Rachel Ringland plays the violin at Calvary Baptist. Photo: R. McRoberts.
What a joy to interview recently one of Calvary’s newest members.
Rachel Ringland is an exceptional woman. She was raised in Old Ottawa South and now lives in Old Ottawa East. She attended Canterbury High School where she played the violin under the tutelage of John Pohran. Ringland obtained a Bachelor of Music Therapy (BMT) from Wilfrid Laurier University and, following an internship, she became a Music Therapist Accredited (MTA) with the Canadian Association for Music Therapy (www.musictherapy.ca).
Her professional career has yielded results almost beyond belief. Through the medium of music, she said, “A person’s humour, wit and joy all come out. An ‘awakening’ occurs. Once a person becomes alert, I can start working on other skills like speaking, walking and memory.”
When this skeptical interviewer asked for an example of an ‘awakening’, Ringland responded, “I see miracles every day.”
One such miracle occurred at a long-term care facility with an 80-year-old stroke survivor. The woman had not spoken clearly for years, but during music therapy she soon could sing words to familiar songs. Her pronunciation improved considerably. The next step was to retrain her to communicate by singing her thoughts and needs.
Ringland explained about brain plasticity. When an area of the brain is damaged by a stroke, another area of the brain can be retrained to compensate. The results are staggering.
Seeing the kind of miracle mentioned above on a daily basis, it is easy to see why Ringland concludes, “I love my job. God has placed me in various locations to share His love, and be compassionate. I love sharing one-on-one times. I see people for their abilities, not their disabilities. Music transcends all these difficulties and allows people to become engaged, even if they are profoundly disabled.”
She visits long term care facilities and homes such as L’Arche every day. She also facilitates groups in schools and gives private sessions.
Ringland also speaks joyfully of a miracle in her own life. About four years ago she found peace and forgiveness in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
For more information please contact Rachel Ringland, BMT MTA at rachelringland@cc-mts.com .
