EAGLE

PIANO MOVING: “Sing us a song, you’re the piano man….”

You’ve been to those dueling piano bars, right? Where you sit sipping a Manhattan while listening to someone croon Billy Joel and Frank Sinatra? Well, those pianos got in that swanky bar somehow and and Eagle Transfer Moving Company was there.

Pianos are one of the largest, yet most fragile items that commercial movers encounter. And while every move is fully bonded, licensed and insured – one wrong move can damage the piano irreparably. Our team of professionals is trained and practiced in the delicate art of piano moving; we carry tools and equipment designed for the sole purpose of moving pianos.

“Measure” first. Before we even touch the piano, we measure the doorways, elevator openings and hallways that the piano will be navigated through. NYC commercial movers are expert at navigating tight spaces – hallways, elevators and streets, but never is this more important than when working with an extremely large, heavy, fragile item. During a large-scale commercial move, corners and elevator walls are draped with heavy pads and mover’s blankets right from the beginning, but when moving a piano, we take an extra walk through to ensure that it will fit. In rare cases, pianos may need to be lifted out windows or balconies, but remember – if it got in there, we can get it out.

Preparation is “key.” Next, we prepare the piano for the move. The keys are covered with protective cloths and then the cover is closed and wrapped. (It’s critically important to protect the keys before the cover is closed and wrapped.) We cover every inch of the piano (except the handles on the back of an upright which are expressly for moving them). We completely cover the exterior, and, on a grand piano, put a blanket under the wing. Any lacquered surface – especially those that make contact with other lacquered surfaces – is protected with mover’s cloths and blankets.

Take it down. Anything that can be removed must be removed. The music stand, the pedals and the legs. We place the pedals in a padded, secure box for transport. For a grand piano, the leg on the side with the curve is removed first, and the piano is then gently tilted onto its side, onto a piano board. Next, the other legs are removed and wrapped in protective blankets for transport.

Don’t just take it from us – here’s an expert’s opinion:
“The most important thing when choosing a mover for a piano is having someone you can trust. A mover that will take the time to pad your piano properly with moving blankets, disassemble the pedals and legs and turn it on its side gently to get it through the door. The soundboard needs to be protected to avoid accidental damage.”
Mike Donnarummo, Owner
Michael V. Donnarummo Music Studio

We like to move it, move it. Moving an upright piano or smaller spinet is fairly easy and can be handled by two movers. Moving a grand piano – or moving a baby grand piano – requires at least four movers and a piano board is deployed.

Tune it up! Once the piano is safely delivered to its destination – whether that’s a music school or a club – the piano will need to be re-tuned by a professional. Note: this is not part of our services; piano tuning is a skill that only trained professionals should attempt. (We’re movers, not musicians!) A quick Google search can point you to a reputable piano tuner.