Ranch Ehrlo has been awarded funding to give more participants and families the opportunity to grow and develop through the power of music therapy.  

The National Music Centre (NMC) Music Therapy Initiative has awarded Ranch Ehrlo Society with a grant in the amount of $65,000. This year marks the second that NMC, a non-profit museum, performance venue, and recording studio, has chosen to support Ranch Ehrlo and the expansion of music therapy into the prairies.

“This funding will allow us to add an additional certified music therapist to the program and will help us sustain the expansion we started last year, while adding the Treatment Foster Care program to our portfolio,” explained Melanie McDonald, certified music therapist.

Melanie said having a second contract music therapist will enhance program capacity and delivery.

“It’s wonderful that we’re able to add another therapist because there’s no possible way one person could do all of the work, there just aren’t enough hours in the day,” she explained.

Ranch Ehrlo’s music therapy program provides participants with 65 music therapy sessions each week in Regina and Moose Jaw; the NMC grant will fund approximately 40 per cent of these session.

Music therapy was first introduced to Ranch Ehrlo in 2011 and has since gained momentum, resonating with participants and programs across the agency due to its interactivity, accessibility, and healing benefits.

“Creative arts therapy can just work with people in a way that is different from traditional therapies – it is motivating, it is fun, and it is healing,” said Melanie.

Music therapy uses voice, instrumental improvisation, psychodynamic music therapy models, exploration of music space, unique sounds, emotions, movement, sensory experiences, and improvise, contemporary, and classical music to support the development, health, and well-being of participants.

While music therapy looks different for everyone, each session strongly embodies Ranch Ehrlo’s CARE principles and respects each person’s zone of proximal development.

Some groups, like those in the Supported Living Program, participate in a lot of active singing and song sharing whereas the Family Treatment Program (FTP) parent groups do more lyrical analysis and the FTP family sessions are really about having fun with music and teaching the parents how to play, connect, and attach to their kids.

“The CARE principles that are wholly engrained in Ranch Ehrlo’s culture are reflected in music therapy and I think that’s why it works so well here,” said Melanie. “The Ranch has done such a great job of supporting music therapy because it connects with the individual – it honours them, it honours their past experiences, and lets their voices be heard in a way that they can express themselves.”

The NMC funding will support Ranch Ehrlo’s music therapy program until August 2025.