Wouldn’t it be great if you could pull apart a grand piano, pack it up in several boxes to keep it safe, and move it to your new location, knowing it can easily be put back together again?
With thousands of parts, that’s an impossibility. Just look at the artistry it takes to build a grand piano ready to be delivered to your home.
But while you might not be able to box it up, there are ways you can prepare your piano for moving. With just a little prep work, you can disassemble your grand piano the right way to ensure it makes it to your final destination in great condition.
Removing a grand piano’s music rack
One of the easiest parts to remove on a grand piano is the music rack. With just a few screws, depending on the music rack style, you can have the two pieces separated. Wrap the music rack with bubble wrap or padding to keep it safe. Be sure to keep the screws with the music rack so putting it back together is a snap.
Removing a grand piano’s lyre
A grand piano’s lyre, also known as the pedal box, is also a fairly easy task. These delicate pedals are easily damaged if you leave them on during a move. If you look underneath, you’ll find the pedals are attached with a few screws. Only remove the pedal box with the two wooden rods attached to the underside of the piano. The other pieces can be left in place as they don’t stick out from the piano, and will easily be covered and kept safe when padded and protected for the move.
Removing a grand piano’s legs
One of the more difficult parts to remove are the grand piano legs. You should only do this if you have experience with dealing with a piano. After you remove the music rack and lyre, start with the left leg of the piano. This is a multiple person job.
Raise the piano up and place a dolly underneath the keyboard so the leg is several inches off the ground. Once it’s in place, the leg can be removed. Be sure to have people stand and support the piano in the middle of the keyboard. Different piano legs are connected in different ways. It’s a good idea to research your piano’s construction before you start the process.
Be sure to label the legs and parts so you can easily put everything back together on the other end. While parts may look similar, they often aren’t. Keeping things together is the best way to ensure ease on the other side.
With two legs removed, you can then carefully prop up the piano on its side and remove the other two legs. A piano is bulky and heavy. As you are moving it onto its side, be sure you have enough movers to keep it from slipping, the lid from tipping open. Remove the other two legs and wrap them accordingly.
Once the legs are free, wrap and add padding to protect it during the move. It should be strapped to a piano board to ensure it won’t slip off as it’s being moved.
Disassembling a grand piano isn’t easy. You shouldn’t try it unless you have experience with moving it. Give us a call and we can help you with the process.
