I bought a williams digital piano from guitar center on April of 2023 and i started playing piano self taught.

I ordered some of those key labels to help me identify keys on the piano, than I immediately went to Youtube to start learning some of my favorite Nocturnes, and Etudes.

Fast forward a few months later. I trade in my williams piano for something with better sound and better key action. The Yamaha ydp 145

At this time im still using the key stickers and learning stuff from youtube note by note. Obviously i was still lacking basic piano theory, form, proper fingering, and anything else you can think of.

The whole time i knew this way of learning wouldn’t be sustainable long term. Although I was partially learning pieces that I shouldn’t be trying to learn it sorta worked, but i lacked all theory, and understanding what im even playing.

Fast forward a few more months i finally got rid of the note names on the keys and finally started understanding the keys and notes

Fast forward to now. I recently landed on a piano teacher and i am blessed to have her. I am almost 2 months in and i can now read sheet music. I understand dynamic and basic theory. I am working on my first grade 1 piece along with learning Hanan exercises and i also have a adult piano book. Now that i am in lessons every week i have a more consistent and thorough study regimen and the progress feels great! Just a heads up im learning as a 30 year old adult.

We are moving along quite nicely and the progress has been fun. As of now my sight-reading is still horrible. It may take me an hour for my brain to understand 1 hanan exercise but at least i can read it and understand it and play it slowly and im very excited about that.

I told myself once i learn sheet music and get to a level that im satisfied with i will buy my dream grand piano, and im super pumped for that purchase in a few months.