I’ve been blogging a lot about my new piano and how I first created an illusionary piano to solidify it’s existence in my own mind – and how it turned into a real piano that is now changing my life and my work.
Illusions becoming reality is one story – but even when dreams come true, there’s still work involved – and we had to get this 800-pound dream from Charlotte, NC to a second story music room with a narrow curving stairway in Arlington, MA.
This post is about how that happened – which you may need to know if you’re ever gifted a grand piano and have to move it across state lines. It took 3 moving companies: the “Local Guy” in Charlotte, NC (Carolina Piano Movers), the mysterious interstate moving company (Keyboard Carriage.) and my local guys Gentle Giant (Allston Piano Movers).
Here’s the story in pictures & video of how it happened.
The Pickup
It leaves Betsey & Dick’s house in Charlotte thanks to Ryan and his crew at Carolina Piano Movers.
The Mysterious Interstate Journey
Ryan takes the piano to his storeroom until Keyboard Carriage – the interstate movers – are ready. Then they rendezvous, and Ryan puts it on Keyboard Carriage’s big truck that drops pianos off all along the East Coast – including to ‘Gentle Giant’ in the Boston area.
Here’s a photo from my web research of the Keyboard Carriage truck. So why is there a motorcycle in the the back of the truck? Well, it turns out that Keyboard Carriage specializes in moving pianos … and motorcycles. New evidence of my belief that there’s a genetic connection between harps and bicycles.
The Receiving End
Gentle Giant’s crane and big truck arrive:
The crane maneuvers up the driveway and Rooty plumbs it and stabilizes it with wood:
The piano emerges!
Time for a strategy session. Patrick, the crew chief (on the right) is cogitating on the best angle to fly the piano in the back porch.
My favorite part … they fly my piano in. I made a little video for this part:
The piano appears over the horizon of the house with Nathan and Patrick ready to catch it and Chad running lines of communication with Rooty, the crane operator.
A view through the screen door of the piano coming onto the back porch:
The piano rides a dolly through the house to its new home.
Another strategy session …
Patrick points out to me the dowels that help stabilize the piano legs
Leg #1 goes on — notice the massive hammer
The piano is upright! Nathan and Patrick crawl underneath like car mechanics to add the lyre – the pedals and the mechanism that connects the pedals to the hammers.
It’s a REAL piano!
I take my place on the bench:
I am ousted by the heir apparent. But not for long:
I bring down the manuscripts I’m editing together for “The Golden Cage” musical, put them on the piano, and get to work. This is the moment I’ve been waiting for:
And … folks … we have achieved lift-off
Thank you so much to Betsey & Dick Sessler, to Gloria Hodes with “Music & Masque”, to John, Joe, Patrick, Nathan, Chad, Rooty and Anna at Gentle Giant (Allston Piano Movers), Ryan & Teeya at Carolina Piano Movers and Rick at Keyboard Carriage. Also to the kind folks, Julie and Dan, at Modern Piano, the one company that does do interstate piano moves from door to door (they spent a lot of time talking to me, but the timing worked out better for us to use the 3-part transport)
Every one of these piano-moving companies spent time with me on the phone, responded when they said they would, arrived on time, were communicative, kind, careful – and that made such a difference.
And Betsey & Dick — come on up any time to hear the rest of the piano concert I started at your house in April!
How fun to watch your new baby arrive – we all felt your “proud mom” moment!
Yeeeees, Tracey … the stork may bring tiny babies, but you definitely need a crane for an 800 pound baby!
Wonderful!
Love that new piano and the house as well… 🙂
Thanks, Hans-Stefan – I hope you come to visit it someday!
Holy Moses!!! You do realize that you must live forever in this house – or the piano must, as I don’t think you’ll get it out again!! ( This crew will say, “Deborah WHO??!” ) I probably would have had a heart attack before you got this far! But good for you!
Ha ha, Daisy – and why would I ever leave this house, as long as the piano is here?
Amazing journey, thank you for sharing and now enjoy that beautiful piano and the wonderful music you will create on it!
Thanks Suzanne! I hope to be posting many more stories about what this piano is bringing into my life.
Deborah, so glad to follow this incredible journey and to read of the gifts the new piano is bringing to you. You ROCK media!! Enjoy this next part of your creative journey!
I am sooooo enjoying this, Teddy – thank you!
wow – fantastic video of the flying piano – love it!!!!! What a monumental effect from the carriers all the way!!!!
I know! Exciting, eh? And it puts any complaints I ever had about moving my harp into a new context!
Hi Cousin Deb,
Thanks for sharing the great piano adventure…great to see more of your life and home and your ventures.
Love,
John
Thanks Cousin John! I guess it’s only fair since I got to see YOUR home and ventures last year. How are the ducks??
I love your story of this piano. I remember when I had an old upright delivered to my house but that was on the first floor. They had to get it from a 2nd floor apt. I notice that your cat had to test drive it too! I really enjoy reading your blogs!!!
Thank you so much, Julie! Yes – the CAT! I can’t wait ’til the first time she walks over the keys – I’ve always loved that sound.
OMG! How fabulous! Isn’t it a thrill, living a life long dream! I would have needed a tranquilizer for the flying!!!! I was a wreck when they were moving mine and it was nothing compared to yours. I had my own of piano experience last year. After dreaming of a baby grand my whole life I finally bought one after a sudden death in the family reminded me how short life is, which is ironic given my cancer detour.
I went looking for something simple that would do and found my dream piano for almost a song. It’s all frilly and girly like me, with hand carved floral Louis XV curved legs, all original from 1938. It’s a moment of pure bliss every time I see it, even after a year. Thank you for posting the video, that was amazing! I’m so excited for you!!! I can’t wait to hear all of the new music you two create! More piano videos! Enjoy your new baby! 🙂
Ha, Jenavieve. I decided to just enjoy the heck out of the flying. AFTERWARDS they told me the piano was 100% insured (not because they were keeping it from me) – but the fact that I had to let go of what might ‘happen’ and just enjoy the flight actually released something in my soul.
And oh wow – your piano sounds wonderful! Do post a picture if you have one!
Can I just say how absurdly happy it makes me that a combined piano and motorcycle removal business even exists. It has lifted my spirits like you wouldn’t believe. I am still searching for a way to mix harps and motorbikes (beyond the cheesy Hell’s Angel thing which really is not me)… and this post reminded me that sometimes bizarre combinations of things just do happen along and smack you in the chops.
I wish you many happy years working and playing away on your piano,
Me, too, Katherine! When they told me that their specialties were motorcycles and pianos I was – like you said – “absurdly happy” (well put!) Somehow it proves something to me (not sure what) about things that go together in life.
Hi Deborah,
a big event seeing your new piano flying thru the air …
I’m looking forward to your first melodies from this wonderful instrument!
Greetings from Mainz