Mister Rogers introduces his viewers to the people who make the music on the set of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood: John Costa, pianist and musical director, Bob Rawsthorne, percussionist and Carl McVicker, bassist. In Make-Believe story King Friday commands that all neighbors celebrate a “Bass Violin Festival.” But he is the only person who knows how to play the bass violin! The neighbors each find their own creative ways to obey the King’s command.
Mister Rogers thought of himself first and foremost as a musician, and he was delighted to share his love of music. In this episode, world -renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma visits and viewers enjoy his extraordinary musical talent and get to know him. Performing a variety of musical pieces, he shows how he uses music to express all kinds of feelings. In Make-Believe, the neighbors are preparing for a bass violin festival. And a factory tour takes viewers to see how people make bass violins.
There’s lots of fun when folksinger Ella Jenkins teaches Mister Rogers a rhythmic hand-clapping game. Mister Rogers helps children know it’s hard to learn new things, even for grown-ups. In Make-Believe, the neighbors are each finding their own ways to be part of King Friday’s”Bass Violin Festival.” There are many ways to tell the truth about ourselves and one of the most important of those is telling the truth by expressing how we feel.
Mister Rogers visits with the Empire Brass Quintet and listens carefully to help children hear how each of the instruments – a tuba, a French horn, a coronet, a trombone and a trumpet, sounds alone, and how all the instruments sound together. In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, the castle is being decorated for the “Bass Violin Festival” and the King’s fanfare trumpeters are practicing too.
Mister Rogers’ visits Tom O’Horgan who shows him his collection of unusual and fascinating musical instruments from all over the world.In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe all the neighbors from Westwood, Southwood, and Northwood join in to celebrate a “Bass Violin Festival.” Each of the neighbors has found their own creative way to be part of the fun. Mister Rogers plays the piano and shows how he might play if when he’s feeling happy or when he’s feeling angry.
Watch full-length Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood programs. The first Monday of every month will feature programs from the early years 1968-1975. The third Monday of every month will feature programs from the “Theme Weeks” library 1979-2001.
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