Writing a song with us
Thank you for your interest in writing a song with The Swan Song Project.
We hope this section answers any questions you have about our service but please do contact us if you would like more information.
The Swan Song Project believes that everyone has a song and that those songs deserve to be sung.
It gives us great pleasure to support people in writing their songs, especially as these are often in challenging times. The process can be deeply therapeutic as well as being a lot of fun. We believe a song can live for ever, carrying precious memories and providing comfort and joy to listeners.
We understand that the idea of writing a song with no previous experience can be a daunting one and we pride ourselves on making our songwriting sessions comfortable, relaxed and enjoyable. Our team can help with every stage of the songwriting process from finding initial ideas to finishing a recording.
Interested in writing a song with us?
Please fill in this short form below and we will respond to you as soon as possible.
Please check your junk folder when expecting a response from us as sometimes our emails gets lost in them.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Who is The Swan Song Project for?
The Swan Song Project will support anyone living with a terminal illness, planning their end stages of life or dealing with a bereavement.
We appreciate that these time periods are often scary and uncertain and we want to be able to support whenever we are needed. This may be early stages of a terminal diagnosis with many years of living ahead or when planning a funeral. Whenever you decide you want to create your unique musical legacy we want to be there to help you create it.
We also support loved ones through the grieving process, before or after a bereavement. This process is different for everyone, some may wish to write a song immediatley following a loss, others it may be years later. If you are interested in writing a song with us but unsure if it is the right time for you feel free to contact us and we will be happy to discuss with you.
How long does it take?
It varies a lot. Some people know exactly what they want to say and can communicate it very quickly, others it may take a while to find the ideas and put them into lyrics. We aim to support as needed, if you need time to reflect on your ideas that is fine, if you want us to give you a bit of a push and and make more suggestions we can do that too. We tend to work in sessions of about 1 hour in length. Some songs have been completed in 2/3 sessions, some have taken much longer. If you would like your song completed by a certain date please let us know at the start and we will do our best to make that happen.
How does the process work?
The process is bespoke to every individual we work with but there are some common stages most songs go through. To start with we think about who we would like to hear the song, what we would like them to feel when hearing it, we discuss ideas of what could go in the song, we decide on themese for our verses and choruses, we start writing some lyrics, we utilise our team of musicians to create something that sounds how you want it to. Our team specilise in making the songwriting process enjoyable and rewarding. They will help you find ideas, suggest ways they can be developed, listen to your musical tastes and help to create your song.
Do I have to sing?
No, there is no pressure at all for you to sing on your song, one of our team will be more than happy to do this for you. However, if you would like to have your voice on the recording we can support you to do this and have various options of how it might work. You may sing or you may speak.
What If I don’t know what to write about?
This is very common with our sessions and our team are skilled at helping you find a topic for your song that is meaningful to you. This sometimes happens quickly and sometimes it takes a bit longer, we will explore ideas with you and make suggestions of routes you could take.
I’m not musical, does that matter?
No, the majority of people we have worked with have had no previous musical experience. We can support with all aspects of creating the music and you are under no pressure to perform on the recording of the song. If you would like to perform on the song we will support you to do this also.
You are almost certainly more musical than you might think though and your ears are the most important part of this process, you know what music you like and you can decide if the song sounds the way you would like it to sound. You have tastes in music, thoughts and experiences and have a unique way of expressing them, our team work with these to create a song unique to you.
What if my song isn’t good enough?
It is very common for people to worry about their song being good enough but there is really no need to worry. We always like to start with what the aim of the song is and we then work to achieve that aim. Our team will help you to develop your lyrics and your ideas and ways of expressing them are just as good as anyone elses. There is no objective scale for assessing songs (Or anything creative really) as they can impact people in such different ways. If you feel your song expresses what you want it to and sounds how you want it to, then it is good enough and there is no need to worry.
Can you help me record myself singing another song I like?
Unfortunately not. Our service is dedicated to writing songs with people and we cannot dedicate a lot of time to recording people singing other songs. If we have written a song together and during the recording process you wish you sing another song, this can usually be arranged but we cannot arrange to simply record other peoples songs. If you wish to do this, you would be best contacting some local recording studios and asking them to assist you.
How much does it cost?
The Swan Song Project relies on the generosity of our supporters and funders and aims to keep the service free for the people who access it. There is no charge for our helping writing your song. Howerever if you would like to donate to support more people writing their songs it would be most appreciated.
I work for an end of life care provider/hospital/care home/funeral director etc. Can we offer The Swan Song Project to our service users?
If you are interested in becoming a partner organisation of The Swan Song Project we would love to hear from you. Please contact us via the form below and we will be in touch to discuss in more detail.
If you have any other questions, please do contact us via the form below and we will respond to you as soon as we can.
Please get in touch…..
Case Studies
“The song was exactly the message I wanted to share; it was raw, it was loving, and it was us! Then, now, and in the future! It was healing; it was love!”
Read about Laura's Swan Song below: My name is Laura; I’m 37. I’m a mum to my almost 9-year-old son Reiko, a partner to Kava, and a daughter to my amazing parents Linda and Mike. I’m also a niece and cousin, and I'm lucky to be half of the many friendships that have...
“I could control how this song went and I could control the legacy I will leave”
Read Mari's blog about writing her song and the legacy she will leave. My name is Mari Isdale. I’m 39 years old and unfortunately living with stage 4 bowel cancerFor which I am receiving palliative chemotherapy. Since my diagnosis I would wake up in the middle of the...
“Our daughter Ra-ang was here for a short while but left us with a lifetime of memories. We wanted to write a song to honour her memory”
A couple who wrote a song dedicated to their baby daughter who sadly died at just 12-weeks-old are backing a fundraiser for the charity which helped them to write their very special musical tribute. Arti and Raj Solanki wrote and recorded an original a song called...
“Words can sometimes look very stark on a page – but wrapped in beautiful music, they are a gift.”
I’ve got recurrent endometrial cancer. I had two lots of surgery - the second one led to complications and I was sent home with palliative care to ‘spend time with myfamily’. I was not expected to survive, but my husband looked after me so well that I did. I’m now two...
“Such a great help with bereavement to put your feelings into music, it’s a great healer.”
Read Jennys Blog about how writing a song can help with bereavement below. I have been having counselling for a year now through St Luke’s Hospice where my husband passed away. I was told about Swan Song Project through a friend and also St Luke’s. My husband and I...
Dear Eddie Newell – A blog by Charlotte Newell
I was recommended to the Swan Song Project through my bereavement councillor at the start of December. Straight away I was incredibly interested to find out more so on the same day I sent an email and was lucky enough to have my first session with Ben the next day. My...
The Warmth That Surrounds – Our Mum’s Song by Duncan and Heather Williamson
When Mum found out she had secondary breast cancer in 2015 the news devastated us all. It felt particularly cruel coming shortly after she received the all clear from her first battle with cancer years earlier. Mum lived with her terminal diagnosis for the best part...
“Everything is Alright” Ron’s song by Alexia Reed
My late husband , Ron Reed, received palliative care at Marie Curie Hospice in Bradford from October 2017 to July 2019. He found The Swan Song Project really helped him and made him more positive and able to accept the reality of his own death. It enabled us as a...
Appreciate Life – My Mum’s Song by Lindsey King
My mum, Lydia Nicoll, received palliative care at St. Gemma’s Hospice in Leeds from October to December 2018. One thing that kept her going during her final weeks was The Swan Song Project. I’m not sure how she came upon the flier about the project but I remember...
Case Study -Writing a song virtually with The Swan Song Project by Stephanie Ingham
Stephanie Ingham shares her experience of writing a song virtually with The Swan Song Project.
The Swan Song Project takes Safeguarding seriously and always works in the best interest of the people we support.
You can read our Safeguarding Policy in full here:
SSP Safeguarding Policy Revised November 2022
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