The illusion of hand independence

1. What is hand independence?
2. Why is hand independence so hard?

What is hand independence?

Hand independence on the piano is the ability to play using both hands in such a way that they seem to be working independently of each other. This means one hand is playing certain keys while the other may be moving rapidly up and down the piano to hit other keys.

Why is hand independence so hard?

Hand independence for beginners can be QUITE the feat. ... When learning a new piece, playing with both hands may be nearly impossible at times. This is due to the technical difficulty of the piece in correlation to the technical skill of the pianist.