Some people make music. Some teach music. But there are those few people who dedicate their lives to the use of music as an agent for transformation, healing, and hope. Dr. Rashmi E belongs to the few exceptional personalities in this regard. Dr. Rashmi is a distinguished Music Therapist, Music Educator, researcher, and mentor whose work involves transforming the lives of many people with the help of music therapy.
Dr. Rashmi hails from a middle-class family, and the influence on her life from some notable ladies in the family has been immense. Her mother and grandmother were both accomplished artists who fostered in her the passion for music from childhood onwards. Since the age of four, she had started learning different styles of music. In addition, she performed music on numerous traditional stages. However, she did not see music only in its conventional form but felt that music should be utilized as a means to help people cope with their troubles in life.
Being a graduate in Computer Science and further pursuing her studies in the field of psychotherapy, counselling, special education, and music therapy, Dr. Rashmi has been able to successfully blend scientific and artistic perspectives to build a career path in health care and rehabilitation. Impressed by her mother who worked as a speech therapist with children facing challenges in development and communication, she had always wanted to help people through alternate methods of treatment.
Through the years, she has helped children suffering from autism and special needs along with others who suffer from neuro/psychological disorders, cancer, geriatrics, expectant mothers, and rehabilitation. Her efforts across institutes, special schools, rehabilitation centers, and other community programs have made many lives better. Apart from treating patients, she also works on organizing seminars and workshops on Music Therapy for spreading knowledge about the same all over India.
Currently, she acts as a resource person, faculty, facilitator, and course coordinator for many programs related to music therapy and training professionals in the same. Dr. Rashmi is a firm believer in the philosophy that sharing of knowledge should never end and there should be enough professionals to take forward the same.
The outstanding achievements of this remarkable person have resulted in many national accolades, including the title of the Best Creative Music Therapist of the Year, Nada Award of Excellence, Karnataka Women Power Empowerment Award, Women Icon Award, National Excellency Award, and others. This accomplished scientist also has two Honorary Doctorates in Music Therapy and Music Education and is currently conducting research on Music Therapy for special needs patients.
The concept of success to Dr. Rashmi E is different from any award – it is about transforming people’s lives through compassion, therapy, and music. In order to achieve her goal to promote research on Music Therapy and raise awareness of its significance, she continues helping others recover through music.
