How to Give Away a Piano

Posting the Piano Online

Photograph the piano for the listing. It's important for people to be able to see what your piano looks like when you post it online. Take clear pictures with lots of lighting, capturing several different angles of the piano. You can use a real camera or the camera on your phone. Take the pictures during the day to make use of natural lighting.

Include information about the piano's condition in your post. State whether or not the piano is in good working condition, if it just needs to be tuned, or if it really doesn't work at all anymore. This information will help people decide if they want the piano or not.

State who will pick up and drop off the piano. If you're willing to deliver the piano to another person yourself, say this in the post. If the piano requires someone else to come and pick it up from you, include this information so that they're aware they'll need transportation big enough to accommodate the piano. If the other person needs to pick up the piano, but you're willing to help them move it into their vehicle, you can state this as well.

Post the piano on Craigslist to reach a wide audience. Craigslist is a quick and easy way to post your piano online so that people in the area will be able to find it. Choose your location before creating a post under the “for sale” category at https://www.craigslist.org/about/sites. You can post the piano in the “free” section of the “for sale” category, or you can post it under “music instr.” Post at least 1 picture of your piano so that people know what it looks like. State whether the person will need to transport the piano themselves, or if you’ll provide help in moving the piano.

Advertise your piano on your local Facebook classifieds page. If you have a Facebook profile, you can join the classifieds page for your city or town. Post a description of your piano with a picture, and see if anyone messages you that they're interested. For example, if you live in Nashville, type in, "Nashville classifieds" into the Facebook search box to find the classifieds group in your area. Clarify in your post that you're giving the piano away, as well as whether or not the person will need to move the piano themselves.

Use a piano adoption site to find a new home for your piano. Piano adoption sites such as https://pianoadoption.com/ allow you to list your piano as free. Choose your location, and then click on “List Your Free Piano.” You’ll need to create an account on the website before listing the piano. Provide your zip code and contact information so that people can contact you if they’re interested in picking up the piano.

Donating the Piano

Donate the piano to The Beethoven Foundation. This foundation helps provide scholarships to students who excel in music. Provide your specific location and the type of piano you have at http://www.beethovenfoundation.com/donatepiano. A volunteer will get in touch with you if they can accept the piano. The Beethoven Foundation will pick up the piano for you, free of cost.

Give your piano to Pianos for Education, an alternative foundation. Pianos for Education loans out pianos to schools, community centers, or individuals to help support piano education. Fill out a piano donation form at http://pianosforeducation.org/donate-piano. If your donation form is accepted, they'll arrange a time to come pick up your piano for you.

Ask nearby schools or universities if they need a piano. Many school music departments or enrichment programs need pianos for their students. Contact local schools and universities, including elementary, middle, and high schools, to see if they’d be interested in taking your piano. This option is best for pianos that are working well.

Offer to give the piano to a local church or nonprofit. Reach out to churches in the area, as well as local nonprofits, to see if they would have a use for the piano. It would be going to a great cause, and it’s likely that a group of people from the church or nonprofit would help you move the piano.

Moving the Piano

Hire a professional mover if stairs are involved. Going up or down more than a few stairs while moving a piano can be very dangerous, so it’s best to leave this to the professionals. Ask a friend or go online to find a reliable mover near you. There may be an additional charge for lots of steps. Don’t forget to tip your movers! If your piano is incredibly heavy, it's also best if you hire a professional mover.

Gather a group of at least 4 people to move the piano yourself. If you’re going to move the piano yourself, ask a group of at least 4 strong, able-bodied people to help you out. Make sure you’re all wearing comfortable clothes and close-toed shoes. Avoid wearing any dangly jewelry—it could get caught in the piano.

Plan out the route you’ll take to remove the piano. Clear a space for the piano so that you won’t be bumping into furniture or other things while you’re getting it out. Consider the route you’ll take to remove it, and do any measuring, if necessary. If your piano is especially large, measure the doorways and hallways to ensure it will be able to fit.

Wrap the piano in thick moving blankets to protect its surface. Use heavy-duty moving blankets if possible, but other thick blankets will also work. Make sure the entire piano is covered in the blankets, and secure them in place using tape or plastic stretch wrap. The thicker the layer of blankets, the better—2-3 layers of blanket is ideal. Wrap the tape or stretch wrap around the entire piano multiple times so ensure the blankets don't move.

Use a dolly if you’re moving an upright piano. A dolly, perfect for moving pianos, usually has 4 legs—you place the piano evenly on the flat surface of the dolly, and then roll the piano out. These are good for upright pianos as they hold the piano’s weight, and make moving it much easier. You can find a dolly at a local hardware store, some big box stores, or online.

Secure a grand piano to a piano board after removing the legs. Grand pianos are trickier to move; you’ll want to carefully take the legs off, if possible, before lowering and securing the lid of the piano. Your team will carefully lift the piano onto a piano board and strap it in place. You can then place the piano board onto a dolly for easier transportation. If you’re trying to move a grand piano of 1,000 pounds (450 kg) or more, it’s best to hire a professional. Make sure the piano is wrapped in heavy blankets before it’s strapped to the piano board. Wrap the legs and pedals in separate blankets if they were removed.

Lift the piano evenly and carefully. Have each person in your group lift 1 side of the piano slowly and carefully, distributing the weight evenly. Move the piano onto the dolly or piano board, securing it with furniture straps so that it doesn’t move or slip off. The piano will be wrapped in blankets and slippery tape, so make sure you have a good grip before lifting. Position the dolly and/or piano board next to the piano so that you don’t have to lift the piano far.

Roll the dolly carefully into the truck or other vehicle. Move slowly and gently, having people on each side of the piano to make sure it doesn’t fall off. Once you get to the truck, roll the piano carefully up a ramp. Have at least 2 people helping to push the back end of the piano up the ramp to avoid injury. Move the left side of the piano (the bass keys) up the ramp first since this is the heavier side. If you’re not using a ramp, you’ll need to carefully and slowly lift the piano into the vehicle, using at least 4 people to help distribute the weight. Place things around the piano once it’s in the vehicle so that it’s more stable.