--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was a singer professionally when I was…" description: "\"I was a singer professionally when I was four years old, and I did not really begin to play any instrument - the first one, of course, was drums - till..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77f/mel-torme-23523_drums_i-was-a-singer-professionally-when-i-was_3046767.png" --- # I was a singer professionally when I was four years old… ![“I was a singer professionally when I was four years old, and I did not really begin to play any instrument - the first one, of course, was drums - till I was about nine years old.” quote by Mel Torme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77f/mel-torme-23523_drums_i-was-a-singer-professionally-when-i-was_3046767.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77f/mel-torme-23523_drums_i-was-a-singer-professionally-when-i-was_3046767.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77f/mel-torme-23523_drums_i-was-a-singer-professionally-when-i-was_3046767.png) > “I was a singer professionally when I was four years old, and I did not really begin to play any instrument - the first one, of course, was drums - till I was about nine years old.” [Mel Torme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-torme/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He began singing early, but only started learning instruments later, highlighting a non‑linear artistic development. **In simple terms:** He learned instruments after starting his singing career. Key Takeaway Explore new skills regardless of age. Themes growth learning music career Mood optimistic encouraging Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - career transition - skill acquisition - creative reinvention - teaching music Key Concepts musical development late blooming Questions to Reflect On - What new skill will you start now? - How can you leverage existing talent to learn faster? A Different Perspective Late learning can be challenging without formal training. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Drums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drums/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Singers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singers/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [When I first moved to New York I wanted to be a dancer, I danced professionally for years, living a hand-to-mouth existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/when-i-first-moved-to-new-york-i-wanted-to-be-a-dancer-i-danced-2/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [One of the reasons I am happy now is that I did the work I had always dreamed of doing. But I didn't start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-gilchrist/one-of-the-reasons-i-am-happy-now-is-that-i-did-the-work-i-had-always/) [Ellen Gilchrist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-gilchrist/) > [I've been modeling professionally for about 5 years now and I've managed to get some good titles under my belt. I love doing it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-lancaster/i-ve-been-modeling-professionally-for-about-5-years-now-and-i-ve/) [Amber Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-lancaster/) > [I have a harder time finding somebody. The problem is we were growing professionally during the years most people were concentrating on being a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-carpenter/i-have-a-harder-time-finding-somebody-the-problem-is-we-were-growing/) [Karen Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-carpenter/) > [I acted professionally for about eight years, and I was writing all that time but never showed anybody any of it. There just came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-franco/i-acted-professionally-for-about-eight-years-and-i-was-writing-all/) [James Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-franco/) > [I used to live in New York City, then when my son was two years old we moved to Cambridge Massachusetts and we've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-morris/i-used-to-live-in-new-york-city-then-when-my-son-was-two-years-old-we/) [Errol Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-morris/) > [I would lie in bed, and I was nine years old, and say to myself: 'I want to be the richest man in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-mayweather-jr/i-would-lie-in-bed-and-i-was-nine-years-old-and-say-to-myself-i-want/) [Floyd Mayweather, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-mayweather-jr/) > [One thing they don't tell you about growing old - you don't feel old, you just feel like yourself. And it's true. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/one-thing-they-don-t-tell-you-about-growing-old-you-don-t-feel-old/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [I think I was about nine years old when I got my first job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-hoechlin/i-think-i-was-about-nine-years-old-when-i-got-my-first-job/) [Tyler Hoechlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-hoechlin/) > [I thought how strange it had never occurred to me before that I was only purely happy until I was nine years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/i-thought-how-strange-it-had-never-occurred-to-me-before-that-i-was/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [I've always been ambitious since I was nine years old and that was never going to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-perry/i-ve-always-been-ambitious-since-i-was-nine-years-old-and-that-was/) [Katy Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-perry/) > [I wanted to be an actor since I was nine years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-since-i-was-nine-years-old/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [I met someone the other night who's 28 years old, and he hasn't worked a day since he left college because he's pursuing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-cowell/i-met-someone-the-other-night-who-s-28-years-old-and-he-hasn-t-worked/) [Simon Cowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-cowell/) > [As a singer, the biggest joy I have are the arrangements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/as-a-singer-the-biggest-joy-i-have-are-the-arrangements/) [Mel Torme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-torme/) > [You know what I was thinking about on my way home? How different my life would be if you’d made that gash a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffanie-debartolo/you-know-what-i-was-thinking-about-on-my-way-home-how-different-my/) [Tiffanie DeBartolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffanie-debartolo/) ## More by Mel Torme > [So I'm sorry, I'm going to continue to talk to the people, because I do believe that if they get to know you and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/so-i-m-sorry-i-m-going-to-continue-to-talk-to-the-people-because-i-do/) [Mel Torme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-torme/) > [As a singer, the biggest joy I have are the arrangements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/as-a-singer-the-biggest-joy-i-have-are-the-arrangements/) [Mel Torme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-torme/) > [I hadn't been a recording artist all that long when albums came on the scene, and I was one of the first singers to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/i-hadn-t-been-a-recording-artist-all-that-long-when-albums-came-on/) [Mel Torme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-torme/) > [Because Chicago was to radio what Hollywood was to films and Broadway was to the theatre: it was the hub of radio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/because-chicago-was-to-radio-what-hollywood-was-to-films-and-broadway/) [Mel Torme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-torme/) > [But, in fairness to them, too, the popular song per se is really a pretty shallow medium to perform in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/but-in-fairness-to-them-too-the-popular-song-per-se-is-really-a/) [Mel Torme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-torme/) > [As Buddy Rich, for instance, broke into the business at the age of three, I think it was, on drums, so indeed did I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/as-buddy-rich-for-instance-broke-into-the-business-at-the-age-of/) [Mel Torme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-torme/) > [Since the advent of Benny Goodman, there have been too few clarinetists to fill the void that Goodman left. Ken Peplowski is most certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/since-the-advent-of-benny-goodman-there-have-been-too-few/) [Mel Torme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-torme/) > [Whenever I did a good performance, my Dad and my uncles, who were rabid movie fans, took me to the movies. There began my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/whenever-i-did-a-good-performance-my-dad-and-my-uncles-who-were-rabid/) [Mel Torme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-torme/) > [To me, nostalgia is nothing more than a mindless plundering of the past for the commonplace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/to-me-nostalgia-is-nothing-more-than-a-mindless-plundering-of-the/) [Mel Torme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-torme/) > [How many radio shows I did is lost to memory now; it's in the hundreds - maybe even close to being in the thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/how-many-radio-shows-i-did-is-lost-to-memory-now-it-s-in-the-hundreds/) [Mel Torme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-torme/) > [See, I never wrote arrangements for the band for Judy Garland; I did strictly special material, special lyrics, put together all of her medleys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/see-i-never-wrote-arrangements-for-the-band-for-judy-garland-i-did/) [Mel Torme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-torme/) > [There isn't a dearth of it, but I will confess that it's harder for me to find songs on which I'm willing to invest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/there-isn-t-a-dearth-of-it-but-i-will-confess-that-it-s-harder-for-me/) [Mel Torme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-torme/) > [I want to sing for the broadest possible audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/i-want-to-sing-for-the-broadest-possible-audience/) [Mel Torme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-torme/) > [It may sound a bit like an army barracks, but the truth of the matter is: there must be some time laid aside for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/it-may-sound-a-bit-like-an-army-barracks-but-the-truth-of-the-matter/) [Mel Torme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-torme/) > [Talking money is crass; so I'm not going to tell you what I made last year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/talking-money-is-crass-so-i-m-not-going-to-tell-you-what-i-made-last/) [Mel Torme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-torme/) [Explore all 25 Mel Torme quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-torme/) ## More Drums quotes > [O it's Tommy this, and Tommy that, and Tommy 'ow's your soul/But it's thin red line of heroes when the drums begin to roll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/o-it-s-tommy-this-and-tommy-that-and-tommy-ow-s-your-soul-but-it-s/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [I am just a guy who plays drums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kreutzmann/i-am-just-a-guy-who-plays-drums/) [Bill Kreutzmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kreutzmann/) > [I used to be a drummer in a band, and I really loved playing the drums, so I look forward to the right opportunity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zedd/i-used-to-be-a-drummer-in-a-band-and-i-really-loved-playing-the-drums/) [Zedd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zedd/) > [The drums have hogged a lot of the credit. We're as much -- or more -- \*cymbal\* players, as we are drummers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-erskine/the-drums-have-hogged-a-lot-of-the-credit-we-re-as-much-or-more/) [Peter Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-erskine/) > [The drumming helps a lot when I'm producing songs or writing songs. My knowledge of drums helps more in that aspect, (although) I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-mars/the-drumming-helps-a-lot-when-i-m-producing-songs-or-writing-songs-my/) [Bruno Mars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-mars/) > [It's harder to play drums than guitar, physically. I'm always kind of on the edge. I guess that's how I play everything: on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-mascis/it-s-harder-to-play-drums-than-guitar-physically-i-m-always-kind-of/) [J Mascis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-mascis/) > [I love playing drums and helping out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-portnoy/i-love-playing-drums-and-helping-out/) [Mike Portnoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-portnoy/) > [I play bass. I play a bit of guitar. I've never been to a lesson, so my theory of music is non-existent in any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sangster/i-play-bass-i-play-a-bit-of-guitar-i-ve-never-been-to-a-lesson-so-my/) [Thomas Sangster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sangster/) > [Like my best friend, I asked for drums for Christmas, and got them. But when he moved on to guitar, I realized two things:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-iles/like-my-best-friend-i-asked-for-drums-for-christmas-and-got-them-but/) [Greg Iles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-iles/) > [On patrol through Taliban villages, the falsehoods and the jingoism that beat the drums of war back home were quickly made hollow, and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-auchincloss/on-patrol-through-taliban-villages-the-falsehoods-and-the-jingoism/) [Jake Auchincloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-auchincloss/) > [Probably for drums, a guy I really enjoyed watching is Simon Phillips. I've seen him play with The Who and with Pete Townshend on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-anthony/probably-for-drums-a-guy-i-really-enjoyed-watching-is-simon-phillips/) [Michael Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-anthony/) > [ It seemed so wimpy at first when I started to play \[guitar\]. So I started playing loud with lots of effects just to try… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-mascis/it-seemed-so-wimpy-at-first-when-i-started-to-play-guitar-so-i/) [J Mascis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-mascis/) > [I grew up on Dilla, Timbaland, Pharrell, all these drums that are super pocketed, so all those influences come out on a song like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-bellion/i-grew-up-on-dilla-timbaland-pharrell-all-these-drums-that-are-super/) [Jon Bellion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-bellion/) > [Obviously, I like the drums to be heard. I think they're important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-taylor/obviously-i-like-the-drums-to-be-heard-i-think-they-re-important/) [Roger Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-taylor/) > [In the studio my drums are usually something really basic: a four-, five- or six-piece kit with lots of snare and cymbal choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-freese/in-the-studio-my-drums-are-usually-something-really-basic-a-four-five/) [Josh Freese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-freese/) [Browse all 453 Drums quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drums/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was a singer professionally when I was four years old, and I did not really begin to play any instrument - the first one, of course, was drums - till I was about nine years old.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mel Torme" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/i-was-a-singer-professionally-when-i-was-four-years-old-and-i-did-not/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Drums" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/i-was-a-singer-professionally-when-i-was-four-years-old-and-i-did-not/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77f/mel-torme-23523_drums_i-was-a-singer-professionally-when-i-was_3046767.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77f/mel-torme-23523_drums_i-was-a-singer-professionally-when-i-was_3046767.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77f/mel-torme-23523_drums_i-was-a-singer-professionally-when-i-was_3046767.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was a singer professionally when I was four years old, and I did not really begin to play any instrument…” — Mel Torme", "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": "Mel Torme", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-torme/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was a singer professionally when...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/i-was-a-singer-professionally-when-i-was-four-years-old-and-i-did-not/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-torme/i-was-a-singer-professionally-when-i-was-four-years-old-and-i-did-not/#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 } } ] } ```