Fred Rogers composed all of the music for Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. He studied music composition at Rollins College and continued to write for the rest of his life. For Fred, the piano represented more than work; it was therapy and a means for him to play and explore. This piece must have been the result of Fred musing on how to sing his name.
The David he is referring to in the note is David Newell, who played Mr. McFeely. Handwritten pieces like this are some of the most interesting and important items in the Archive.
In this segment, Ma explains how he was introduced to music through his sister, a violinist. He was discouraged that he could not play as well as her, but he soon discovered the cello. Mister Rogers asks him if his mood influences the way he plays.
Itzhak Perlman lets Mister Rogers look carefully at his violin. Mister Rogers asks him to play "Yankee Doodle." Perlman tells how difficult it is to even produce a sound on the violin when you first start playing.
The Fred Rogers Institute Archivist is available for requests and inquiries from students and researchers.
