What I would do to start with is look in the maya help files (Hit F1) it has tutorials, glossary of terms and descriptions of everything that you need.

That would be the best way to go.

If you get the freetutorials form here they should get you going althought they wont cover everything you've asked (as thats pretty much everything)

as I said the help files cant be underestimated as its one of the best you'll ever see.

Hope this helps