PLEASE help me with left hand independence!!!

[jamieg1995]

Hi, i'm Jamie and im 13.
I enjoy playing anything on the piano and i learn by ear.
I'm an ok pianist but i struggle with playing two handed music that has a different melody.
I know how to play both hands of some melodies but i have a problem with playing them together, whichever hand i'm focusing on, the other i muck up.

Please, if anyone can help me i will be very grateful and take in to account all your ideas.

Thanks a lot
Jamie.
 

[rhpatten]

Try to find a pattern for your left hand that you can repeat a few times over, while the right hand wanders off on its own with the melody.

For example, try Oh When The Saints -- Go Marching In,  in Key C. That is, on only the white notes. 

The right hand will start C - E - F - G.  When you get to the G on the word Saints, in the left hand play the following pattern on the notes one octave lower:  C - E - G - E.   Before you go any farther, play this Left Hand (LH) pattern over and over and over again, until you get used to it and it becomes 'automatic'. 

Now start the piece again with the RH and add your pattern in the left hand as before, and keep it going.  The right hand then plays C - E - F - G again, corresponding to Go Marching In at the same time exactly as you play your LH pattern.   You then keep repeating your LH pattern while the RH plays the next line of melody, until it gets to the next time of the word In.  Here the harmony changes, so the left hand should change too, to something like G - F [7above] - B - F.  Later, on the word "Be" you go back to your first LH pattern.   At "Number", in the LH you go something like F - A - C - A.   "Saints" is the first (C) LH pattern,  "Marching" is the second (G) pattern, and the final "In" is the C pattern.   

Sorry if this looks a bit garbled!!!  But if you are up for it, you should find that I am describing something that should be basically simple and repetitive in the LH.

If it works, you will have used the famous 3 Basic Chords which can work for any Major Key melody.  You can try slightly different patterns using the same sets of notes in the LH, or clunk them all down together as a chord, or play ONLY THE FIRST ONE  of each group, which is about the simplest you can get.

Congratulations on getting so far:  now you can go a bit farther.    All good wishes,
                                                                               Robert Patten

[jamieg1995]

Thanks a lot Rob, i'll try it as soon as i get back from school.]
Once again thanks a bunch.

Jamie.

[shortyshort]

I'm no expert myself, but the L/H pattern described below should help a lot.

I have spent ages repeating L/H patterns, and their variations, in a piece.

I also add the "bernhard" dropping notes method.

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,1651.msg14344.html#msg14344

[angelislayer]

Hi,

I think one thing that has helped me a great deal is something called Hands Separate Practice. Practice each hand separately until you know each part very well. Then, slowly, begin to play Hands Together. You'll find that all of the practice you did Hands Separate and the memory you formed will make the transition Hands Together a lot easier and faster.

Take your time to learn each hand's part. Enough time so you can play with your eyes closed, mostly, with each hand separately.

Good luck!

[jamieg1995]

Thanks for you help both of you!

I'll try that hands separate thing with a kind of bogie woggie type piece that i know

Also that "oh when the saints" method is useful as well and i have improved through hard practice thanks to you all.

Jamie

[jamieg1995]

Hi guys

Just wanted to say i finally got the hang of a boogie woogie piece I have been struggling with for ages.

Just wanted to say thanks for your help again and im sooo grateful for it.

Jamie

[shortyshort]

Hi guys

Just wanted to say i finally got the hang of a boogie woogie piece I have been struggling with for ages.

Just wanted to say thanks for your help again and im sooo grateful for it.

Jamie

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