--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's a lot of steps between there not…" description: "\"There's a lot of steps between there not being music and there being music. Composition is one part of that, but if no one performs it... It's like if ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33a/chris-thile-4170_being_there-s-a-lot-of-steps-between-there-not_204447.png" --- # There's a lot of steps between there not being music and… ![“There's a lot of steps between there not being music and there being music. Composition is one part of that, but if no one performs it... It's like if a tree falls in the forest and no one's there to hear it, does it make a sound?” quote by Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33a/chris-thile-4170_being_there-s-a-lot-of-steps-between-there-not_204447.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33a/chris-thile-4170_being_there-s-a-lot-of-steps-between-there-not_204447.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33a/chris-thile-4170_being_there-s-a-lot-of-steps-between-there-not_204447.png) > “There's a lot of steps between there not being music and there being music. Composition is one part of that, but if no one performs it... It's like if a tree falls in the forest and no one's there to hear it, does it make a sound?” [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Music exists only when it is heard; composition without performance is like an unseen tree falling. **In simple terms:** Music needs an audience; otherwise it's silent. Key Takeaway Share and perform your work to give it life. Themes music creation audience performance Mood inspired thoughtful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - songwriting - concerts - recording - teaching music Key Concepts artistic expression communication Questions to Reflect On - Who will hear your creation? - How can you ensure your work reaches listeners? A Different Perspective Even great compositions can be ignored without exposure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Forest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forest/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tree/) ## Related quotes > [Improvising is writing, too - there was no music and now there's music. So that's composition. And any time you take any sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/improvising-is-writing-too-there-was-no-music-and-now-there-s-music/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) > [Music composition was a creative call for me, and it gives me a kick. But I never thought that I would ever sing professionally,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ankit-tiwari/music-composition-was-a-creative-call-for-me-and-it-gives-me-a-kick/) [Ankit Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ankit-tiwari/) > [ It's \[music composition\] the most effortless thing in the world because you don't do anything. I hate to say it like that, but it's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/it-s-music-composition-the-most-effortless-thing-in-the-world-because/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [I allow my creativity to push me in directions that are simply interesting to me and I don’t worry about the likeness of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-applebaum/i-allow-my-creativity-to-push-me-in-directions-that-are-simply/) Mark Applebaum > [“If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-berkeley/if-a-tree-falls-in-a-forest-and-no-one-is-around-to-hear-it-does-it/) [George Berkeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-berkeley/) > [For one, the whole concept of 'Live From Here' - writing a song every week - was like composition bootcamp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/for-one-the-whole-concept-of-live-from-here-writing-a-song-every-week/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) > [A forest of all manner of trees is poor, if not disagreeable, in effect; a mass of one species of tree is sublime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/a-forest-of-all-manner-of-trees-is-poor-if-not-disagreeable-in-effect/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Even as global warming increases the frequency of El Nino and the Atlantic event, their effects are being amplified by the annual loss of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-shoumatoff/even-as-global-warming-increases-the-frequency-of-el-nino-and-the/) [Alex Shoumatoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-shoumatoff/) > [I knew everything in the forest. I had a secret home tree, where I pretty much lived. I also liked rooftops and streetlamps. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bas-rutten/i-knew-everything-in-the-forest-i-had-a-secret-home-tree-where-i/) [Bas Rutten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bas-rutten/) > [The only acceptable imperialism is the Imperialism of the Forest! Let the whole world are invaded by the tree-soldiers!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/the-only-acceptable-imperialism-is-the-imperialism-of-the-forest-let/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [We did a 'Vanity Fair' spread for 'The Hunger Games,' and we were on set, and I saw a little head pop up from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-ludwig/we-did-a-vanity-fair-spread-for-the-hunger-games-and-we-were-on-set/) [Alexander Ludwig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-ludwig/) > [People love the electric rake. You just hit it or whatever you want to do. You can't play 'Swanee River' on it. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-chadbourne/people-love-the-electric-rake-you-just-hit-it-or-whatever-you-want-to/) [Eugene Chadbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-chadbourne/) > [Whenever you wash dishes, cook, or clean, if you make no sound, this is smartness itself. A person who enters a house and makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kushi/whenever-you-wash-dishes-cook-or-clean-if-you-make-no-sound-this-is/) [Michio Kushi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kushi/) > [I don't want to make myself sound that spontaneous, because I'm not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-rae-perkins/i-don-t-want-to-make-myself-sound-that-spontaneous-because-i-m-not/) [Lynne Rae Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-rae-perkins/) > [Im hearing what you say but I just cant make a sound. You tell me that you need me then you go and cut…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-hearing-what-you-say-but-i-just-cant-make-a-sound-you-tell-me-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Chris Thile > [A cocktail and an oyster is an awfully good thing after a park, especially one close to water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/a-cocktail-and-an-oyster-is-an-awfully-good-thing-after-a-park/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) > [I think people react so strongly to hearing the human voice, you can't give them too much of it or else they want it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/i-think-people-react-so-strongly-to-hearing-the-human-voice-you-can-t/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) > [I'm always going to need to play in front of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/i-m-always-going-to-need-to-play-in-front-of-people/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) > [I love music so much. It's like the one thing I'm good at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/i-love-music-so-much-it-s-like-the-one-thing-i-m-good-at/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) > [Like a sporting event, live events are the one thing you can't have anytime you want them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/like-a-sporting-event-live-events-are-the-one-thing-you-can-t-have/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) > [Musicians and non-musicians alike are priding themselves on the width and breadth of their musical interests, which I think is to be encouraged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/musicians-and-non-musicians-alike-are-priding-themselves-on-the-width/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) > [The fact that I'm a fifth of Punch Brothers... that's lucky for me because I feel like I get to operate in the context…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/the-fact-that-i-m-a-fifth-of-punch-brothers-that-s-lucky-for-me/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) > [It seems like if they'd given Bob Dylan a pen and paper in the cradle that he would've come up with a great song.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/it-seems-like-if-they-d-given-bob-dylan-a-pen-and-paper-in-the-cradle/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) > [Improvising is writing, too - there was no music and now there's music. So that's composition. And any time you take any sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/improvising-is-writing-too-there-was-no-music-and-now-there-s-music/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) > [It's very hard to make grand, romantic gestures on a mandolin, and there are times, particularly when playing Bach, that you long for just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/it-s-very-hard-to-make-grand-romantic-gestures-on-a-mandolin-and/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) > [Everything in our lives is encouraging us to turn inward with all the technology that we have available to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/everything-in-our-lives-is-encouraging-us-to-turn-inward-with-all-the/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) > [Improvisation is an important part of bluegrass, and I would hasten to add that classical music wasn't always such an improvisational void. Back in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/improvisation-is-an-important-part-of-bluegrass-and-i-would-hasten-to/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) > [It was kind of sort of the heavens opened up and I realized that Bach, at least, you know - out of all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/it-was-kind-of-sort-of-the-heavens-opened-up-and-i-realized-that-bach/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) > [I think that we'll see the concept of 'genre' continue to die a slow and painful death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/i-think-that-we-ll-see-the-concept-of-genre-continue-to-die-a-slow/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) > [You need to put yourself in the way of the music that stood the test of time. You're doing yourself an incredible disservice not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/you-need-to-put-yourself-in-the-way-of-the-music-that-stood-the-test/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) [Explore all 115 Chris Thile quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) ## More Being quotes > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [I love being in Malibu. It's so cool there, and the water is just, it's nice and, and I love the beach. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-evancho/i-love-being-in-malibu-it-s-so-cool-there-and-the-water-is-just-it-s/) [Jackie Evancho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-evancho/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [I love to fish. I love the peacefulness of being around the water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-love-to-fish-i-love-the-peacefulness-of-being-around-the-water/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [When you're in your twenties and starting out, the problem is that you care about being cool. Being older, I can care less about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/when-you-re-in-your-twenties-and-starting-out-the-problem-is-that-you/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [Being a new mother is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-parks/being-a-new-mother-is-a-blessing/) [Phaedra Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-parks/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Having small children and being an investigative reporter would seem like a difficult mix, but it worked well for me. I was often working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-abramson/having-small-children-and-being-an-investigative-reporter-would-seem/) [Jill Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-abramson/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. 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