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. When Mister Rogers asks if he ever uses the violin to express particular emotions, Perlman says that musicians are always expressing their feelings through what they play. So, Mister Rogers wants to hear what Perlman loves to play.
This television visit was possible because Perlman was in town to play with the Pittsburgh Symphony. Perlman must have been impressed with Fred because he returned to Pittsburgh ten years later to play at his memorial service in 2003.
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.
Mister Rogers is standing in Negri's Music Shop, studying music notes written on the chalkboard. He is in the studio section of the Shop where visitors would come for music lessons or to perform for Mister Rogers.
The Fred Rogers Institute Archivist is available for requests and inquiries from students and researchers.
