Musicians

Music is an integral part of a funeral or memorial service. Not only do the songs you choose reflect the character of the person being laid to rest, music gives mourners an outlet to process their grief through laughter and tears.

You can have as much or as little music as you like, depending upon the type of service and its length. If you are having a formal memorial or funeral, you might want to start out with some soft instrumental background music for 30 minutes before the service begins. That makes it less awkward for those arriving early. 

Special music is nice during the course of the service. Choose music that suits the personality of the deceased or songs that have special meaning. Then close the service with a quiet instrumental postlude. You may also wish to incorporate music at the graveside service. Bagpipes, horns, stringed instruments or a lovely acapella solo are lovely choices.

Seek the help of a loved one if they have a musical gift, but be sure emotions won’t get in the way. If you don’t have those kinds of resources, consider hiring musicians. Many places of worship have musicians you can hire for a fee. They will help select songs, manage the musical aspect of service and coordinate audio.