six exercises to acquire the independence of the two hands on the piano

What is the independence of the two hands?

Playing the piano requires mastering a good independence of both hands, that is to say being able to play two different parts at the same time. The characteristics of piano playing are essentially phrasing, nuances and rhythm.

The Profdepiano.com method was developed by a piano teacher in order to be able to quickly play a piece of your choice. Of course, working on the independence of both hands in parallel will make you a better pianist!

The phrasing:

This is the way to execute the different musical phrases. A melody is not just a succession of notes but a sequence of musical phrases. Although the palette of expression is made up of innumerable possibilities, the phrasing will be characterized by the absence or presence of suspensions between the notes in the execution of the same phrase. Without suspension we will speak of linked notes, legato, and with suspension we will speak of detached notes, staccato. On the score the composer will indicate the phrasing to be reproduced by distinctive signs. Of course, the two independent hands must be able to produce two different phrasings at the same time.

The nuances :

Dynamics indicate the relative intensity for playing a note or a group of notes. Les deux mains indépendantes devront être capables de jouer avec une intensité différente au même moment. The main nuance indications are from weakest to strongest, pianissimo, piano, forte, fortissimo.

Rhythm :

Rhythm is the organization of musical events in time. Iit determines the duration of the notes and the moment at which they should be heard. The two independent hands must be able to press keys at different times without influencing each other. Among the main figures of rhythm, from the longest to the shortest, exist the whole note, the half note, the quarter note, the eighth note and the sixteenth note.

Six exercises to acquire the independence of both hands on the piano:

To make progress, these exercises must be practiced regularly and at a slow speed. The speed can be increased as progress is made. Each category will be presented with a slow speed tutorial and a normal speed tutorial.

exercises to work on phrasing:

lThe exercise will consist in playing the notes do, re, mi, fa, sol, fa, mi, re, do successively, hands together but with initially the right hand linked (legato) and the left hand detached (staccato) at the same time then the reverse following.

exercises to work on nuances

the exercise will consist in playing the notes do, re, mi, fa, sol, fa, mi, re, do successively, the hands together but with initially the strong right hand (strong) and the weak left hand (piano ) at the same time then the reverse following.

exercises to work on the rhythm:

lthe exercise will consist of playing the notes do, re, mi, fa, sol, fa, mi, re, do successively, the hands together but with the right hand in eighth notes and the left hand in quarter notes at the same time that is to say one note out of two with respect to the right hand then the reverse following.

the second exercise will consist in playing the notes do, re, mi, fa, sol, fa, mi, re, do successively, the hands together but with initially the right hand in dotted notes / quavers and the left hand in quarter notes at the same time then the reverse following.

Exercises to work on chords:

the exercise will consist in playing the fragments of chords do-sol, re-fa, mi, re-fa, do-sol, re-fa and mi successively with the right hand and with the left hand simultaneously the chord fragments mi, re-fa, do-sol, re-fa, mi, re-fa, do-sol then the reverse following.

exercices pour travailler le canon :

This exercise will consist of playing a small piece in canon. The canon is a process of musical composition in which several instrumental voices play the same score but in a deferred manner. This exercise using the “very famous Brother Jacques” will require good concentration. It will be necessary to rehearse the two separate hands beforehand before playing them together.

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