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The Pipes & Drums of the Atlantic Watch crest The Pipes & Drums of the Atlantic Watch

A bagpiper for a funeral or memorial service

A Red Bank pipe band since 1993, playing gravesides, funerals and memorial services across Monmouth County and central New Jersey.

Call +1 347-470-3351 Send the details

To book a piper for a funeral, call +1 347-470-3351 with the date, time and place of the service. The Pipes & Drums of the Atlantic Watch is the official Pipe and Drum Band of the Borough of Red Bank, and we give funerals and veterans' memorial services priority wherever we can. A single piper is what most families ask for; a piper and drummer or a small group can be arranged for a larger memorial.

What the piper does

  1. Before the service. The piper arrives early, tunes away from the mourners and checks the order of proceedings with the funeral director.
  2. Arrival. A slow air as mourners gather, or as the casket is carried from the hearse.
  3. At the graveside. A lament during a pause in the committal, often Amazing Grace.
  4. The farewell. The piper plays a final tune while walking slowly away until the sound fades.

The same can be done outside a church or funeral home, at a celebration of life, or at the scattering of ashes.

For funeral directors

We are happy to be the piper you call. Phone with the family's details and the timing, and we will work to your order of service, arrive in full Highland dress and stay out of the way until we are needed.

Questions families ask

How do I book a bagpiper for a funeral in Monmouth County?
Call +1 347-470-3351 with the date, time and place of the service. For a service more than a week away you can also use the booking form. We are a Red Bank pipe band and play funerals and memorial services throughout Monmouth County and central New Jersey.
Can you play a funeral on short notice?
Often, yes. Funerals and veterans' memorial services get priority wherever we can manage it. Call +1 347-470-3351 rather than using the form, so we can check straight away which of our pipers is free.
Where does the piper play during a funeral?
Most families ask for the piper at the graveside: playing as the casket is carried from the hearse, during a pause in the committal, and walking away at the end. A piper can also play outside the church or funeral home as mourners arrive or leave, or inside during the service.
What music does a piper play at a funeral?
Amazing Grace is the most requested tune. Families also ask for traditional Scottish and Irish laments and for the hymns of the armed services at veterans' funerals. Tell us about any special requests when you call.
Do you play for veterans' funerals and police or fire funerals?
Yes. Veterans' services get priority, and we regularly play Memorial Day, Veterans Day and 9/11 ceremonies across Monmouth County.
How much does a funeral bagpiper cost?
It depends on the length of the service, the time of day and how far we travel. We will quote when you call. We are a volunteer 501(c)(3) band, so the fee goes toward instruments, uniforms and travel.
What happens if it rains?
The pipes play in most weather, and a graveside service usually goes ahead. In a downpour the piper may play from under a canopy or from the cemetery road.