Hey
@cowparsleyman and
@PeteS .... Hmmm not sure I'm the right person to advise tbh as I came at piano a different route... I learned classical piano and harp as a kid up to diploma level (through all the grades) and tbh I hated both with a passion by the time I was finished... And didn't play for many many years..
I also found that by learning using sheet music (and it might not be like this for everyone), I was tied to said sheet music and I found it really hard to break from that.. I learnt to play whistle in a completely organic way and I've always had a more fluid approach to it (within its limitations of course)...
My route back to it was actually through my (rather awful) guitar playing... My other half actually went out and bought me a keyboard pointing out that I could probably do a better job on something I could actually play
.... So I kind of took that approach - I started playing piano like I played the guitar - playing songs I loved using chords as accompaniment (that obviously I knew for all keys) to kind of break me free of my tie to written music... and then took it from there... So obviously I had the skills and touch from years before but suddenly the piano became a very versatile and enjoyable instrument for me...
SO..... I guess, you already have the skills on the guitar and it sounds like you're transferring that over... So perhaps fluidity is something to aim for - scales, arpeggios etc? just like you would practice the guitar? My older daughter learns guitar and drums - and she LOVES playing piano - she accompanies herself using mainly chords but I did teach her the basic fingering, scales etc.. to help her find her way around a keyboard as smoothly as possibly..
If you're going to get lessons, I would suggest getting a jazz player who can start you with basic blues and then advance to jazz-type stuff... Not necessarily because that's what you'll play, but I think the constructs and frameworks are so versatile, they'll be of great value.. You're right it can get expensive but if you lay out your needs and even say have a couple of starter lessons and then again every month or so - if you get the right teacher this can work really well...
I'm not familiar with Rockschool..
I'm fairly sure that's NO help to you at all - I didn't like to ignore the call for help
I'm sure someone who's come at it from where you are now would be able to steer with more relevance. .
Good luck with it!
Karen