Hi I'm new and i'm learning to play the piano on my own. I just started a couple of days ago and can play the keys and read the music. The only problem I have is when I play something with my left hand and try to play something diffrent with my right hand i get confused and end up playing the same thing with both hands. Any advice or tips for a beginner on playing the treble and bass cleff simultaneously?

well i can't really recommend anything special, just to practise and practise. there is no easy answer, but you could try playing them seperately and then try piecing it together gradually.

remember, it takes on average the pianist a year or two to develop moderate sight reading skills.

I have a bit of advice. Try this:

~Move the hands in contrary motion on a scale. Try the C major scale. Start the RH thumb on the middle C as well as the LH thumb. Move the RH up one note at the same time as the LH moves down one note at a time. This might not seem like it helps too much, but it will get you used to playing in contrary motion. After you have completed ascending the scale in the RH and descending the scale in the LH, do the opposite. Ascend the LH and descend the RH.
~Try making the LH play the same note, for example C, in eighth notes, accenting every other note starting with the first. Then when you're doing that, bring in the RH moving in quarter notes ascending the C major scale then descending upon reaching an octave above middle C. You can reverse this exercise, as well. The quarter notes (whichever hand they are being played in) should come in on each beat, not the offbeat. This means that the accented eighth notes will occur at the same time as the quarter notes.

Gnomish, you confused me :P

Anyways, you could try playing the same simple melody with both hands. Get them used to playing together before you get them playing different things separately.

nah it's not confusing, i get it.

use your LH and play repeated eight note on C, then use RH play a C major scale while your LH is playing repeated eight notes. (i think that's right lol). But i think that's a great exercise for your brain.

Also you can always buy a cheap Beyer practise book for beginner, and just follow that. It gives you very many exercises, if you can finish the Beyer's practise book, you'll be able to play Czerny's studies, then you'll be on your road to success ^_^

Book by Hanon is also great for practising your finger's independence. Remember while your playing piano, NEVER USE YOUR ARM TO PLAY!!! USE FINGERS, hold your arms while your playing single handedly if you have to. NEVER DEVELOPE THAT HABIT! it's the habit that will be very hard to fix. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!!!
Rather have a STIFF hand than a hand that move UP AND DOWN and PUSHING against the piano instead of playing it.

Just practice with your left hand alone for a LOOOONG time. IF you already know your right hand put them together and that should work. IF you don't know either hand very well, I suggest you practice them seperately very slowly or get a piano teacher (Always a good solution XD)

Here's 2 older threads that might be of help ~
Self Learning (piano) (http://forums.ichigos.com/index.php?showtopic=961)
Self teaching piano ? (http://forums.ichigos.com/index.php?showtopic=697)

thanks! those exercises should help. I can play O'Canada and Star spangled banner with ease after only a week. I've always wanted to learn to play the piano but sadly my parents never put me through lessons :(. And i don't want to take lessons from an instructor because I would feel embaressed because I'm 21 years old and don't want to feel like an idiot while he is trying to teach me chopsticks or something very simple.

can anyone recommend sheet music for a beginer to an intermdiate piano player? preferably something from this site because it is so nicely arranged with the midi' and the sheets

There is another thread on recommended piano piece. Take a look at it. I hope that this is what you mean and that this will help.

recommend an anime piece... (http://forums.ichigos.com/index.php?showtopic=919)

I would feel embaressed because I'm 21 years old and don't want to feel like an idiot while he is trying to teach me chopsticks or something very simple.

Actually it's not as bad as having a late 20s person learning piano, my mom's friend's sister wanted to learn piano, and she's almost 30!! She actually doing very well. It's just the dedication of going into learning piano that counts, not your age. My teachers teaches a guy who's like 25. ^_^ so don't be embarrased. IT'S MUSIC!!! IT'S PIANO!!!

If you go into any trouble we're here to help :P just enjoy

Don't feel embarrassed. :) My old teacher's business card always said, "All ages welcome!" Just make sure that the teacher knows that y ou're serious about it. :) It's probably better to start off with a teacher as to evade learning something the wrong way and getting into bad habits while playing :/

G'luck, either way!

ehehe. noone expectz ya to be that coordinated yet [[after a couple of dayz that is]] well maybe if youve already played another instrument.. but in any case just work on the coordination with contraries and randOm oblique tunes :) [[or play cs :D itz great for coordination]] but my best advice is.. slow dOwn.