I have a high school with a D in a new performance venue. The actual wooden stage floor is about 2 inches above the level of the concrete backstage area floor where the piano is stored. They made a tapered lip so that the piano can be moved back and forth, and for the most part, they've had no problems. But last summer, the humidity had the wooden stage floor a little more swollen. Even with the stage manager, choral director and her husband being the only ones allowed to move the piano, and as a team, moving carefully and slowly over the bump, they broke the lyre (cracked at the socket). No students were involved. So, there is ALWAYS the risk of damage. I'm of the opinion that moving a piano long distances on the stage truck demonstrates and teaches disrespect of the instrument. (It also wears out the casters) If the instructor wants to teach pushing pianos around, teach it in a short distance scenario. I realize this is a teaching moment, but what will be taken away is that this is an acceptable method of moving expensive pianos. Stage trucks are for stages, churches and classrooms. Leave long distance moves to insured professionals. Jeff Tanner --- On Fri, 7/23/10, Jeannie Grassi <jcgrassi at earthlink.net> wrote: From: Jeannie Grassi <jcgrassi at earthlink.net> Subject: Re: [CAUT] pushing pianos To: caut at ptg.org Date: Friday, July 23, 2010, 11:14 AM Hi Alan, I have to agree with David, here. Why is the piano being moved this way? I can also share a similar experience to what Keith related. The local school decided that it was up to the custodial crew to be in charge of moving the grand piano from one building outside, through a parking lot and to another building for a performance. The custodians couldn’t be bothered so they told the teacher to be in charge . He recruited some students (high school) to take care of it. To make the story shorter: There was a slight slope,…. there was a pothole, ….in a flash there was a stage dolly without a piano and a piano ..and there were 3 broken legs and lyre and crushed trapwork in addition to numerous other problems. One student barely avoided being crushed. The parents were livid (as well they should have been). The teacher? Angry with the kids for screwing up and making him look bad. (He is no longer teaching there.) This responsibility should not be passed along to students under any circumstances. It will not teach them anything about the proper care or treatment of a piano. It is exploiting the students for an easy solution. Don’t take on this responsibility. Ultimately you will be the responsible one. You might want to reconsider taking this on. Jeannie Grassi, RPT Bainbridge Island, WA From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of David Skolnik Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 2010 6:42 PM To: caut at ptg.org Subject: Re: [CAUT] pushing pianos OK there Alan - You've had some interesting and funny replies, so let me be a bit of a Debbie Downer. WHY? Why are you moving a (grand?) piano a long distance on a dolly? Why are you employing (?) a group of high school students? Do the kids have insurance? Do you, or your institution have insurance? Do their parents know? I like Ron's reply, but it should have looked more like this: Inadvisable. If there's ANY way not to, don't. If not: Supervise! Someone of legal age needs to be there to fill out the accident report paperwork. If there's ANY way not to, don't. Lid down, fall board closed. I know, but it's not necessarily obvious to high school kids, some of whom have likely never thought before. If there's ANY way not to, don't. No more than three touching the piano at any given time. Trade off as they get tired, with the rest of the crew over there out of the way. Steering and speed control by mob whim can quickly become the end of piano function as we know it. Also dangerous for the moving units, whether they understand that or not. If there's ANY way not to, don't. And so on... And, of course, if there is any chance at all of some calamitous mishap, you should, obviously, have someone filming it. There has to be some good to come out of all this. David Skolnik Hastings on Hudson , NY At 11:21 AM 7/21/2010, you wrote: In a few days, I will be moving a piano on a stage dolly a long distance with a group of high school piano students. We are not turning it on its side on a skid board, but simply pushing it. What collective wisdom should I be to impart to these impressionable youths about how the do-s and don't-s of pushing around pianos? Thanks, Alan Eder I am using the Free version of SPAMfighter. 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