Grand pianos are very large instruments, made up of many delicate and fragile parts. It can be transported over the course of an entire afternoon. Ask your friends for help as a grand piano is very heavy so you can transport it by yourself. To do this, you should start by separating all the moving parts and packing them securely with blankets or padded packing blankets. Securely hold the already protected piano vertically to the moving truck so that it will not be damaged during transport.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Disassembling and Packing the Piano
Step 1. Remove the lid from the piano
The large lid of the grand piano is attached by small screws and hinges at the longest part. Remove the screws and hinges using a screwdriver appropriate to the type and size of the screws. Remove the lid from the piano and set it aside.
- You may need to try 3-4 different size screwdrivers to see which one fits the screw properly.
- Store these screws - and the others you remove when disassembling the piano - in a plastic bag to keep them safe. Put the lid hinges in the plastic bag, too.
- Label the bag "lid screws" so that you can reattach the piano lid correctly.
Step 2. Pack the piano top with 2-3 padded moving blankets
These blankets will prevent the piano top from being damaged or scratched during transportation, therefore, make sure the wood is completely covered by the blankets. Then use packing tape or 2 straps with buckles to securely attach the blankets.
You can buy thick, padded moving blankets at any moving supply store and / or many hardware stores. If the budget does not reach you or if you do not want to use these moving blankets, you can also use disused blankets from your house
Step 3. Remove the lyre from the piano
The lyre on a grand piano comprises the pieces of wood on the front of the piano (just below the keyboard) to which the pedals are attached. Get on your knees and unscrew the lyre under the piano. Put it aside for now.
- Keep all the screws and washers in a plastic bag.
- Label the bag "lyre screws" to avoid mistaking them for lid hinge screws.
Step 4. Tilt the piano onto a piano board
Put a piano board approximately 0.91m to the left side (when facing the keyboard), ask a person or two to help you lift the grand piano and tilt it to the long, flat side. Place it carefully on the wooden piano surface. Never let the weight of the piano rest on the legs as they could easily break
- Be very careful not to drop it or damage any part of the piano. Movements must be guided and monitored at all times.
- The piano board is a large, flat wooden surface designed to hold the piano on its side. Piano boards usually have handles on which the piano can be attached. You can buy the piano board at your local moving supply store. They may also be available at large music stores.
Step 5. Pack the piano body with padded moving blankets or plain blankets
Cover the entire body of the grand piano with 3 or 4 blankets. You do not need to secure the blankets directly to the piano as the buckled straps you use to attach the piano to the board will secure the blankets as well.
It is better to use more blankets than few to ensure that the piano will not be damaged in transit
Step 6. Attach the piano to the board
Secure the body of the piano with at least 2-3 heavy duty buckle straps. Secure the straps to the handles or notches on the piano deck. The straps will prevent it from moving and therefore keep it stable.
Buckle straps can be purchased at any hardware or hardware store
Step 7. Remove all the legs from the piano
Most grand pianos have 4 legs, although some small grand pianos only have 3. The legs are attached to the bottom of the piano with screws or small bolts. Use a screwdriver or wrench to remove the legs. Set them aside.
Only remove the legs once the piano is firmly attached to the table
Step 8. Pack each pedal separately with plastic or bubble wrap
Once the lyre is removed from the piano you need to be careful to avoid damaging the pedals during transport. Wrap them separately in plastic wrap for protection or bubble wrap for added security.
Secure the wrap with packing tape
Step 9. Pack the piano legs and lyre with blankets
Pack each leg separately with its own quilted blanket or blanket, and pack the lyre individually as well. Make sure the wood on each one is completely covered, and then secure the blanket using a generous amount of packing tape.
As with the piano lid, you should keep the legs and lyre as secure as possible during the move
Part 2 of 2: Transporting the Piano
Step 1. Place the packed piano body on a sturdy wheel stand
Have 2 or 3 people help you lift the packed piano from the table and put it on the wheel stand. The wood of the wheel stand is approximately 3 '' high, therefore the piano will need to be raised to at least that height. Make sure to center the piano on the wheel stand so that it doesn't slide sideways.
- A sturdy 4-wheel stand will be able to support the weight of a large, heavy piano and roll it from the stage to the moving truck. Don't try to transport a grand piano on a 2-wheel stand.
- You could offer your friends pizza and beer at the end of the move to thank them for their help.
Step 2. Roll the piano to the moving truck
Move it slowly and have 2 or 3 people help you roll the piano on the wheel stand. Balance the piano and keep it upright as you roll it between the curb and the asphalt parking lot to the waiting moving truck.
- If you need to take the piano down stairs, you could put a piece of wood on the stairs so that the wheel stand with the piano can roll down.
- Remember to keep safety first and prevent the piano from falling or rolling on someone's foot.
Step 3. Hold the piano firmly in place
Roll the piano down the loading ramp to the moving truck, and then remove the piano from the caster stand (or if the stand has the wheels lockable, keep the piano on the stand and lock the wheels). Keep the piano in an upright position. Then use 3-4 buckle straps to secure the piano firmly to the wall of the moving truck.
- You also need to put the packed legs and lyre on the moving truck, but these can be put anywhere. You can also take them with you on the back seat in the cab of the truck.
- It is best to rent a moving truck to transport a piano. Even though the piano can fit into the back of a large pickup truck, you won't be able to hold the piano vertically to the side of the truck.
Step 4. Hire a piano moving company
If you don't have time to properly disassemble, pack, and transport the piano, you can contact a piano moving company and have them do it for you. These companies are highly specialized and carry only pianos, so they are experts in what they do. Find a piano moving company in the Piano Moving virtual directory:
- Piano moving companies also carry insurance in case they damage your piano. In other words, if the piano were to fall by accident, the company will pay for the damages and it will not cost you anything.
- A local move will probably cost between $ 150 and $ 600, depending on the size of the piano and the difficulty of the move.
- A long distance move will cost an average of between $ 700 and $ 2,000, depending on the distance of the move.
Advice
- The size and weight of the piano will determine how many people you need to help you transport it. For example: a small grand piano can weigh between 500–600 pounds (230–270 kg), while a large concert grand piano will weigh between 1,000–1,200 pounds (450–540 kg).
- Don't roll a grand piano on its own wheels. The little wheels on the legs of a grand piano are mostly decorative. Rolling them on hardwood could damage the floor or cause all the wheels to break together.