Mr. Rogers Neighborhood...

When you hear music for the first time,the context that you hear it in dictates the amount of attention you pay to listening to it, and the consideration that you give to it. The example that I will use today is jazz.

Lets say you are at a jazz concert and the MC speaks about the music that you are going to hear. The MC is most likely going to be very passionate about the music and the artist you are about to hear, and they are going to set you up for a positive musical experience. At the concert, you are probably surrounded by jazz enthusiasts who have come anticipating a spectacular concert. You have probably even come to hear that particular musician. So before the musicians come on stage, the stage has been set for a positive musical experience. No matter what the band plays, or how they play it, everyone is going to be listening intently, picking up all the minute details of the music, and drwaing great pleasure and satisfaction from the music.

On the other hand, I want to introduce you to another musical experience that I guarantee everyone has experienced but never taken notice of, all because of the context that this music is found.

Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, as we all know, is a childrens television show that was on the air for several decades, and is still being shown in syndication. Mr Rogers is a very musical person, having written most of the songs that you hear on his show. When he created his show, he sought out the best musician he could find, that being Johnny Costa. Mr. Rogers taped his shows with Johnny playing along. It wasn't a background record that was added in later, he was right there improvising to every little thing that Mr Rogers did. When he fed the fish, Johnny would play a little twinkle melody that was the sound of the fish food being sprinkled. When Mr Rogers had to walk to another part of the set, Johnny would play some transition music that made the show run more smoothly. At the end of the show, the musical magic happened. Mr. Rogers would sing the song, "Its Such a Good Feeling". He would say goodbye to the audience, and open the door and leave. Im sure that you all can picture the camera panning back over the little model of Mr Rogers Neighborhood. The song continues as the credits roll, and Johnny plays a jazz solo over the form of "Its such a Good Feeling". It only lasts for about 30 seconds. There is even a bass player and drummer who chime in. Im not sure who they are, but it seems that their gig consists of playing for the last 30 seconds of the show. It is consistently the most amazing piano solo that I feel I have ever heard. Johnny uses every bit of that 30 seconds to display his phenomenal ability to play the jazz piano. He slides up and down the keyboard with the greatest of ease, and just as quickly as he took it to such a great height, he brings it back down to end the show. I watch Mr Rogers whenever I get the chance just to hear the solo at the end of the show. It puts me in the best mood. The best part is that it is a different improvised solo every day.

Now I bet that every one has experienced watching this, but never really taken notice. The reason for this is that the context does not lend itself to setting people up to open their musical minds. It is a part of a childrens show, not a part of a music show, and it is really just an afterthought. It has nobody to set it up, and the people who are watching the show do not have the intent of listening to music. This does not make the music any less astonishing, it is just a musical gem hidden in a kids show.

If Johnny were to play the solo at a jazz concert, he would blow most musicians off the stage. However, the context that you hear his music in dictates how much attention, if any, is payed to the music.

My point in writing this is to be the one to set you up for a new satisfying musical experience. Maybe you will find yourself flipping through the channels and you see Mr Rogers Neighborhood. Watch it until the end. I promise you that you will not be disappointed, and it will brighten your day. Thank you Johnny Costa and Fred Rogers.