FUNERAL MUSIC
There is no right or wrong music choice for your funeral ceremony. Music is incredibly personal and it can often define specific points in a person's life when they were at their happiest or is meaningful for any other reason.
Whether it's classical music, a romantic ballad, 'your song', an old favourite, a humorous or completely inappropriate song, or whether it's ska, hip hop, death metal or the latest garage or grime tune that reflects the person who has died, music adds personality, emotion and meaning to an end of life ceremony.
The choice of music or song can help set the tone and the feeling in the room for the whole ceremony and different tones for the entrance, the committal (final words) and the exit can make all the difference. It's usual for funeral ceremonies to have two or three pieces of music or songs.
Some Crematoriums can put together a slide show using your music track and a selection of photographs which can be used at the point of reflection on the deceased's life (usually at the point before the committal (final goodbye and laying to rest) and the closing words of the ceremony. If not, then it is usual to have a piece of music to listen to during a few quiet moments of reflection.
SPOTIFY FUNERAL MUSIC PLAYLIST
If you would like guidance on your choice of music, please ask. I'd be delighted to help. I have also created a Spotify funeral song playlist. Do click through to it - it may give you some inspiration.
Depending on your venue and the time you have allotted for your funeral or memorial ceremony, you could opt for live music or you could play your favourite tracks through the venue's sound system.
MUSIC PLAYERS
Crematoriums usually have advanced music playing systems and your Funeral Director will arrange your chosen music to be played. I will check everything is present and correct before the day too. If your music choice is rare or a piece of your own music, the file can usually be sent to the Crematorium in advance in order for it to be played within the ceremony.
If you are not going to hold your Grand Goodbye funeral or celebration of life ceremony in a Crematorium, please do not assume that your chosen venue has a great device for playing music. But don't panic - if your venue is not geared up for providing music regularly, you may run into problems with their set up. And your own bluetooth set up may not work as well as you think with 50 others in the room. Whether you're having an intimate ceremony in a garden or a village hall or pub, a larger one at a quirky venue or you are having an outdoor funeral service, there are many things to consider.
PROFESSIONAL PA SYSTEM INCLUDED IN MY FEE!
All funerals that require music outside of a Crematorium setting will include free use of my professional, indoor/outdoor professional PA system. It's portable and battery or mains operated, so is perfect for use inside for music and voice amplification at all funerals or celebration of life ceremonies.
I generally use microphones when there are more than around 70 mourners. (I have professional hand-held and lapel mics). My PA system is excellent for use anywhere. It has inputs for aux cable (iPod/phone), 2 microphones, keyboard and guitar if required. It's loud and reliable! And it's a wired system, so there are absolutely no connectivity issues. I've used it at several weddings, funerals and other events.