This is a really fascinating topic and one I very rarely hear musicians discuss on this type of forum.  All I can say is that everyday is a new experience.  I compose pretty straight-forward modern "classical" music (the terms for types of music is totally lacking these days), and it is as if I arrive on a new planet each day.  Sometime the planet is very similar to Earth, others time, not so much!  It is a continual learning curve and some days it is profoundly rewarding, some days it is profoundly discouraging, some days it's just sucks and I walk away and go for a bike ride.  Overall though, it is a great experience and, for me, music has been a portal into many other aspects of life and my own psyche.

I was fortunate enough to go to several of the great music schools in the U.S. and was exposed to some amazing people.  The best lesson they all had to impart was teaching me how to keep learning!

Thanks for this topic and all the great responses.

Mike Coyle