Moving is an important project and you need to plan it thoroughly. Relocating your furniture and clothes is not an easy task, but what if you have to move music instruments too? Since they can be very fragile and sensitive, they need special handling. You need to be aware that moving takes time and you need to be very patient. Let’s start!

Choose the right company to move music instruments

There is an ever growing number of moving companies, and you have to choose one that fits your wants and needs. It is not an easy job to do, but if you put an effort into it, you will be able to pick the right one for you. Let’s be honest – musical instruments relocation cannot be inexpensive! But, can you put a price on your music instruments being carefully relocated? Of course not! If you need special relocation services, be generous when deciding on your budget for the move and start searching. Don’t be cheap when it comes to your precious items.

Relocating your instruments can be a piece of cake if you choose the right movers

Make a list of eligible companies and start calling. Ask them whatever you need to know:

• What do they include in their service?
• Do they provide packing materials?
• Do they charge for the estimate?
• When are they available for the move?
• How much do they charge to move music instruments?
• What precautions do they take in order for your items to remain intact?
• Do they charge additionally if they have to carry the load up the stairs?

Let’s take a look at how different instruments are packed

Packing a piano is the most difficult task

There are moving companies that specialize in moving pianos only. That is how tricky the job can be. If you pride yourself in owning such an instrument, don’t risk damaging it due to incompetent moving. Pros will never give you the estimate before analyzing every detail of the future move. They will ask you about the type of piano. They will measure the doorways, hallways, and staircases that are in the way. Piano transportation usually requires the use of a dolly or piano skid boards. So, you should check whether your movers have them. The reputable ones should.

If you, by any chance, decide to move your instrument on your own, that is, with the help of your friends, bear the following tips in mind. A rule of thumb for every move is to disassemble everything that you can prior to the move. Remove the keys, pedals, and legs. Then comes the packing. Use moving blankets to protect the entire piano and secure the blankets with lots of tape. Don’t forget to wrap the parts that you have already removed. Make sure that you have secured the top lid. You will need at least four people to do the job of carrying the piano. Be careful to avoid the injuries that can easily occur when you move music instruments.

When you move music instruments, your string instruments need to be handled with utmost care

An amateur would think that moving a string instrument is an easy task. After all, you see people carrying them to gigs in their hands all the time. However, moving string instruments in a bulk is where the problem might appear. The best thing to do is to carry the instruments in their original cases. But, for the move, they need to be secured inside the case too.

If you have a violin or a cello, make sure that you loosen up the strings so that they don’t get broken. Moreover, if they have adjustment keys, turn the keys to be parallel to the headstock. Now, before you put the string instrument inside its standard case, you should wrap it in soft padding. If there is any room left inside the case once you put the protected instrument inside, it should be filled with soft material too. The crumpled paper could be handy for such a purpose. String instruments are extremely fragile, don’t forget that!

Here are some tips on moving brass and wooden instruments

Naturally, hard cases provide better protection than soft ones when you move music instruments. It is the same case for brass and wooden instruments too. Here, you should be careful when putting them inside the boxes not to put too much padding. Excessive protection at one side can push the instrument inside the box and rub it against the sides of the box which can lead to damaging. Again, if you can tear apart the instrument, you should do it before moving. Bow instruments should have their bow hair loosened to relieve the tension on the stick.

Percussion instruments are easiest to pack

Percussion instruments are designed to absorb shock on a daily basis, that is why they are easiest for packing and transport. Mind you, it is still not like moving your clothes. There are still some sensitive parts like a drumhead on a drum. Use a piece of cardboard cut to fit its shape and tape it. You will need a box a little bit larger than the instrument. Make sure to protect all sides of the box with soft padding and you are ready!

Unfortunately, there are so many things that can go wrong when you move music instruments

Moving music instruments is very similar to fine art handling – you can never be too careful about it. There are several factors that need to be considered. The first one is humidity – acoustic guitars and wooden instruments are very sensitive to it. Then, extreme cold and heat are also adversaries to the instruments since they tend to expand or shrink when exposed to them. Dust can also be a threat to music instruments since it can scratch the finish and thus change the sound the instrument produces.

When you move music instruments, make sure that they are safe and secure at any cost and they will reward your senses the next time you play them.