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.
Wynton Marsalis is just as excited to meet Mister Rogers as Fred is to hear his music. Marsalis is a young musician who has already achieved fame. Mister Rogers asks Marsalis for advice for young children who want to learn to play the trumpet.
Johnny Costa provided the piano music for Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. He was the music director until his death in 1996. He and Fred were great friends and bonded over their music practice.
The Fred Rogers Institute Archivist is available for requests and inquiries from students and researchers.
