Sounds like you're off to a good start.
What I would like to bring your attention to is Percussion and how it plays the roll within a piece.
Here's a simple progression by Frank Marino called Dragonfly, listen to how the change in tempo adds to the song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9KzU-UiT7A

Here's another, different genre, but this song says it all; Listen to Bill Ward completely rule over this song, using what looks like a 5 piece toy drum set.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvuI8d57N9I

Now view the song again with a huge Tama set and no where near the same drive or guidance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvbA8FBd_Vo