Bio
Ruth’s life-long enchantment with music began when she insisted on piano lessons at the tender age of seven. Montreal-based musician and sound healer, Ruth Saphir became a Certified Music Therapist after earning a Bachelor’s degree, Music major, cum laude. From performance to composition, from music therapy to education consultation, the journey has been a rich and varied one.
As a music therapist & sound healer for over 20 years, Ruth has addressed the physical, emotional, cognitive & spiritual challenges of both adults and children, working in hospitals and schools in the Greater Montreal area in support of resilience, flexibility and the creative spirit with clients facing life challenges.
For over a decade, Ruth has been an education consultant for The Lester B. Pearson School Board of Greater Montreal. By drawing on her musical expertise and her therapeutic experiences, she continues to facilitate innovative & informative workshops for teachers, therapists and musicians in both the public & private sectors.
Ruth has been awarded several grants for project development in the area of innovative technology and communication from The Quebec Ministry of Education:
‘Leggo’ Therapy and Communication; for Children on the Autism Spectrum and/or with Behaviour Difficulties, 2016
iPads; Innovative Uses, 2011
Music Therapy; Instruments and Technology Used With Special Needs Adults, 2010
Ruth has produced four full length CDs:
‘Fire & Roses’, Ruth’s debut album is a collection of folk/rock originals, co-produced with Cedric Speyer and arranged by Robert Aron.
‘The Little Things’ is a testament to Ruth’s ability to harness a wide number of skills in order to write, perform, mix and master, single-handedly with very compelling results!
‘In The Beginning’ is a series of meditative pieces that explore the themes of love, gratitude and ecology through the lens of the Kabbalah, an esoteric, mystical tradition. These pieces move the spirit and settle the soul, making lovely use of the crystal bowls, the voice and the flute. These heart-felt sounds lead to the rough and tumble improvisations that Ruth has become renowned for.
'Ruth Saphir For Kids’ is a re-release of children’s music originally commissioned by LIDEC Publishing to accompany educational courses for primary grades. This collection of smart and snappy tunes has entertained and educated an entire generation of Canadian children.
“Music, my greatest passion, has been a blessing in my life. Through it I have expressed the most joyous of moments as well as the most difficult. My musical projects and creations have sustained & nurtured my creative spirit. Through music I have had the privilege of being musician, healer, teacher & guide.” ~ Ruth Saphir