[CAUT] Moving Grand Pianos Intra-Department

[David Skolnik]

I'll accept some of what Wim says regarding insurance, in the 
abstract.  I would love to check, however, into the specifics.  As an 
insurer, would I necessarily want to cover damage caused by the 
deployment of inexperienced workers?  But that's not even the 
point.  We don't know the specifics here...the size of the 
institution, the frequency of such moves, the nature of the 
maintenance work force. The permission of the union.  Paul's email 
sort of indicts him in this.  He says:
>I have suggested that this is not cost-effective, and indeed we now don't
>have the money for imminent required moves.  I have previously put forth the
>idea of using either students or physical plant/maintenance staff.

Why did he make this suggestion?  Did he check with maintenance staff 
first?  What is their view?   He says it's "iminent".[sic]. {see what 
life's gonna be like without spell check?}   If the maintenance gents 
demur, (as they so often are wont to do),  what happens?  The event 
doesn't happen, or Paul moves them himself, or, somehow, money is 
moved  from another budget.
Yes, mechanically it could be done, but this is enabling behavior on 
our part, and fundamentally unhealthy.

And finally, given what I learned while looking up pineapples after 
Wim's distressing revelation, it would seem to be the island's good 
fortune that they are not too heavily into production.  Heavy 
pesticide use and low worker wages.  But just the invitation itself 
stirs my travel juices.  I'll be lucky if I get as close to Hawaii 
as, say. Seattle?.

David Skolnik
Hastings on Hudson, NY


At 08:39 PM 12/4/2011, you wrote:

>Depending upon your institution, maintenance workers union may not 
>allow them to do this work, nor should they.
>
>David
>
>Moving a piano would be no different, from a maintenance mover's 
>perspective, than moving desks and file cabinets. (Not to say moving 
>a piano is as easy as moving a desk, but from physical stress point 
>of view, it's the same). The basic difference is in the technique. 
>And that is where some training and instructions come in. As far as 
>insurance is concerned. For the physical damage to a piano, most 
>universities are self insured for things like that. If new parts are 
>required, or even a whole new piano, they would pay for that 
>themselves. As far as injury to a worker, the university is covered 
>for that, too, with liability insurance.
>Wim
>
>PS. Although there are some small pineapple fields left in Hawaii, 
>our main income is from friendly folks like you coming for a visit. 
>So when are you coming?
>;-)
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: David Skolnik <davidskolnik at optonline.net>
>To: caut <caut at ptg.org>
>Sent: Sun, Dec 4, 2011 2:38 pm
>Subject: Re: [CAUT] Moving Grand Pianos Intra-Department
>
>Paul,
>As a preface, I would point out to you that, by intent or not, 
>you've posted to the older CAUT list, which, along with its sister, 
><mailto:pianotech at ptg.org>pianotech at ptg.org, is currently slated for 
>shut down in a little more than a week.
>
>To the matter of your question however, I would say that there are, 
>as far as I know, only two significant issues about which I tend to 
>disagree with our honorable friend from the land of pineapples.  One 
>is when the discussion goes to how long it should take to tune a 
>piano.  The other, it would seem, is this issue about piano 
>moving.  I am of the diametrically opposite opinion. Here's my take:
>
>- First, I'm glad that at least someone had the sense to nix the 
>student idea.  Even the success of using students for stage moves 
>depends a great deal on the stage-culture of the particular 
>institution, i.e. respect for how they do their job.
>
>- Depending upon your institution, maintenance workers union may not 
>allow them to do this work, nor should they.  As with aforementioned 
>stage-culture, there is a range of piano-moving culture, and skill, 
>that should not be taken for granted.  And, if something were to go 
>wrong, whose insurance covers either worker or piano?   You say the 
>department doesn't have the money for immanent moves.  I don't 
>believe it.  You just finished saying that you (the institution) 
>could save thousands of dollars using students, which would imply 
>that you do these moves fairly frequently.  Is that accurate?  If 
>so, why?  Why are you moving pianos so often?   Besides, I find it 
>hard to believe that you couldn't call around and work out a deal 
>with a mover who is experienced, intelligent and wants the 
>work.  Find ways to make it easy for them.  Maybe you do, in fact, 
>acquire the basic equipment, so that they don't have to drag their 
>stuff from the truck each time.  Stuff like that.
>
>Now, if you wanted to take it on yourself, that might be a different story.
>
>Sooner or later, one of the maintenance guys may figure out how to 
>tune a piano, after listening to you a few times.  Then, watch out.
>
>Just my view, but I'm right.
>
>David Skolnik
>Hastings on Hudson, NY
>
>
>
>
>
>At 05:55 PM 12/4/2011, you wrote:
>>Paul
>>
>>It would be very cost effective to have the university people do 
>>the moving. The school needs to buy the dolly, skid board, and 
>>blankets, but if you've observed enough moves you should be able to 
>>supervise the moves. If possible, try to get the same crew to do 
>>this every time, so you don't have to keep teaching what to do.
>>Since I did a lot of moving myself in the past, I only supervised, 
>>but did half the work. But there is no need to be that much 
>>involved. Once the crew gets the hang of it, moving a piano is not 
>>that difficult.
>>
>>I used to move the uprights myself, even getting them up on a 
>>dolly. But if I was still at a school, I would now ask for help.
>>
>>Moving the grands on stage is for the students who are responsible 
>>for that. The most you might need to do is instruct them how to 
>>move a piano through a door.
>>
>>Wim
>>
>>
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Paul Milesi <<mailto:paul at pmpiano.com>paul at pmpiano.com>
>>To: PTG CAUT List <<mailto:caut at ptg.org>caut at ptg.org>
>>Sent: Sun, Dec 4, 2011 12:22 pm
>>Subject: [CAUT] Moving Grand Pianos Intra-Department
>>
>>
>>We need to move a few grand pianos within our music department at school.
>>No stairs are involved, just breaking down, relocating via dolly and
>>elevator, and setting up again.  In the past, the department has used
>>outside professional piano movers, both from a dealer and independent.
>>
>>I have suggested that this is not cost-effective, and indeed we now don't
>>have the money for imminent required moves.  I have previously put forth the
>>idea of using either students or physical plant/maintenance staff.  Of
>>course the student idea was shot down because of liability issues.  But what
>>about maintenance staff?  Although I am not a piano mover per se, I've
>>probably witnessed enough moves and stood by insisting on removal of the
>>lyre, etc. to be able to instruct and provide guidance to those with the
>>brawn I lack.
>>
>>What do those on the list think?  How do your schools move pianos
>>internally, and what is your personal involvement?  Do you supervise or
>>instruct/teach proper moving techniques?  At $250 for one standard move, it
>>seems to me that a change in policy here could save our department literally
>>thousands of dollars.
>>
>>While we're on the moving topic: Do you yourselves ever move uprights, or
>>lend a hand positioning pianos on a recital stage or in a studio?  Just
>>curious.
>>
>>Paul Milesi RPT
>>Washington DC
>>(202) 246-3136 Cell/Text
>><mailto:paul at pmpiano.com>paul at pmpiano.com
>>http://www.pmpiano.com
>>

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