--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't consider myself a great drummer…" description: "\"I don't consider myself a great drummer. I consider myself just a music fan that's a very, very passionate artist, and the drums just happen to be my i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13e/mike-portnoy-5256_artist_i-don-t-consider-myself-a-great-drummer_544189.jpg" --- # I don't consider myself a great drummer. I consider myself… ![“I don't consider myself a great drummer. I consider myself just a music fan that's a very, very passionate artist, and the drums just happen to be my instrument.” quote by Mike Portnoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13e/mike-portnoy-5256_artist_i-don-t-consider-myself-a-great-drummer_544189.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13e/mike-portnoy-5256_artist_i-don-t-consider-myself-a-great-drummer_544189.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13e/mike-portnoy-5256_artist_i-don-t-consider-myself-a-great-drummer_544189.jpg) > “I don't consider myself a great drummer. I consider myself just a music fan that's a very, very passionate artist, and the drums just happen to be my instrument.” [Mike Portnoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-portnoy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He sees himself more as a passionate music lover than a virtuoso, viewing drums as a tool for expression. **In simple terms:** A music fan uses drums as an instrument. Key Takeaway Embrace your passion, not just skill. Themes music identity humility Mood reflective inspired Type personal artistic When to use this quote - band practice - solo performances - teaching - songwriting Key Concepts self‑concept artistic expression Questions to Reflect On - How does humility shape your creative journey? - What does being a fan mean to you? A Different Perspective Skill alone doesn't define artistic worth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Drummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drummer/) [Drums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drums/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [When I say I had a cosmic confidence that we were capable of writing good music, I'm speaking about that time when we met…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-banks/when-i-say-i-had-a-cosmic-confidence-that-we-were-capable-of-writing/) [Paul Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-banks/) > [I had a really nice association with Richie DeRosa, a great musician, a great drummer and composer and arranger. And I had a number…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/i-had-a-really-nice-association-with-richie-derosa-a-great-musician-a/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [While I absolutely love a great drummer and get tunnel vision listening to drums at a show, a lot of the time I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oneohtrix-point-never/while-i-absolutely-love-a-great-drummer-and-get-tunnel-vision/) [Oneohtrix Point Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oneohtrix-point-never/) > [I love the way Pharell is laying down great drum tracks. He is a great drummer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-cameron/i-love-the-way-pharell-is-laying-down-great-drum-tracks-he-is-a-great/) [Matt Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-cameron/) > [Everyone knows Mike Portnoy's reputation. He's a great drummer, and he helped us out in a great time of need. He really helped us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-christ/everyone-knows-mike-portnoy-s-reputation-he-s-a-great-drummer-and-he/) [Johnny Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-christ/) > [To me, a great drummer isn't always about somebody with chops who can shred. A great drummer is someone who is part of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-portnoy/to-me-a-great-drummer-isn-t-always-about-somebody-with-chops-who-can/) [Mike Portnoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-portnoy/) > [You don't have to be a great drummer to be the most important guy in the band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-portnoy/you-don-t-have-to-be-a-great-drummer-to-be-the-most-important-guy-in/) [Mike Portnoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-portnoy/) > [I don't want people to think that I think I'm this great drummer because, to me, I'm just a kid playing drums, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-portnoy/i-don-t-want-people-to-think-that-i-think-i-m-this-great-drummer/) [Mike Portnoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-portnoy/) > [I can play a bunch of instruments but drums? My brothers a drummer and Ive always been jealous that hes such a good drummer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-wolff/i-can-play-a-bunch-of-instruments-but-drums-my-brothers-a-drummer-and/) [Nat Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-wolff/) > [I play bass. I play a bit of guitar. 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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/) ## More by Mike Portnoy > [My lesson would be to not sell yourself to anybody else and stay true to yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-portnoy/my-lesson-would-be-to-not-sell-yourself-to-anybody-else-and-stay-true/) [Mike Portnoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-portnoy/) > [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/) > [One of the biggest misconceptions was, after I left Dream Theater, I went off and did, like, five different bands and side projects. Everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-portnoy/one-of-the-biggest-misconceptions-was-after-i-left-dream-theater-i/) [Mike Portnoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-portnoy/) > [I don't even like doing drum solos live; to me, it's like, 'Ehhh.' It doesn't really interest me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-portnoy/i-don-t-even-like-doing-drum-solos-live-to-me-it-s-like-ehhh-it-doesn/) [Mike Portnoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-portnoy/) > [Every band goes through breakups or splits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-portnoy/every-band-goes-through-breakups-or-splits/) [Mike Portnoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-portnoy/) > [I am looking forward to working with the great staff of Loud & Proud Records, some of whom I worked very closely with during…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-portnoy/i-am-looking-forward-to-working-with-the-great-staff-of-loud-proud/) [Mike Portnoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-portnoy/) > [I'm a music fan first and foremost. I can find the beauty in Jellyfish and U2 just as much as Opeth and Lamb of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-portnoy/i-m-a-music-fan-first-and-foremost-i-can-find-the-beauty-in-jellyfish/) [Mike Portnoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-portnoy/) > [I'm a very sentimental guy; I'm a very nostalgic guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-portnoy/i-m-a-very-sentimental-guy-i-m-a-very-nostalgic-guy/) [Mike Portnoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-portnoy/) > [It's all about the music, and I work as hard as I do strictly because of the music. It's not a money thing; it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-portnoy/it-s-all-about-the-music-and-i-work-as-hard-as-i-do-strictly-because/) [Mike Portnoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-portnoy/) > [One of the reasons I needed to leave Dream Theater was because I didn't want to end my career as just the drummer in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-portnoy/one-of-the-reasons-i-needed-to-leave-dream-theater-was-because-i-didn/) [Mike Portnoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-portnoy/) > [I have no interest in playing 'perfect.' To me, it's more about being an entertainer. Having a connection with the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-portnoy/i-have-no-interest-in-playing-perfect-to-me-it-s-more-about-being-an/) [Mike Portnoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-portnoy/) > [I am - you know, I'm getting to do everything I've ever wanted to do, anything my imagination can think up. I'm getting to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-portnoy/i-am-you-know-i-m-getting-to-do-everything-i-ve-ever-wanted-to-do/) [Mike Portnoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-portnoy/) > [I could be just as happy playing a Beatles song as I am when I'm thrashing out the double bass stuff with Adrenaline Mob.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-portnoy/i-could-be-just-as-happy-playing-a-beatles-song-as-i-am-when-i-m/) [Mike Portnoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-portnoy/) > [I see the headlines on Blabbermouth, and the fans are saying, 'Why is he always talking about Dream Theater?' I'm not talking about Dream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-portnoy/i-see-the-headlines-on-blabbermouth-and-the-fans-are-saying-why-is-he/) [Mike Portnoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-portnoy/) > [Flying Colors is more alternative pop with a prog edge. Think the Beatles meets U2 meets Muse and Foo Fighters. 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