Playing left and right hands, a question.

[dancook]

Up to now I've been playing right hand melodies and left hand block chords for well known chart/pop/etc songs.

I want to be also able to play both hands for more classical types of music. I'm starting with Enya, Watermark

https://musescore.com/user/102174/scores/119370

I've been practicing the right and the left separately, I have also started to play them together. I know what notes to play together from looking at the music - but I wonder if it would be bad practice to think it this way.

If I were to tap my feet and keep a beat, I could sing a long with it and it will naturally fall in with the beat.

Should I be trying to naturally let the right hand melody fall in with the left. Or 'force' it as I have been?

[kobethuy]

Up to now I've been playing right hand melodies and left hand block chords for well known chart/pop/etc songs.

I want to be also able to play both hands for more classical types of music. I'm starting with Enya, Watermark

https://musescore.com/user/102174/scores/119370

I've been practicing the right and the left separately, I have also started to play them together. I know what notes to play together from looking at the music - but I wonder if it would be bad practice to think it this way.

If I were to tap my feet and keep a beat, I could sing a long with it and it will naturally fall in with the beat.

Should I be trying to naturally let the right hand melody fall in with the left. Or 'force' it as I have been?

Instead of playing block chords, you basically spread the notes out ( the right term is appergiate). Now, what you are doing is laying out the beat by playing those left hands notes, you will notice the chord change in the strong beats, that's where the strong beat of the right hand melody kicks in.

Your method of playing might do you good at this level, but not at more complex music with more complex rhythms. Especially when dealing with syncopation, the melody is deliberately plays offbeat which can throw you off the piano.

[dancook]

Instead of playing block chords, you basically spread the notes out ( the right term is appergiate). Now, what you are doing is laying out the beat by playing those left hands notes, you will notice the chord change in the strong beats, that's where the strong beat of the right hand melody kicks in.

Your method of playing might do you good at this level, but not at more complex music with more complex rhythms. Especially when dealing with syncopation, the melody is deliberately plays offbeat which can throw you off the piano.

Thanks, I will read up on it some more then.

having listening to the music again in the link I posted, I can anticipate the melody based on the rhythm beat. So I think I'm on the right track mentally.