EVERY STUDENT IS DIFFERENT. I really like to encourage everyone to play the keyboard and not get bottled up in doing everything in eensy weensy steps.   I did not do that when I started, and I don't think anybody has to.   There ARE important eensy weensy steps things, but that doesn't mean you can't get some good sound going right away. The trick is to use creativity with your hands to set yourself in motion.  I call it "wading into the water," and by that I mean the student comes on in, and takes a chance.   We play together in lessons to build the musical sense of timing, etc.   It's really pretty fun. It may go against what some expect instruction to be, and they stay on the shore dry as toast.   No butter, jam, nothing. I've seen that before and patience comes in handy here.   Right after we push you in.
    Your hands being able to keep up with what you are thinking so you can be in the moment is what improvising and creativity relies upon . That and being a little rebellious.   In fact, a tad of rebellion combined with diligence, though seemingly strange bedfellows, are the combination that gets the juices flowing.