Are you moving abroad and wondering how can you ship your piano? Do you need to relocate to another country and you are unsure about the transport of your musical instrument? Here some tips! Whether you are relocating to another neighbourhood, another city or another country, moving first-class musical instruments such as pianos, harps or violins is a delicate process, which needs to be done with extremely care. Due to the own nature of these instruments, the minor action can cause them severe damage. Therefore, knowing the best measures to protect them during a move overseas is one of the best ways to ensure a safety arrival in their destination. As it’s said, “prevention is the best medicine”. 1) Preparing the international shipment in due time As musical instruments need special handling, it’s important that you try to set time aside for arranging their move… well in advance! Leaving the things for the last minute might increase the risk of taking unsatisfactory choices. At this point, it can be a good idea to list all the moving details. Consider things such as: Where is currently placed the musical instrument (area easy to access with a lorry, building without lift…)? Where will be placed your musical instrument (accessible area, last floor of a house…)? Which is the approximate weight of the musical instrument (this is relevant to know the number of people required to move it)? Is your instrument sensitive to temperature? Will you require your instrument in the destination by a particular deadline? Do you have a receipt of its purchase to proof its value in case of any problem? 2) Who should move the instrument: self-move vs. professional movers? This might depend on your resources and the type of instrument. For delicate and big size music instruments, it’s more convenient and safer to contact a specialised provider. They have experience in moving and handling musical instruments, and they have the right resources to transport the instrument in the most appropriate conditions. What to look for in a moving specialist for your instrument? Experience on moving musical instruments Professional handlers Easiness to contact them before, during and after your move in order to ask them any question you might have 3) Packing the instrument to be shipped internationally Either if you are packaging your instrument by yourself or the moving company does it, it’s important to know some basic aspects when packing your instrument to ensure the maximum protection: Check if you can take some parts apart of your musical instrument. For example, in the case of brass instruments, you can remove the mouthpiece; for drums, you can separate some pieces; for string instruments, you can lose the strings… Musical instruments need extra cushioning and protection: using bubble wrap or other special packing materials to add extra coverage will ensure that they do not move in their packaging and that they are protected during the transport. Choose packages or boxes that fit the size of the instrument so it doesn’t move. Indicate on their package that they are fragile 4) After it has arrived… Wait some hours before using the instrument is adjusted to the environment, especially if it is sensitive to temperature. Do you need to ship some music instrument abroad? Contact your local Crown Relocations advisor or directly ask for a free moving quote.