Frequently Asked Questions

Potential Companions

Do I need to be an experienced/good singer?

You don’t need to be an experienced singer. There are certain vocal requirements for being a Companion, such as being able to sing in tune, to learn a harmony part and to blend your voice, and in our experience most people can learn these skills even if they’re not aware of having them already.

Do I need to be able to read music?

No, we use Natural Voice teaching techniques and everything can be learned by ear.

What if I get emotional when I am singing for somebody?

This is a natural question to consider as we’re working with our own and other people’s emotions all the time as Companions. During our learning circles we take time to speak about and explore our own experiences and feelings about death and dying, building trust and support within the group. The idea is that by the time we reach someone’s bedside we will have had the opportunity to become more used to being around the idea of end of life, so that we may at that point be able to put ourselves aside and become loving channels for the songs to flow through. And if we do indeed become emotional in that moment, perhaps not being able to sing or feeling overcome, we will have built the trust with our Companions to a point of knowing that we can rely on them to continue and allow us to step back (whether by stopping singing or leaving the room).

How often do our groups meet?

There is usually one session per month led by the group leader/s and many groups also hold ‘in-between sings’, where Companions can meet and share songs (also snacks and chat!). More experienced Companions can often teach and lead our songs at these sessions, and we also have a bank of recordings that can be used to support the group whenever needed.

How much does it cost to join?

After an initial free taster session, Companions sign up to a monthly subscription which varies according to the group and is normally around £10-£15 per month. This covers the cost of venue hire, preparation time, training of group leaders, insurance etc. If the cost is prohibitive, there is always an opportunity to negotiate this with the group leader/s. We never want anyone to be unable to join for lack of funds.

What would a typical session look like?

We learn some of the Companion Voices repertoire by ear, using natural voice techniques (such as showing with hands when the melody goes up and down and learning lyrics by repetition), practice and extend our current set of songs, talk about some of our thoughts and experiences in a confidential sharing circle, sing for and listen to each other (using ‘Deepening Exercises’ developed by our founder, Judith Silver, in preparation for going to a bedside), and learn more about the national community of Companion Voices. 

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What would my time commitment be?

You would need to be available for most or all of the monthly sessions with your group leader/s and ideally for other gatherings of your group (usually no more than once more per month). Once the group is ready to be called on to sing for people, our aim is that the maximum number of 16 per group will allow for at least 3 or 4 ‘bedside ready’ Companions to be available and we hope that they will prioritise this precious work as highly as possible at these times.

What happens after I’ve sung at a bedside? Is there support in place if something comes up for me?

We always stay together for some time after we’ve sung at a bedside, allowing for any sort of debrief that feels needed. This can take the form of speaking about the experience, sharing a hug, a coffee, a gentle song for ourselves or whatever arises. We also have a phone support system in place, where, in the case of something arising that needs more attention, people from any group can talk with one of our most experienced Companions who is also a trained therapist.

What’s the preparation for singing at a bedside? How long will it take before I am ready to do it?

We expect that new Companions will need a minimum of six months to a year before having had the necessary training to sing at a bedside. It depends on a number of factors including confidence and skill in singing, emotional readiness, working as a team with the group leader and fellow Companions and so on. We have guidelines about this to help us gauge readiness. It should be noted that not everyone will end up being able to go to bedsides as we must all be able to co-create the necessary atmosphere of harmony – musically and interpersonally.

Is this a singing lesson? Will I learn to sing?

These are not singing lessons. We cover certain aspects of technique (for example breath control, learning to sing quietly, strengthening our ability to keep pitch and flow when others are singing different notes) and your singing is likely to develop but being a Companion won’t give you the level of learning you’d get from one-to-one work with a singing teacher. 

Does every Companion get to go and sing at the bedside? Could someone join as a Companion, do the training, but never be ready to sing at a bedside? Who decides this?

Not every Companion will get to sing at the bedside. For reasons listed above, whether to do with vocal ability, emotional readiness or other factors, it’s possible that a Companion would be in a group for some time and then signposted elsewhere, e.g. to a choir, a singing teacher for the musical side or for emotional/therapeutic support. This is a process of negotiation between the Companion and their group leader/s, sometimes with other Companions, and we have clear guidelines in place to help with this.

What qualities are you looking for in a Companion?

Our humanity, compassion and empathy are vital to this work, as well as a certain level of singing ability as covered above. We need to be willing and able to talk about death and dying and to listen attentively and supportively. Working as a team with others is essential and when we sing for someone we need to have enough attention to share between our Companions, the person we’re singing for and anyone else present. We come prepared for distractions and changes of plan, so adaptability is also a key quality. We may make substantial efforts and arrive somewhere only to find that it’s not going to be possible for us to sing after all.

Can I sing for my own family member or friend?

Absolutely, if that is what they want. Being a Companion equips you with a set of skills and songs (we think of it as a toolkit) that will always be with you and that you can use in any way and context you choose.

What kind of songs will I be singing?

(see below)

If you would like to explore becoming a Companion further, please fill in this form. 

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Potential Listeners

How far will Companions travel to sing for us?

It depends on a number of things but please contact us and we will explore it together, and do our best. 

What would a typical visit be like?

This is described in full on our website here. 

How many Companions would come?

It would normally be 3 or 4 Companions depending on the space and availability as well as any preference expressed by our listeners. 

How long would a visit normally last?

It tends to be about 20 minutes, depending on the circumstances. 

How many times would you normally visit somebody?

There isn’t a fixed number. To date, we have sung as few times as once and as many as ten times for the same person.

Does someone have to be very close to death before we call you?

No, we encourage people to contact us whenever they feel the time is right. And we welcome the opportunity to get to know the people we are singing for. 

Would you be able to sing at a hospice or hospital?

Yes, we aim to go to wherever there is someone who would like us to sing for them, be it a home, hospice, hospital or elsewhere.

Can you sing my favourite songs?

We have given this a lot of thought and our way is to focus on offering our own carefully selected songs. There are many reasons for this, including our aim to create a gentle soundscape with no requirement for cognitive involvement, our need to take care of ourselves and each other (at a bedside Companions need to feel so completely at home with the songs that we can focus all our attention and good intentions on the dying person in front of us.) In addition, a great deal of preparation goes into achieving a certain standard of singing in our learning circles and we can’t be sure of this with songs we’re not so familiar with.
Having said this, sometimes there’s a song that might feel both meaningful to the person and possible for the Companions to include; we never rule this out but of course if someone loves a certain song that may be to do with a particular rendition which would be better covered by simply playing a recording. Our offering is something different and is just a part of helping to create comfort and reassurance for the person who is dying.
If you’d like to find out more, here’s a link to Kay Ashton’s article about this in our January 2024 newsletter.

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Questions for both Companions and Listeners

Have you got a group in my area?

You can view our current group locations on this map. Further information for each group can be found on our Local Groups page.

What kind of songs do you sing?

There are examples here where you can listen to clips. You can also purchase our Companion Voices album on Bandcamp. 


Is there a cost?

Yes to companions and no to service users. Yes, we have a monthly subscription for companions following a free taster session. We never charge for bedside singing. It’s a service that we provide voluntarily. Sometimes people choose to make a donation to show their gratitude and support our work. 

Potential leaders for a new group

If you would like to explore leading a new group in your area, please contact us at info@companionvoices.org

Organisations who would like to partner with us

Please get in touch with us here.

General questions

How can I donate to Companion Voices to support your work?

Please visit this page, where you can make a one-off donation, or view options to support us more regularly.

Are there resources I can buy?

Yes, there are recordings of our songs here on Bandcamp.


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