Grand Pianos

The smallest grand piano — a baby grand — starts at 54 inches long and 800 lbs, and the longest — a concert grand — is 9'2" and 1300 lbs. Due to their shape, size and weight, not to mention the fact that they are a fragile instrument, moving a grand piano is no simple matter. Even a move within a home typically requires professional assistance in order to protect the piano and the flooring. The casters are mostly decorative and not very functional (in large part because of the weight each one must support), so you cannot just roll a grand piano around the house.

In order to move a grand piano, it must be partially disassembled including the removal of its legs, and vertically laid on its side on a piano board. It is a routine process for a professional piano mover, but clearly a lot can go wrong if the laws of physics work against you. The piano must be properly protected with padding, and adequately secured. It must be moved with a special dolly that can handle the size and weight of the instrument and maneuver the piano over the path from the house to the truck.

If a grand piano started to fall, it’s not likely that even a large crew can stop it, so it’s essential that the moving process occurs in a thoughtful, careful, deliberate manner. This includes conscientious planning beforehand of the entire move (maneuvering challenges, uneven or sloped sections that can impact the balance of the piano) and which tools are required for each step of the process. Every move is different and must be handled accordingly. You can't rush a move. If the move takes longer, you have to take longer.

Difficult Moves

Stairs, multi-storied buildings, elevators, sloped driveways or paths, tight turns — all present challenges when moving a piano. Meticulous planning and forethought is essential. With Howard's Piano Moving, 30 years of experience ensures that your move goes smoothly, and that even the most difficult situation finds a safe solution. Sometimes though, moving a piano to its desired location just isn't possible. It is equally important that a risky or impossible move is not attempted. Rick is always available for consultations should piano relocation be a consideration when picking a new home.

Upright Pianos

Howard's Piano Moving is also the best choice for upright pianos. Larger uprights can weigh as much as a baby grand — 800 lbs. — and thus present similar challenges, which require similar expertise. Smaller uprights are seemingly a simpler move that doesn't require an expert piano mover, but Rick is still the best choice. Most moving companies require a minimum crew size of 2-3 people. Rick the Piano Mover, because of his size, strength and experience can often do simple moves of upright pianos by himself, which can make him the most affordable solution, without sacrificing quality and safety.