Birds of a Feather

_      It’s a common idiom – birds of a feather flock together – and it’s one I think we overlook or forget about from time to time in our everyday lives. When we try to make new friends, improve existing relationships, or enter into a new work situation, a common likeness or goal is key in bringing us all together. Here in Memphis, my clique definitely (for the most part) centers around the black, very fabulous feathers we have in common. There are exceptions of course, and it makes our flock of birds even more colorful and beautiful, because all birds are multi-colored in some way. It’s easy to focus on what’s obvious about a person and let that be at the forefront of their personality, but sometimes the subtle under-feathers can be what link you to people.
      Other feathers that tie me with different types of people are my musical feathers. Music has created relationships with people all across the world and even throughout time, between schools and professional performance. For me, one of the latest projects I’ve been honored to be a part of is the Twitter Symphony, which flocks musicians from all over the world into a common goal, led by composer Chip Michael.
      Twitter has quickly become one of the main bird baths of the internet, and this site is home to everyone from Beyoncé stans (stalker-fans) to funny characters like the Condescending Wonka and the Drunk Baby. Our obvious colors, as well as our more subtle ones, are mixed together to bring us all together to tweet our lives 140 characters at a time. As I flew through the site one day, I came across interest in creating a symphony through Twitter. After the success of the YouTube Symphony, I figured this would be a great opportunity, so I sent in my audition tape. What started as an idea has hatched into fruition, and I’m excited to announce that our first symphony, entitled “Birds of a Feather”, will begin release soon! Preparing very, very challenging parts without a conductor was not easy, it was like trying to fly blindfolded at times, but when all of the chirps are put together (with the help of sound engineers) the Twitter Symphony will break the skies as something truly 21st century.
      Hopefully one day the Twitter Symphony can be caged together on one stage for a live performance, but until then follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and bird watch as our first piece is set free to soar across the internet. In addition to this, examine the colors of your own feathers and see if you can chirp with people you never have before, whether it’s virtually, physically, or artistically. Birds are so free – it seems that they could go wherever and do whatever. If we allow ourselves, we can have this same freedom.