Folks,

To what degree do you think it is essential for someone at a low to medium intermediate level--aspiring maybe to early advanced someday--to practice scales and exercises (such as Hanon and/or Czerny) hands together--as opposed to separately. I am referring of course to exercises where identical notes are played in both left and right hand.

I find that I can concentrate much better on playing legato with even tempo and dynamics--when I do so hands separately. (I'm sure that comes as no surprise to anyone.) I can also work more effectivelyon increasing velocity while maintaining those even qualities.

To my partially educated way of thinking, there would be only two reasons for playing such scales and exercises hands together--(1) to build greater coordination between the hands and (2) to maximize the use of time while exercising.

This also gives me the ability to exercise the left hand more heavily--a topic addressed in an earlier thread by a different forum member.

I would appreciate comments and advice--especially taking into account my personal goals stated above--i.e., that I do not aspire to professional quality--but do want to be the best amateur I can be.

Thanks,

Russ

Those seem like two pretty good reasons to me.

Opus 64, No 2 Waltz of Chopin will teach you appreciation of a small stay with Hanon.
Check out the fingerings as listed here: http://imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/6/...600dpi_scan.pdf
Finger 4 is used at the start of each measure in the arpeggios for the piu mosso. Can you pull this off easily? No struggle? Tempted to use strange fingerings to compensate?

If so - try Hanon for a month or two, and you will play this effortlessly.

Some of the best pianists at using both hands are jazzers. Oscar Peterson makes it look easy but admitted he had to work really hard at it.
When you start playing Bach fugues which have more than one voice, you will see the importance of both hands.