probably the thing that improved my playing the most was really learning how to play bass..... not the way most guitar players do, but actually learning to think like a bassist - and after the labotomy scar heals it really opened up my guitar playing and my ears as well......... just like when I was learning the guitar as a kid something that really upped my group playing was playing the drums and also percussion in School bands .....
being able to hear a whole band and understand whats going on is another angle to your music Education...