Moving musical instruments: inventory, cases and specialist questions

Make an instrument inventory before requesting help

List each instrument by type and model and record its case, stand, power supply and accessories. Keep serial numbers and purchase records in your own secure files. Photograph the instrument and case condition so your records describe what is actually moving. Distinguish a portable keyboard from an acoustic piano when discussing the shipment.

Note the access route at both homes and any unusual size or handling needs. Give a provider enough detail to identify the work instead of listing everything as music equipment. Record who will pack each item and where it will go on arrival.

Use instructions for the actual model

Find the manufacturer’s manual or ask the instrument maker or qualified technician about preparation for transport. Avoid applying one instrument’s instructions to another. Confirm what should remain assembled, what accessories should be removed and what case or packaging is suitable. Do not guess a universal string-tension adjustment, disassembly method or climate setting.

For instruments already in a fitted case, check the case condition and closures and account for loose accessories. A case does not establish that an item is suitable for every carrier or shipment. Ask the selected provider what packaging and handling it accepts. Follow model-specific guidance rather than improvising structural repairs before a move.

Ask specialist questions before moving a piano

For an acoustic piano, request advice and a written handling scope from a piano-moving specialist. Supply the piano type, approximate dimensions, stairs, turns, access and destination. Ask who prepares the instrument, what equipment is planned and whether the route has been assessed. This guide is a planning checklist, not instructions for lifting or dismantling a piano.

Digital pianos also differ in size and construction. Use the exact model manual and confirm whether the stand or cabinet should be separated by someone qualified to do so. Yamaha’s support contact page provides a route to model-specific piano assistance; it does not make one transport procedure correct for all brands.

Resolve scope and protection in writing

Ask whether the instrument is accepted in the shipment, who packs it and whether specialist transport is separately priced. Ask the provider to explain the applicable protection, exclusions, documentation and claim process. Do not assume a general household estimate automatically includes instrument-specific work.

Keep the condition records, written answers and original estimate together. For a hired moving company, use the FTC’s selection guidance and the appropriate interstate or state checks. Add a specialist charge to your budget only when it is outside the existing package so the same service is not counted twice.

Check the arrival and plan the first use

Compare the delivered items and accessories with your inventory and document visible concerns before losing track of the handoff. Follow the provider’s reporting procedure and the model instructions for setup. If something is damaged, unstable or behaving differently, consult a qualified technician rather than making speculative adjustments.

Choose a place for the instrument after checking the space and manufacturer guidance. Arrange any needed setup, inspection or tuning with the appropriate professional; this page does not prescribe an interval that applies to every instrument. Keep a small list of accessories you need for the first practice session so they remain easy to find.

Include confirmed specialist transport separately when needed. Add instrument costs to your moving budget →

Check the whole access route before promising that a large item fits. Review the access measurement guide →

• Inventory, accessories and condition records saved
• Actual model instructions located
• Packing and handling responsibilities agreed
• Specialist scope and protection questions answered
• Arrival contact and follow-up tasks recorded