A belated welcome to Barrett to this mailing list!  In addition to the
acvice he's received from so many on this list let me just add this.

In addition to exploring different composers and different periods in
the history of classical music, explore different forms.  Not just
symphonies, then and now, or tone poems, overtures or concertos, but
chamber music, quartets, trios, quintets, sonatas...and vocal music.
Songs by Schubert or Wolff or Vaughan Williams, choral music by Bach,
Mozart, Beethoven, Benjamin Britten, Stravinsky, operas from all periods
of musical history.

To paraphrase Milton, the world is all before you, where to choose...,
and Providence your guide.

Walter Meyer