Piano Notes - How To Achieve Hand Independence on the Piano

"I'm losing the left-hand," cried one piano student. "Everywhile talking to someone. In fact, you should be able to
time I try to add in my right hand, the left stops"keep the left hand going while doing anything else.
exclaims another.That's how automatic it can become with a little
These are common complaints for students who wishpractice. Then you add in the right hand to improvise a
to learn hand independence. And for most, this is a bigmelody.
problem. They want to play the piano with both handsBut here is where most students mess up. Why?
playing different parts. But the main reason most pianoBecause they try to play something too complicated
students have problems with this is because they tryor sophisticated in the right hand. Here's the answer -
to play too fast!go as slow as you need too to maintain the left hand!
Hand independence is one area that takes some timeThere's no need to rush. If all you can play is one note,
(not too much time) but some time to achieve. And thisthen play that note. This isn't to say that you shouldn't
too depends on how complicated the hands tasks are.play around with the possibilities and experiment with
START OUT GOING SLOW!your right hand. It is to say that if you're a speed
For example, in the lesson "Winter Scene" we have ademon here, you're defeating your own purpose.
left hand ostinato pattern going while the right handWhen a simple ostinato pattern becomes second
improvises a melody. This lesson uses just 2 chords innature, you can get more sophisticated in the left hand.
closed position. By giving you only 2 chords, IFor instance, in lesson 60 "Sea Caves," we use over
conveniently limit the left hand's ability to go all over thean octave in the left hand while the right plays sixth
place.notes and single note runs.
You start out by going slow and easy until the leftHand independence is something you can achieve -
hand is so automatic that you can play the patternbut you must have patience.