Left Right hand coordination

[xiaoken]

I find that the more I concentrate on either hand, my concentration decreases on the other. This has effectively limited me to playing pieces with simple bass parts since I tend to concentrate on my right hand.

Any way to "decouple" my hands from each other?

[amp]

Have you played the Bach inventions? Try number 8, you can find it online for free at https://www.sheetmusicarchive.net  Practice each hand separately, very slowly (sometimes painfully slow). Use a metronome. Speed up as you learn the notes better. Eventually, put the hands together, make sure each unique part comes through. It should be very even and precise. This will help you to be able to think of two unique parts at the same time. Notice, they are little fugues.

This will help with independence of the fingers, plus strengthen them. Once you are done, move on to another one. (some are easier than others, you will be able to tell).

Hope this helps! Do you study with a teacher?

[xiaoken]

There is a 2-Part Invention #8 and a 3-Part Invention #8. You're talking about the 2-Part Invention #8, right?

I do not yet have a teacher, but I try to read as many books as possible on the subject of piano playing.

[BoliverAllmon]

Think of what your left hand does. Drill the notes into your memory. After a while, you will no longer being playing with either your left or right hand, but will be playing a song. You just begin to think this way.

Boliver Allmon III

[amp]

Yes, I was talking about the 2 part inventions.

[rachfan]

xiaoken, the easiest way to decouple the hands is to spend some time practicing a piece hands alone.  This is essential for beginner and intermediate students in particular.  Advanced students need only do this in certain very difficult passages within a piece.  When you say that your concentration on the LH decreases, another way of putting that, quite honestly, is that you simply do not know the LH part.  The first time you play the LH alone--finding that you are out of rhythm, hitting a few wrong notes, etc.--will immediately and conclusively make that point in spades.  Thus, you need to practice each hand alone such that they can stand completely independently of one another.  Then the challege is to merge the hands to create a unified and musical interpretation.

[tosca1]

Dear xiaoken,
You have been given some excellent advice but it seems that you are beginner at the piano and it would be better for you to try some easier Bach than the two and three part inventions which are for more advanced players.  What about the Anna Magdalena Bach pieces which are a good starting for simple contrapuntal playing and excellent material for developing independence of the hands and fingers?  
The Robert Schumann Album for the Young has some very attractive short pieces at the beginning in which the left hand plays a gentle accompaniment to a charming cantilena in the right hand.  Simple, yet musically satisfying material for you to practise very slowly and hands separately.
Be patient and work diligently.
Robert.

[rachfan]

Hello again xiaoken,

tosca1 is right.  I had overlooked the fact that you are a beginner.  Plus you say you're learning without a teacher.  So, yes, I agree with him that you need to select pieces more appropriate to the beginner.  Become secure in those before tackling the more difficult pieces that you are struggling with now.

[xiaoken]

Thanks for the advice. I've been working on those bach inventions, but indeed progress has been painfully slow.

I'll look into those materials suggested.

By the way, is there any websites that has the sheet music of those materials?