About Us
The songwriting process in an incredibly powerful method of exploring, articulating and communicating ones thoughts, experiences and emotions.
The Swan Song Project gives people facing end of life and those surrounding them the opportunity to write and record their own original song. A professional songwriter provides support to guide each person, through finding the initial idea to the completed recording. No previous musical experience or abilities are required. Everyone has a unique way of expressing themselves and this is what makes great songs. With the right support everyone can do it.
The Project began at the Marie Curie Hospice in Bradford in 2017 and has since written songs with people all over the country and in a wide range of circumstances surrounding end of life and bereavment. From early stages of a terminal diagnosis to peoples final days, immediatley following a bereavement to several years after.
Participants have reported:
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How proud they are of their songs,
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How happy they are to have a permanent recorded message to their loved ones,
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How it has helped them come to terms with their situation
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How it has helped them articulate and communicates their feelings in a way they may not have otherwise done.
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And how much fun they had during the process.
Every session is facilitated in a relaxed and flexible way providing an enjoyable and rewarding artistic experience for everyone involved. Sessions can be done in person or virtually (During the Corona virus pandemic we are only offering our virtual service).
Every participant receives their song on a cd and has the option of sharing them with the wider public through The Swan Song Project Website.
In 2020 we also launched The Swan Song Project Podcast. Each episode features a different songwriter and they:
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Share on of their songs and discuss how they wrote it,
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Share a songwriting tip,
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Share a song that is meaningful to them relating to bereavement.
All episodes can be found in the Podcast section of this site or from most podcast sites.
The Swan Song Project Singing Group takes place on a Thursday evening on Zoom. These sessions are a space for people to relaxe, connect and share the joy of singing.
Jess Baker leads these sessions and teaches a range of beautiful harmony songs. The group is all muted (Due to latency issues with Zoom) so Jess uses a loop pedal to teach the different parts and you can then sing along with whichever part you like the most. These sessions are a realy joy and a great chance to develop your singing if you are nervous about singing in front of others.
They are free to attend and you can register via the eventbrite link on our events page.
Interested in writing a song with us?
Latest Swan Song News

Incredible new project helps terminally ill record own songs in final days
Just weeks before the end of his life Ron Reed stood up in front of residents at the Marie Curie hospice to sing (pictured below). His young children were with him, joining in with the chorus...
Latest Podcast Episode

Swan Song Podcast #62 – Pauline Scanlon
Paulines song choice is "Grief" by Eithne Ni Ullachain. Hear it here -...

Swan Song Podcast #61 – AHI
AHIs song choice is "Sing to the moon" by Laura Mvula. Hear it here -...

Swan Song Podcast #60 – Joachim Cooder
Joachims song choice is "You" by Juliette Commagere. Hear it here...