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. Ma demonstrates how playing the cello in certain ways can relieve tension. Mister Rogers is also interested in the cello itself, so Ma describes the instrument and where it was made.
Fred Rogers and Yo-Yo Ma became friends after filming this segment for Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. Ma went on to appear two more times on the program and, in 2014, received the Fred Rogers Legacy Award from the Fred Rogers Center.
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.
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.
The Fred Rogers Institute Archivist is available for requests and inquiries from students and researchers.
