I've seen a number of posts where people are asking for pointers on what they are missing.

for better or worse it really just comes down to perception>awareness

and the nature of epiphany:

the person says "why didn't I see that before?!" because they understand that they always had that information

it simply wasn't registering in their perception.

The key to music is understanding how all this stuff relates to each other; 
and life.

and the only way one can understand that is by immersion, pondering and application.

lessons give you stuff in which to immerse in ponder and apply.

there's levels of understanding.

even the masters have shifts in awareness.

the gates only open with persistence.

you have to really want to know.