Oh Niall you have a journey in front of you
Spindle work is anything that has the grain of the wood aligned along the bed of the lathe, that would indeed contain stair case spindles, also table legs chair legs actually most legs... candle sticks, goblets, rolling pins, and anything else that fits on the lathe in that direction.
Face plate work is where the grain crosses the bed typically bowl, platters, clocks,
Then there is between centres and chuck mount.
Then carbide v traditional... as it happens i have a borrowed set of carbides this week, not impressed at all! BUT I am a novice with the tools and they are not great carbides so the jury is still out but I am using traditional and happy.
Sharpening, that is another that will get you 27 answers from any group of 10 turners.
Do you have a club near you? you are going to need a guide or 3!