--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you aim at anything lower that is…" description: "\"If you aim at anything lower that is expecting your audience to be really alert and aware, then you're going to be caught out sooner or later as a comp..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/782/peter-maxwell-davies-26998_aim_if-you-aim-at-anything-lower-that-is-exp_2917561.jpg" --- # If you aim at anything lower that is expecting your… ![“If you aim at anything lower that is expecting your audience to be really alert and aware, then you're going to be caught out sooner or later as a composer.” quote by Peter Maxwell Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/782/peter-maxwell-davies-26998_aim_if-you-aim-at-anything-lower-that-is-exp_2917561.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/782/peter-maxwell-davies-26998_aim_if-you-aim-at-anything-lower-that-is-exp_2917561.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/782/peter-maxwell-davies-26998_aim_if-you-aim-at-anything-lower-that-is-exp_2917561.jpg) > “If you aim at anything lower that is expecting your audience to be really alert and aware, then you're going to be caught out sooner or later as a composer.” [Peter Maxwell Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maxwell-davies/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Composers must meet audience expectations for attentiveness; otherwise they risk losing engagement. **In simple terms:** Meet audience alertness expectations. Key Takeaway Engage listeners with clear, compelling ideas. Themes composition audience attention expectations Mood critical creative Type educational strategic When to use this quote - concert programming - educational workshops - media production Key Concepts musical theory listener psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can you maintain focus in modern compositions? - What techniques capture listener interest quickly? A Different Perspective Audience attention spans are shrinking. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Composer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composer/) [Sooner or later](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sooner-or-later/) ## Related quotes > [I'm a morning person, really alert.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-temperley/i-m-a-morning-person-really-alert/) [Alice Temperley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-temperley/) > [I think a lot of composers get into trouble just making up a plot and expecting an audience to follow that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eaton/i-think-a-lot-of-composers-get-into-trouble-just-making-up-a-plot-and/) [John Eaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eaton/) > [Television executives only commission something that somebody else has already commissioned that's doing well on another station - they're afraid of expecting an audience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariella-frostrup/television-executives-only-commission-something-that-somebody-else/) [Mariella Frostrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariella-frostrup/) > [There’s no card, business card, better than a compact disc for a composer. It doesn’t half impress people and they get a long way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maxwell-davies/there-s-no-card-business-card-better-than-a-compact-disc-for-a/) [Peter Maxwell Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maxwell-davies/) > [Well, I'm not saying that America is a bad place or anything. I just think 9/11 needed to happen sooner or later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/well-i-m-not-saying-that-america-is-a-bad-place-or-anything-i-just/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [...there is no doubt something will be done sooner or later to enable us to put on a house every day, just as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ettore-sottsass/there-is-no-doubt-something-will-be-done-sooner-or-later-to-enable-us/) [Ettore Sottsass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ettore-sottsass/) > [But some day sooner or later our passion would have cooled - inevitably - it's the way with everything human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/but-some-day-sooner-or-later-our-passion-would-have-cooled-inevitably/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [“7. Sooner or later you will compete with free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-anderson/7-sooner-or-later-you-will-compete-with-free/) [Chris Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-anderson/) > [If one is a professional soldier, it is part of one's job to die sooner or later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/if-one-is-a-professional-soldier-it-is-part-of-one-s-job-to-die/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [Sooner or later in life, we will all take our own turn being in the position we once had someone else in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashly-lorenzana/sooner-or-later-in-life-we-will-all-take-our-own-turn-being-in-the/) [Ashly Lorenzana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashly-lorenzana/) > [If you do anything regularly for a while, sooner or later the weirdoes will show up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-buckley/if-you-do-anything-regularly-for-a-while-sooner-or-later-the-weirdoes/) [Jeff Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-buckley/) > [I knew sooner or later I would show my quality and show to everyone why I'm here, why Real made such an effort to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luka-modric/i-knew-sooner-or-later-i-would-show-my-quality-and-show-to-everyone/) [Luka Modric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luka-modric/) > [“Much success to you, even if you wish me the opposite/ sooner or later we'll all see who the prophet is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nasir-jones/much-success-to-you-even-if-you-wish-me-the-opposite-sooner-or-later/) Nasir Jones > [Be who you wanna be, and not what others would love to see. Because there gonna find out sooner or later and sure enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mee/be-who-you-wanna-be-and-not-what-others-would-love-to-see-because/) [MEE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mee/) > [Truth has her sterner responsibilities sooner or later in store for those who have known anything about her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-parry-liddon/truth-has-her-sterner-responsibilities-sooner-or-later-in-store-for/) [Henry Parry Liddon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-parry-liddon/) ## More by Peter Maxwell Davies > [The establishment in Britain is certainly against the arts and against education. If something doesn't make a profit, it's invalid, and art doesn't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maxwell-davies/the-establishment-in-britain-is-certainly-against-the-arts-and/) [Peter Maxwell Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maxwell-davies/) > [You can't pander to your audience. You might in the short term, but ultimately you can't hoodwink them, either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maxwell-davies/you-can-t-pander-to-your-audience-you-might-in-the-short-term-but/) [Peter Maxwell Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maxwell-davies/) > [What they can expect always is that they're going to be made to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maxwell-davies/what-they-can-expect-always-is-that-they-re-going-to-be-made-to-think/) [Peter Maxwell Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maxwell-davies/) > [The demands are related to their questing of the best possible out of the people concerned. It's this going for the highest possible factor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maxwell-davies/the-demands-are-related-to-their-questing-of-the-best-possible-out-of/) [Peter Maxwell Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maxwell-davies/) > [I know what I want at least, and the older I get I think I'm better at getting it out of players and singers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maxwell-davies/i-know-what-i-want-at-least-and-the-older-i-get-i-think-i-m-better-at/) [Peter Maxwell Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maxwell-davies/) > [I'm not actually teaching any more, but I am writing pieces for schools all the time, and for kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maxwell-davies/i-m-not-actually-teaching-any-more-but-i-am-writing-pieces-for/) [Peter Maxwell Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maxwell-davies/) > [If you don't get feedback from your performers and your audience, you're going to be working in a vacuum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maxwell-davies/if-you-don-t-get-feedback-from-your-performers-and-your-audience-you/) [Peter Maxwell Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maxwell-davies/) > [There’s no card, business card, better than a compact disc for a composer. It doesn’t half impress people and they get a long way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maxwell-davies/there-s-no-card-business-card-better-than-a-compact-disc-for-a/) [Peter Maxwell Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maxwell-davies/) > [Recently I've been participating in radio and television talk programs doing broadcasts and conferences, and shooting my mouth off and really going to town.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maxwell-davies/recently-i-ve-been-participating-in-radio-and-television-talk/) [Peter Maxwell Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maxwell-davies/) > [At the moment, in Britain we're facing such enormous cutbacks in education programs and music programs and art programs that you feel you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maxwell-davies/at-the-moment-in-britain-we-re-facing-such-enormous-cutbacks-in/) [Peter Maxwell Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maxwell-davies/) > [I'm very interested, for instance, in music in education - getting young people not only to listen to, but participate in the music that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maxwell-davies/i-m-very-interested-for-instance-in-music-in-education-getting-young/) [Peter Maxwell Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maxwell-davies/) > [The present government is very insistent that business sponsorship should replace government sponsorship of the arts. Business sponsorship won't happen unless you make tax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maxwell-davies/the-present-government-is-very-insistent-that-business-sponsorship/) [Peter Maxwell Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maxwell-davies/) > [I don't see how they can with most of my pieces, but I think it's unfortunate that they can through familiarity with flashy performances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maxwell-davies/i-don-t-see-how-they-can-with-most-of-my-pieces-but-i-think-it-s/) [Peter Maxwell Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maxwell-davies/) > [But when you get a bit older, and I hate to use the word, quite a bit more established, people take more notice and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maxwell-davies/but-when-you-get-a-bit-older-and-i-hate-to-use-the-word-quite-a-bit/) [Peter Maxwell Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maxwell-davies/) > [An audience shouldn't listen with complacency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maxwell-davies/an-audience-shouldn-t-listen-with-complacency/) [Peter Maxwell Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maxwell-davies/) [Explore all 21 Peter Maxwell Davies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maxwell-davies/) ## More Aim quotes > [If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/if-you-aim-at-nothing-you-will-hit-it-every-time/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [A good aim surveys the present state of experience of pupils, and forming a tentative plan of treatment, keeps the plan constantly in view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-good-aim-surveys-the-present-state-of-experience-of-pupils-and/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [The Christian man must aim at that complete obedience to God in which life finds its highest happiness, its greatest good, its perfect consummation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/the-christian-man-must-aim-at-that-complete-obedience-to-god-in-which/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [In Bosnia, little children shot in the head by a guy who thinks it's okay to aim his gun at a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-amanpour/in-bosnia-little-children-shot-in-the-head-by-a-guy-who-thinks-it-s/) [Christiane Amanpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-amanpour/) > [Design certainly has a cosmetic, aesthetic aim. It always aims at making things beautiful. But relevance is just as important. I often say, 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yves-behar/design-certainly-has-a-cosmetic-aesthetic-aim-it-always-aims-at/) [Yves Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yves-behar/) > [My aim was to make money for the bank. You lose track of the amounts involved when you are engaged in this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-kerviel/my-aim-was-to-make-money-for-the-bank-you-lose-track-of-the-amounts/) [Jerome Kerviel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-kerviel/) > [My only aim is to clock a time that everyone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/my-only-aim-is-to-clock-a-time-that-everyone-remembers/) [Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/) > [My main aim has always been to do good quality films with roles that have some substance. With Power and Beauty there were loads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-henstridge/my-main-aim-has-always-been-to-do-good-quality-films-with-roles-that/) [Natasha Henstridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-henstridge/) > [ I really enjoyed it - being involved in watching rushes and playback \[in "The Invisible Woman"\]. Ralph \[Fiennes\] was very open to my input,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/i-really-enjoyed-it-being-involved-in-watching-rushes-and-playback-in/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [My aim is to be counted among the top players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babar-azam/my-aim-is-to-be-counted-among-the-top-players/) [Babar Azam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babar-azam/) > [The single aim of my life is that every child is: free to be a child, free to grow and develop, free to eat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-satyarthi/the-single-aim-of-my-life-is-that-every-child-is-free-to-be-a-child/) [Kailash Satyarthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-satyarthi/) > [The aim of good prose words is to mean what they say. The aim of good poetical words is to mean what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-aim-of-good-prose-words-is-to-mean-what-they-say-the-aim-of-good/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Prescribing hard work for the soft, or easy work for the hardy, is generally nonsense. What is always needed in any aim is right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/prescribing-hard-work-for-the-soft-or-easy-work-for-the-hardy-is/) [Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/) > [To be normal is the ultimate aim of the unsuccessful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/to-be-normal-is-the-ultimate-aim-of-the-unsuccessful/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) Browse all 3,047 Aim quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you aim at anything lower that is expecting your audience to be really alert and aware, then you're going to be caught out sooner or later as a composer.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Peter Maxwell Davies" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maxwell-davies/if-you-aim-at-anything-lower-that-is-expecting-your-audience-to-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aim" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maxwell-davies/if-you-aim-at-anything-lower-that-is-expecting-your-audience-to-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/782/peter-maxwell-davies-26998_aim_if-you-aim-at-anything-lower-that-is-exp_2917561.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/782/peter-maxwell-davies-26998_aim_if-you-aim-at-anything-lower-that-is-exp_2917561.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/782/peter-maxwell-davies-26998_aim_if-you-aim-at-anything-lower-that-is-exp_2917561.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you aim at anything lower that is expecting your audience to be really alert and aware, then you're going…” — Peter Maxwell Davies", "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": "Peter Maxwell Davies", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maxwell-davies/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you aim at anything lower...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maxwell-davies/if-you-aim-at-anything-lower-that-is-expecting-your-audience-to-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maxwell-davies/if-you-aim-at-anything-lower-that-is-expecting-your-audience-to-be/#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 } } ] } ```