feel like a puzzle: taking apart what you thought was a finished picture and reassembling it with new, sharper edges.

But here’s the thing: this back-and-forth of revisions isn’t just a box to check. It’s the heart of academic publishing. It’s a sign that the work is alive, that it’s engaged in dialogue with peers who are equally invested in the ideas being expressed.

It’s a testament to the fact that knowledge isn’t static; it grows and shifts as it moves through different perspectives and lived experiences.

This is the real “game” of academia: submitting, revising, rethinking, and resubmitting. It can be frustrating to realise that there’s almost always another round of revisions lurking ahead. But it’s also deeply affirming. It’s a sign that what we write doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It’s part of a broader conversation—one that demands we stay open, flexible, and always willing to learn.

For those of us in music education—or any field—this iterative process is both a test of patience and a chance to deepen our practice. It’s a moment to remember that revisions aren’t a sign of failure; they’re a sign of care. They’re proof that your work is being taken seriously and that you’re not just a lone voice shouting into the void. You’re part of a community of thinkers, educators, and change-makers working to make the field more prosperous and more inclusive.

So here’s to embracing revisions as an essential part of academic life, a moment to pause, rethink, and polish our ideas so they shine brighter and reach further. Let’s keep playing the game, because that’s where the real learning happens.