The score as a way into the music

The transcript describes a journey of discovering music at the Academy, focusing on Beethoven's fifth. Initially intimidated by music scores, the speaker finds excitement in understanding them as literary objects. The small marks in scores, interpreted by orchestras, reveal powerful sounds and associations. This realization leads to a deeper immersion in music, free from external concerns, allowing the speaker to explore and appreciate music's essence and excitement.

What did the teacher mean by 'finding a secret passageway' into music?

What aspects of life did the teacher feel relieved from while engaging with music?