[rs1sensen]

I've begun taking my first keyboarding classes in college, having never had any piano experience whatsoever in the past. I can play melodies one-handed with no problem whatsoever, I fly through them. Where I'm having a lot of difficulty, and I can only assume it's a common trouble, is getting my hands to work together. Does anybody have any tips on how I can train myself to do that? I can do basic drone stuff with a repeated chord, but when it comes to even the simplest rhythm on the left hand, it's like my brain shuts down.

 

[ShedShark]

Practice hands separate and allow the stronger hand to teach the weaker hand. You'll have to learn some of the parts in both hands, though. In fact.. here's a great pdf on the subject. Best book I've seen:

http://members.aol.com/chang8828/contents.htm

Here's the direct link for the pdf:

http://members.aol.com/chang8825/completebook.pdf

I love this book.

Good luck.

 

[cann0nba11]

I had the same problem... the way I did it was to practice stuff super slow. It stinks at first, but you soon will get the feel for it. Start with just a few beats at a time. Work on the part slowly until it is 100% accurate. Then pick up the tempo. Then add a couple more beats.

You CAN do it!

 

[bobsax]

Get a real book and play the melody with your right hand then play the root of the chord with your left hand.
You have a lot of freedom to play the roots but at first keep them simple. If the chord changes every 4 beats just play a whole note.
(get each hand down before you put them together)
---from there the sky's the limit---good luck.