I was learning a bit of piano last year too, and found it very motivational to try to write my own songs. Even as a completely beginner and basically through pure trial and error, it was very fun. Then when I learned bits of theory it was nice to view my songs through that lens and see what resonated. (E.g. “ah that’s why this key sounds nice here: because it’s following the major scale I’m in”)
Oh, and I strongly second the “play the songs you want” approach. It’s so much more fun than trying to learn what you “should”.
I was learning a bit of piano last year too, and found it very motivational to try to write my own songs. Even as a completely beginner and basically through pure trial and error, it was very fun. Then when I learned bits of theory it was nice to view my songs through that lens and see what resonated. (E.g. “ah that’s why this key sounds nice here: because it’s following the major scale I’m in”)
Oh, and I strongly second the “play the songs you want” approach. It’s so much more fun than trying to learn what you “should”.