Do’s and Don’ts for Piano Moving

1. Do’s and Don’ts for Piano Moving If you own a piano, whether you’re planning a short or long distance move, you’re likely to run into a few obstacles with your plans. Whether you perform beautiful music on the instrument daily or let it collect dust in a corner, you definitely don’t want to leave it behind or see it damaged during transit. There are multiple factors to take into consideration when it comes to moving piano. Don’t assume you can just roll it from one place to the next without endangering it.

2. Do’s and Don’ts for Piano Moving • Know your Instrument • Your piano is certainly the largest and most complex mechanical device in your home. A standard piano has 230 strings and about 10,000 separate moving parts.  This is why tuning a piano can be such an involved process. Moving it from one home to another without the utmost care can easily cause unforeseen problems. • When it comes to acoustic pianos, there are two major types on the market: • Grand Piano • Upright Piano • Grand Piano • Grand Pianos are the type most often seen in classical amphitheaters. They have a large, harp-shaped soundboard and typically roll on caster wheels. These pianos can weigh more than 1,200 pounds, while baby grand have the same shape in a smaller frame, usually weighing around half as much.

3. Do’s and Don’ts for Piano Moving Upright Piano Upright Pianos are smaller, more portable instruments commonly seen in clubs, studios and homes that can’t accommodate a more massive option. Portable is a relative term here, since even a small spinet piano can weigh more than 400 pounds. If you have an upright piano, its compact shape will help you let it fit through most door openings. An experienced team of four or five movers should be able to transport the instrument safely. Moving a grand piano, however, can require making sweeping changes to the property or even lifting the instrument through a large window using a crane.

4. Do’s and Don’ts for Piano Moving • Basic Considerations when Moving a Piano • Do consult with professional piano movers beforehand. Even if you feel like you cannot afford their services, the quote may bring important considerations to your attention. • Do move any furniture and other objects out of the piano’s traveling path before starting. It will be much harder to do this after you start, especially if the path involves stairs. • Do cover the piano in non-slip blankets, folding the edges beneath the instrument and securing them with moving cords to protect its finish. • Do place packing desiccants inside the piano before packing it up. If it’s loaded into a truck that stops in a humid environment overnight, the wood can warp and crack later on. • Do secure the packed piano in the truck during loading. Any movement during transport can result in a damaged instrument, including damage that isn’t immediately visible.

5. Do’s and Don’ts for Piano Moving • Basic Considerations when Moving a Piano • Don’t leave the lid unlocked—a bumpy ride or mistake can damage the instrument’s ivory keys. • Don’t try to leverage the weight of the instrument in one direction or another. Tipping the instrument over a set of stairs, for example, can put stress on the instrument’s midsection and permanently warp its frame. • Don’t use typical cargo straps for the piano when securing it. Buy or rent heavy-duty furniture straps that can reliably hold the instrument’s weight during transit. • Don’t pack the piano last. Put the piano in the very back of the moving truck, right up against the wall. If the interior of the truck isn’t level, place some wood planks on the floor so that the weight is evenly balanced.

6. Do’s and Don’ts for Piano Moving Safety Tips What you’re wearing? It might not seem like a big deal, but when dealing with a heavy, cumbersome and awkward item like a piano, a pair of baggy pants or the wrong shoes can make a major difference. Don’t wear anything that can get caught on the instrument while it’s in transit and be sure to wear the most slip-proof pair of shoes you own. One wrong step can cause a dangerous accident—you don’t want to take any risks.

7. Do’s and Don’ts for Piano Moving Safety Tips The piano’s exact traveling path This one is touched upon above, but you want to make sure you know every detail of piano’s path to the loading truck. For instance, if you have four movers helping out, who takes the lead when the piano reaches the stairs? Who supports the instrument’s weight from the back and who guides it by directing its midsection? Leave nothing to chance and discuss this before anyone puts on a pair of moving gloves. Once you’ve arrived at your destination, you’ll want to perform this step all over again as well. Your piano’s exact measurements Once you’ve dissembled the piano’s legs and placed it on the moving dolly, take out a tape measure and figure out whether it will actually fit through the doorways you need it to travel through. Make sure to accommodate the instrument’s length as well, or you may find yourself stuck at an angle in a small hallway the piano can’t clear.

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