You may remember that a while ago, I finally learned how to play music! I was using flowkey to learn how to play piano, but after using it for a while, I’ve decided to use YouTube tutorials instead. And, I did go back to using the Duolingo music course again. Between the tutorials and the Duolingo course, I feel like I’m really starting to understand music! Who knows, maybe before 2026 is over, I’ll release a song!
Tag: Learning
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My CPA journey, so far.
As many of you know, I returned to school in March 2025 for one final career. I decided that I would become a forensic accountant. I am currently enrolled in a special certificate program that is only for students who already have a Bachelor’s degree (or higher) NOT in accounting and need the accounting classes to take the CPA exam.
I have been doing very well so far! I’ve taken Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Business and Professional Ethics, Intermediate Accounting 1, Intermediate Accounting 2, Principles of Marketing, and Business Law 2. As the summer semester has just finished, I only have five classes left for my certificate!
Next semester, in the fall semester, I am enrolled in Tax Accounting and Auditing, and then I’m down to the last three classes for my certificate! I’m planning on taking Advanced Tax Accounting in spring 2027, Small Business Accounting in summer 2027, and then Advanced Accounting in fall 2027. Then, in 2028, I will start taking the sections of the CPA exam!
This has been a very fascinating journey so far. And I’m not even close to being finished yet!
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I’m also learning how to draw!
2026 really will be the year that I learn how to do things I’ve always wanted to do! In April 2026, I learned how to play chess. In June 2026, I learned how to play piano. Now, in late June 2026, I’m learning how to draw!
I’m learning how to draw with Simply Draw. Once I get the basics down, I’ll use more resources. I’ve always wanted to learn how to draw, but I’ve always failed spectacularly at it! Even after a few lessons, I’m still not any good at drawing, but I know this will take time. Even though I’m disappointed in how badly my first drawings look, I know that if I keep practicing, I’ll improve. I won’t give up, like I did so many times before this!
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I am finally learning how to play music.
My parents gave me a musical name. So, you’d think that I had music lessons as a child, especially since my name is Melodía. I didn’t. I desperately wanted to learn how to play piano, but my parents never signed me up for music or piano lessons. The only “music education” I ever got was in elementary school, where I (badly) played songs on the recorder in “Music” class. I did join Chorus at the second elementary school I attended. However, I still didn’t get any music lessons. Later, I was the lead singer of two bands, one in high school and the other in college. After my second band split up, I decided I would try to become a female Trent Reznor and I would record my own music.
It was 2002 when I decided to walk into the local musical shop. I looked at the keyboards, not really sure which one I wanted. I looked at several Yamaha keyboards, but they were all so very expensive! I finally decided to ask an employee. I told him I wanted to be Trent Reznor, but on a budget. I also told him I didn’t know how to play music and I was hoping that the keyboard would be designed for beginners. He took me to the Casio CTK-558. He told me that even though it was marketed as a keyboard, it was also a synthesizer. He told me it was for beginners and that I could learn how to play on it. He also showed me the MIDI ports and told me I could connect it to my computer to record music. I was sold! Not only was the Casio CTK-558 cheaper than all the Yamaha keyboards I was looking at, but I also got a nice discount because I bought the floor model. Awesome! Being a floor model, it does have a couple of dings under the keyboard, but I’ll never see those. I was just happy to get a nice keyboard/synthesizer for a very low price!
Well, sadly, I only got to use the Casio a few times before I got super busy at work. My poor Casio sat there in the corner for years, waiting for me to finally use it. I moved quite a few times since 2002 and my Casio came with me on every move. Even though I hadn’t been using it, I wasn’t going to give up on it. I just knew one day that I would finally play it.
That day came on June 1, 2026! I saw that Duolingo had a music course and I decided to give it a try. It wasn’t as good as I hoped, but it made me realize that my dream of learning how to play piano and create my own music is still possible! I dumped Duolingo and tried flowkey instead. I love it! My ancient Casio keyboard works flawlessly with flowkey! I’m almost finished with the very first course for beginners. I can’t believe that in just a few days, I learned how to play 5 songs! I was musically illiterate before this, and now I can read and understand sheet music! I like to do the drills, exercises, and warmups to keep the notes and finger placements fresh in my mind.
As I start to get more comfortable playing music, I think I will start adding music to my Twitch livestreams. Also, I downloaded Sonar by BandLab so that I can finally do the thing I set out to do in 2002: record music on my computer! And, yes, my computer (and Sonar) works flawlessly with my ancient Casio keyboard! I even recorded a test loop that I created myself on the Casio. I’ll hang on to it, since it’s my very first one. You never know, I might actually use it someday.
Finally, I am doing what my name says I do. Music! Not just listening to it, but also playing and creating it!
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An update on my chess progress.
If you’ve been keeping up with my chess progress, then you’ll know that I only started playing chess very recently and that I started on chess.com. On chess.com, I played my very first game to a draw. After a while, I left chess.com and moved on to Lichess. Then, I discovered chess on Duolingo and started playing games on Duolingo (and even winning games there).
Well, I’ve decided to leave Duolingo and just stick with Lichess. Duolingo was fun, but the games on there weren’t really challenging. I won every game I played, and I think it was because chess on Duolingo is probably geared toward more casual players who maybe play a chess game here and there, but are not interested in learning more. I’m not trying to be in a tournament or anything like that; I just want to get a good challenge.
After I’ve done some more training and practice on Lichess, I’ll start playing games with other players. Duolingo was just a bit too casual for me. Lichess, along with YouTube videos, is probably all I really need for my chess practice. I’ll be sure to post more as I start getting deeper into chess.
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The results of my first ever chess game.
Recently, I played my very first chess game. I am still learning and there are a lot of things I still don’t know. So, when I decided to test the waters on my first game, I will admit that I was a little overwhelmed! I am very, very, very new to chess. So, I will be struggling in these very early games.
I made a few blunders and mistakes, but I didn’t lose! The game ended in a draw by repetition. I have analyzed my moves and now I definitely understand what I did wrong. I will be playing another game soon to see if I can (hopefully) not make the same blunders and mistakes!
Here is the game below. I was white.
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Learning how to play chess.
As some of you know, my dad passed away a few years ago. He loved playing chess. It was his favorite game. He tried to explain it to me when I was younger; he had even bought a game called “Chess Teacher” to try to help me to learn, but I just didn’t understand it. Sadly, I never learned how to play chess while he was still alive. My mom doesn’t play chess either, so he had to play chess solo. He wasn’t interested in joining in any clubs or sites to play chess. We had gotten him a handheld electronic chess game, and he loved it! He could play chess whenever and wherever he wanted. He took it everywhere with him.
I think I’m still processing my dad’s death. I know he’s gone and that his death was not a surprise (he had suffered from incurable cancer), but I am still in shock that he’s gone. I use his old iPhone as my backup phone as one way to connect to him. However, a few days ago, I had a strong urge to go to chess.com, a site I had never visited. I’m not sure why, maybe my dad’s spirit “nudged” me towards it. Well, I spent some time on the site and I was impressed by the puzzles and lessons. They are perfect for a complete beginner like me. I immediately signed up for an account and downloaded the app. I’ve even started doing some of the daily puzzles! And, even more shocking, I’ve even joined the US Chess Federation! I’m not going to be a Grandmaster or anything like that, but I am thoroughly enjoying chess now! I’ve even purchased a cheap chess set so that I can try the puzzles out on the chessboard before doing them online. I learn better by doing, so having the physical chessboard in front of me will be very helpful.
I wish my dad could see this. I think he’d be so proud of me, learning a game that I never thought I could learn. I think this is also helping me to keep connecting with him and to process his death. Also, chess is good for your brain!