Why Music Is an Important Part of Your Funeral Planning
It's no surprise that planning a funeral is a difficult thing to do with a lot of big decisions to make during a time of great stress and sadness. A lot of these decisions are practical matters, like choosing a funeral director, deciding between burial and cremation and finding somewhere for the service to be held.
Part of the planning that might not seem as important as the rest is deciding what music will be played during the service. However, music is actually an integral part of funerals, and it deserves some serious thought. Here are some of the reasons funeral music matters.
It helps set whatever mood you want
Music has a profound effect on the emotions, which means it's perfect for setting the right tone for a funeral. It can make you thoughtful, sad, uplifted or a combination of all three.
Using different music at different parts of the funeral service can set whatever tone you're after, and you can end it on an uplifting note so that people go away feeling that they've attended something positive.
It adds an extra layer of personalisation
Everyone loves some sort of music, so using something that represents the deceased person is a great way to add some extra personalisation to the proceedings. Some people choose funny or ironic music for funerals, while others just go for one of the person's favourite songs.
It gets everyone involved
Only so many people can be directly involved with a funeral in terms of helping to arrange it or giving readings during the service. Having some music for people to sing to gets the whole congregation involved and makes them feel more like a part of the service.
It makes the service more memorable
After the funeral, whenever people who were present hear a song that was played, they'll remember the person who passed away. In time, this can be a hugely positive thing, helping to bring back happy memories and aid people through their grief.
It's an important part of religious services
For many religions, music is an important part of a service. Using the right music is essential if the funeral service is a religious one.
The music can still fulfil all of the other roles it plays, as religious music is still able to set a mood, get people singing and become associated with the person's memory. There's a good chance they had some favourites, too, which will help you choose. Contact a local funeral home for help planning a funeral.