--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I look back and think about how I…" description: "\"When I look back and think about how I played when I was 16, and moving on to my 20s, 30s, 40s and now 50s - to me, it seems like you gain more experie..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df0/john-petrucci-2141_experience_when-i-look-back-and-think-about-how-i-p_2680511.png" --- # When I look back and think about how I played when I was… ![“When I look back and think about how I played when I was 16, and moving on to my 20s, 30s, 40s and now 50s - to me, it seems like you gain more experience, you gain more technique, you get better.” quote by John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df0/john-petrucci-2141_experience_when-i-look-back-and-think-about-how-i-p_2680511.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df0/john-petrucci-2141_experience_when-i-look-back-and-think-about-how-i-p_2680511.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df0/john-petrucci-2141_experience_when-i-look-back-and-think-about-how-i-p_2680511.png) > “When I look back and think about how I played when I was 16, and moving on to my 20s, 30s, 40s and now 50s - to me, it seems like you gain more experience, you gain more technique, you get better.” [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Aging brings accumulated experience, refined technique, and overall improvement in skill and performance. **In simple terms:** Experience and technique improve with age. Key Takeaway Value lifelong learning and practice. Themes growth experience skill development aging self‑improvement Mood hopeful reflective motivational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal development Key Concepts musicianship practice routines career milestones Questions to Reflect On - What new skills can you develop now? - How does experience outweigh youth? A Different Perspective Age may bring physical limitations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Experience Gain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience-gain-2390411/) [Gain Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gain-experience-703435/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Moving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving/) [Moving 20S](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving-20s-2577244/) [Moving on](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving-on/) [Now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/now/) [Technique Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technique-better-2577242/) ## Related quotes > [The amount of meetings I've been in - people would be shocked. But that's how you gain experience, how you can gain knowledge, being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiger-woods/the-amount-of-meetings-i-ve-been-in-people-would-be-shocked-but-that/) [Tiger Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiger-woods/) > [I think in most jobs, you get better as you get older. You gain experience, you gain knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-scott-thomas/i-think-in-most-jobs-you-get-better-as-you-get-older-you-gain/) [Kristin Scott Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-scott-thomas/) > [And there is a time where you can be beyond yourself. You can be better than your technique. You can be better than most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-brubeck/and-there-is-a-time-where-you-can-be-beyond-yourself-you-can-be/) [Dave Brubeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-brubeck/) > [My strength makes my technique better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovince-saint-preux/my-strength-makes-my-technique-better/) [Ovince Saint Preux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovince-saint-preux/) > [Experience is how you gain knowledge and how you form an opinion of new ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kishore-bansal/experience-is-how-you-gain-knowledge-and-how-you-form-an-opinion-of/) [Kishore Bansal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kishore-bansal/) > [There is no change - I'm as deep or as shallow as I ever was. What's new is on-the-job experience. This is what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-getty/there-is-no-change-i-m-as-deep-or-as-shallow-as-i-ever-was-what-s-new/) [Gordon Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-getty/) > [I learn from each experience, and I take it for what it is and gain what I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-allen/i-learn-from-each-experience-and-i-take-it-for-what-it-is-and-gain/) [Joan Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-allen/) > [Live by the experience you gain in the past not by the event you made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olajide-oluwatobiloba/live-by-the-experience-you-gain-in-the-past-not-by-the-event-you-made/) [Olajide Oluwatobiloba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olajide-oluwatobiloba/) > [Experience is one which we gain through trying and failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/experience-is-one-which-we-gain-through-trying-and-failure/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [You can gain experience, if you are careful to avoid empty redundancy. Do not fall into the error of the artisan who boasts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevanian/you-can-gain-experience-if-you-are-careful-to-avoid-empty-redundancy/) [Trevanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevanian/) > [You get a chance to get the ball every time, you're gonna do better quicker, and you're gonna gain experience faster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-cauley-stein/you-get-a-chance-to-get-the-ball-every-time-you-re-gonna-do-better/) [Willie Cauley-Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-cauley-stein/) > [There are some things you gain with experience, but age isn't important to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-varane/there-are-some-things-you-gain-with-experience-but-age-isn-t/) [Raphael Varane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-varane/) > [Life is difficult, but once you gain experience, you'll find the way to the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-difficult-but-once-you-gain-experience-you-ll-find-the-way-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone knows with a rookie, you're going to take lumps. Even with a first-, second-, third-year guy, you're going to take lumps until you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-carr/everyone-knows-with-a-rookie-you-re-going-to-take-lumps-even-with-a/) [Derek Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-carr/) > [What we gain by experience is not worth that we lose in illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-antoine-petit-senn/what-we-gain-by-experience-is-not-worth-that-we-lose-in-illusion/) [Jean Antoine Petit-Senn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-antoine-petit-senn/) ## More by John Petrucci > [If you practice in a focused, concentrated manner and make efficient use of your time, you will progress a lot faster than if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/if-you-practice-in-a-focused-concentrated-manner-and-make-efficient/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [In my touring rig, there's a pedal drawer, where I'm able to switch pedals in and out, going into the front of the amp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/in-my-touring-rig-there-s-a-pedal-drawer-where-i-m-able-to-switch/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [Before Dream Theater took off I used to teach a lot, and one of the things my students often asked me was how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/before-dream-theater-took-off-i-used-to-teach-a-lot-and-one-of-the/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [I listen to somebody like Shawn Lane, and unfortunately he is no longer with us, but I hear him playing and I am like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/i-listen-to-somebody-like-shawn-lane-and-unfortunately-he-is-no/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [I'm a hopeless tone chaser!I love it and get into the whole thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/i-m-a-hopeless-tone-chaser-i-love-it-and-get-into-the-whole-thing/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [Definitely an important aspect of my playing is keeping my hands in sync.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/definitely-an-important-aspect-of-my-playing-is-keeping-my-hands-in/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [By adding open strings to even the simplest chords, you can create voicings that sound sophisticated, but are really easy (and fun) to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/by-adding-open-strings-to-even-the-simplest-chords-you-can-create/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [Sometimes just allowing yourself to noodle without any structure will enable you to stumble upon great new ideas, culminating in creating your own distinct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/sometimes-just-allowing-yourself-to-noodle-without-any-structure-will/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [Songs come alive every night and can be a new experience for someone. You might have someone in the audience who has never seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/songs-come-alive-every-night-and-can-be-a-new-experience-for-someone/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [I'm from the school of putting a lot of hours of practice into playing. But at the same time you have to write original…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/i-m-from-the-school-of-putting-a-lot-of-hours-of-practice-into/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [I have to say that our fans have been absolutely wonderful all across the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/i-have-to-say-that-our-fans-have-been-absolutely-wonderful-all-across/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [I really rely a lot more on memory. I'm definitely not as good of a sight reader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/i-really-rely-a-lot-more-on-memory-i-m-definitely-not-as-good-of-a/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [A violin neck is much smaller than the guitar's, so it's much easier to play wide intervals on one violin string. On the guitar,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/a-violin-neck-is-much-smaller-than-the-guitar-s-so-it-s-much-easier/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [Using open strings is a great way to add texture and atmosphere to any chord progression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/using-open-strings-is-a-great-way-to-add-texture-and-atmosphere-to/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [We are very, very fortunate to have built a career based on playing the kind of music we play. In a lot of ways,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/we-are-very-very-fortunate-to-have-built-a-career-based-on-playing/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) [Explore all 183 John Petrucci quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) ## More Experience quotes > [Experience makes a lesson to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/experience-makes-a-lesson-to-us/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Derby experience had not been good for me and the way it finished left a very bad taste in my mouth so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-pearson/the-derby-experience-had-not-been-good-for-me-and-the-way-it-finished/) [Nigel Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-pearson/) > [Well, I've been politically involved for a really long time. Growing up in the segregated South, it was a very painful experience for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cybill-shepherd/well-i-ve-been-politically-involved-for-a-really-long-time-growing-up/) [Cybill Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cybill-shepherd/) > [From my experience of having served for 3000 days, I can say that anything can be achieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/from-my-experience-of-having-served-for-3000-days-i-can-say-that/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [My favorite job is the next one. Its such a gratifying experience getting to creatively keep trying something new and push things in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-craig-smith/my-favorite-job-is-the-next-one-its-such-a-gratifying-experience/) [Roger Craig Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-craig-smith/) > [I happen to think it's the politics that makes you electable, but the reason for that is politicians sometimes talk about electability as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/i-happen-to-think-it-s-the-politics-that-makes-you-electable-but-the/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [Iranians hate Arabs. They're a fairly well-educated population and they have centuries of experience with self-government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ledeen/iranians-hate-arabs-they-re-a-fairly-well-educated-population-and/) [Michael Ledeen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ledeen/) > [Education is a lifelong experience. Experience is a lifelong education. Education plus experience equals expertise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bugeja/education-is-a-lifelong-experience-experience-is-a-lifelong-education/) [Michael Bugeja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bugeja/) > [Prison experience puts distance between me and any person who hasn't been there, done that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-mcconnell/prison-experience-puts-distance-between-me-and-any-person-who-hasn-t/) [Patricia McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-mcconnell/) > [Experience is a thorough teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-jane-holmes/experience-is-a-thorough-teacher/) [Mary Jane Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-jane-holmes/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) [Ryan Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-newman/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [I've had a great experience with pretty much everybody I've worked with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-wasikowska/i-ve-had-a-great-experience-with-pretty-much-everybody-i-ve-worked/) [Mia Wasikowska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-wasikowska/) > [It wasn't a mistake, it was a fun learning experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-wasn-t-a-mistake-it-was-a-fun-learning-experience/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I worked a lot in Chicago's theater scene as a fight choreographer. And so I do have a lot of experience in stage combat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-worked-a-lot-in-chicago-s-theater-scene-as-a-fight-choreographer/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) [Browse all 11,792 Experience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I look back and think about how I played when I was 16, and moving on to my 20s, 30s, 40s and now 50s - to me, it seems like you gain more experience, you gain more technique, you get better.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Petrucci" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/when-i-look-back-and-think-about-how-i-played-when-i-was-16-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Experience" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/when-i-look-back-and-think-about-how-i-played-when-i-was-16-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df0/john-petrucci-2141_experience_when-i-look-back-and-think-about-how-i-p_2680511.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df0/john-petrucci-2141_experience_when-i-look-back-and-think-about-how-i-p_2680511.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df0/john-petrucci-2141_experience_when-i-look-back-and-think-about-how-i-p_2680511.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I look back and think about how I played when I was 16, and moving on to my 20s, 30s, 40s and now 50s…” — John Petrucci", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Petrucci", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I look back and think...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/when-i-look-back-and-think-about-how-i-played-when-i-was-16-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/when-i-look-back-and-think-about-how-i-played-when-i-was-16-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```