Mr Rogers Piano Player Will Melt Your Face

[@JoshWalshMusic]

Use Lalal.ai to make your backing tracks. www.lalal.ai/?fp_ref=josh68

[@markahearn1]

Even as a child I sensed that this piano player was someone who was very special. But I never new his name, thank you for posting.

[@markyablonski1290]

Thanks for this essay on Johnny Costa, Josh. I also grew up "in front of the TV," watching Mr. Roger's Neighborhood, Charlie Brown specials, and Sesame Street. The music of Vince Guaraldi and Johnny Costa, in particular, coupled with my Mother's love of Nat King Cole, Ray Charles, and Motown, all led to a specific soundtrack to my young life that led to a lifelong love affair with Jazz. Rock and Roll came along and also became part of the musical landscape for me. However, when I picked up the guitar in my teens, I didn't want to be Eric Clapton or Jimi Hendrix; I wanted to be Wes Montgomery or Tal Farlow. Although I am not any of these great musicians today, I am incredibly grateful for the musical journey Vince and Johnny led me to.

[@papabrtrk]

Thank you Josh for an outstanding Bio on Johnny Costa! His full last name is Costanza and had 2 brothers,Alex and Victor who were both music teachers in my school district.,Kiski Area,which is 40 miles Northeast of Pittsburgh. Victor taught me trumpet in elementary school and Alex had me switch to tuba in high school. I graduated in 1974. Victor was a bass player and Alex played sax. These guys were so passionate about music. Johnny Costa actually played a concert at my school. Truly amazing pianist. These guys left an awesome legacy that I am proud to say I was a part of as well as 5 other brothers of mine. My eldest brother became a music teacher because of Alex. I and a younger brother graduated with Alex’s daughter,niece of Johnny. My brother and I served 4 years in the Marine Corps Band. These guys had a very heavy influence on me and now at 70 years,old,I still play music. They are all gone but what great and bittersweet memories I have from all of them! Thanks again and Kudos to you Sir! 🙏🙏👍👍🎶🎶

[@jdraven0890]

Our jr high jazz band director had a son who was the right age for watching Mr. Rogers. He came to practice one day and remarked how he'd never realized how incredible the piano player was, especially when he let loose during the end credits. Thanks for this great video.

[@onemoremisfit]

I was a teenager by the time Mister Rogers was on, but I totally noticed the music and used to watch and listen quite a bit.

[@areirving]

Thank you for remembering John Costa. A fabulous, underrated pianist.

[@johnc819]

A LIVE performance every time! That fact blows my mind. I always appreciated the piano on Mr Rogers show but I had no idea how many, many virtuoso performances happened over the many years. ... Thanks for the show

[@ernestdenov3599]

Being a musician myself, I was always extremely aware of how amazing Johnny Costa's playing was! He was the main reason I watched the show; no offense to Mr. Rogers who was always supportive of musicians. Costa never played the opening theme the same way twice; he was that creative!

[@BenBrossMusic]

Johnny Costa, Art Tatum, Fats Waller, George Shearing, what a great bunch of guys!

[@jasonbrandtcomposer]

This was a great video! My face is melted haha! Great job!

[@patrickangusfoley]

Love your explanation of how these sounds were created, Josh. You’re making me a better listener!!

[@RyanK3951]

That's so cool! All this music from our childhoods that we know by heart actually being incredibly sophisticated and beautiful! If only I had wanted to be a cat before a rockstar, I wouldn't be learning all of this so late. Great lesson as always, Josh. Thank you for all you do and that app actually looks really cool! Will definitely check it out!

[@thearthurmigliazza]

Another great video! Thanks Josh

[@sirrobinhood3409]

Excellent analysis Thanks!

[@joelhazard7947]

Great informative video with veneration too, thank you!

[@miTnosnhoJ]

Maybe my favorite video that you’ve done! Love it.

[@philburrus4102]

Great video! I had no idea Johnny Costa was playing this stuff live during the recordings. Man that guy played a ton of notes. Tatum inspiration makes sense!

[@paulandamyw]

One of the BEST KZbin videos I've watched in years. :) Fabulous job! Your passion is palpable and infectious. You certainly packed a lot in under 11 minutes. Peace and Gratitude- Paul

[@lanceregan2571]

I was not aware of Johnny Costa until now.I never saw a television until I was 9 years old. Grew up listening to the radio. I can hear Tatum and George Shearing and Fats Waller in his playing.Will be checking out his music.Good job on the video . See you on Open Studio.

[@tommyron]

I'm a happy new subscriber. Great topics and you cover them beautifully.

[@JoshWalshMusic]

Glad to have you.

[@leventsoyer1649]

Nice Stuff man🙏👍 helped a lot…inspiring

[@GuitarbyRW]

This is great, thanks!

[@kitgroovemachine]

Costa was a great piano player !

[@unclenote]

Great stuff !Thanks

[@DaveBermanKeys]

Great video!!

[@jerry-skids]

This is an excellent instructional video. Even at my age, (ain't saying), I can still pick things up and understand how certain techniques were done and still are. I also grew up watching some of the Mr. Rogers episodes, but mainly because the music intrigued me. when I was little, I didn't even try to emulate this kind of music. I was leaning more towards what I could grasp easier, such as certain TV commercial jingles, TV show themes, certain movie scores. I think the first thing I ever emulated on my late grandmother's old upright piano was, "I'd like to teach the world to sing" jingle. I tried to emulate the beginning to "The Edge of Night" Soap opera theme. It drove me nuts trying to figure it out, and it seemed so complicated then. But then again, I was only about 6 or 7 years old then. lol.

[@mikemorrisonmusic]

His piano player was incredible.

[@nickbalm]

While I never watched a lot of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, I always loved his piano player. Great insights from Josh!!

[@truthmanifestingtruth]

Good job with the content and advertisement! It’s all relevant to a number of us musicians interested in this topic! Keep up the great work!🎸👍🏾

[@Doumbeck]

Brilliant work into the mysteries of real jazz piano, including Fats and Shearing.. I heard them at the age of 13 and went into music as a profession.. I'm totally old now and still trying to play those Tatum descending runs! Bravo for you! sir! ..

[@bobbylibertini]

I'd only rece3ntly come to appreciate Johnny Costa (I'm 62.), but now I must thank you, Josh for turning me onto Art Tatum- Holy jit! (Methinks I am going to enjoy this channel!)

[@russell_szabados]

Love this. I grew up playing classical and didn’t give jazz much of a chance. Some of my biggest heroes are those who created the soundtrack to childhood, like Johnny Costas, Vince Guaraldi and Joe Raposo of Sesame Street. Thanks for your insight!

[@JoshWalshMusic]

I've been thinking about doing a video on Joe Raposo actually. I'm really having fun with these childhood nostalgia jazz videos the last couple of months.

[@chop1992]

Great video! The “other guys in the rhythm section” are Carl McVicker (bass) and Bob Rawsthorne (drums)…they were part of the Johnny Costa trio for three decades!

[@JoshWalshMusic]

Yes thank you for pointing that out. I had that in the video but I must have cut it out of the edit.

[@LeytonCurran]

Just discovered your channel. Underrated! Subscribed.

[@JoshWalshMusic]

Glad to have you Leyton!

[@maxalthoff4526]

Great video Josh!

[@JoshWalshMusic]

#bluescrew

[@maxalthoff4526]

@ maybe we can get a video on the history of blues piano?

[@JoshWalshMusic]

@ not on the history, but I am working on something for better blues playing.

[@maxalthoff4526]

@@JoshWalshMusic I’ll be watching !

[@Son_of_a_pitch11]

I never knew Mr Rodgers slammed so hard! It’s eye opening

[@EdinburghWhite]

How sad that it was only Sesame Street which made it across the 'pond'. At least we did get Charlie Brown/Vince at Xmas and Costa is now an open book for me. That software looks v useful and nice to see it works across all platforms. Will check it out!

[@laurencefinston7036]

"Mr. Rodger's Neighborhood", along with "The Gentle Giant" and "The Storyteller", was one of my favorite TV shows when I was a small child (a long time ago, now). I always loved the piano playing on it. Children eventually grow out of "Mr. Rodger's" but I have a lot of respect for Fred Rodgers and Johnny Costa was a brilliant choice for a collaborator. It's worth noting that Fred Rodgers had a BA in music. I enjoyed this video. I'd only like to add that two of my particular favorites among piano players whose styles seem to me to fit here are Erroll Garner and Nat "King" Cole.

[@anthony10012]

How have I not found you before? Subscribed.

[@JoshWalshMusic]

I’ve been waiting for you to find me. Glad to have you.

[@scottmcevoy9252]

I studied jazz guitar with Joe Negri, the handyman and guitarist for Mr. Rogers, when I was in college. He was probably the best player I’ve ever had the chance to see. I highly recommend finding videos on him if you like good jazz players.

[@JoshWalshMusic]

Joe Negri has an incredible version of this song on solo guitar too.

[@burtcolk]

Costa said that his opening scale was specifically modeled on the opening of the last movement of Beethoven’s piano sonata Op.2 No.3.

[@BenjiOrthopedic]

Yeah, Johnny Costa the virtuoso jazz pianist of the show who was rarely seen. It was like it took him no effort at all to play, and that it was just brilliant improvisation based on Rogers' corny songs - which Costa actually made much better! I am a violinist - although I learned the piano and some music theory first. I was a horrid pianist LOL But I did learn how to write piano accompaniments and study piano parts for the violin pieces I play. I think it was interesting that Costa and Rogers both died at the same age, 74. Doing ad hoc music - playing it on the spot, as Costa did - is really difficult. It takes not only a gifted musician, but someone with a REALLY gifted brain to be able to do it.

[@b-at8183]

alright all of this is from Tatum but now the new art tatum is ELEW just if anyone was curious here in 2025, Costa actually knew tatum too and tatum called costa the white tatum. Oscar peterson almost quit piano after hearing Art Tatum and also studied Tatum. It's all connected. (if you are studying jazz piano you MUST know stride piano but I think bill evans put it the best way, study who you love not to copy them but to progress and put together the sound you're looking for. jazz pianists really must acquire a large bag of tools. for example you will hear art tatum use similar tools that he put into context on almost any tune its all recyclable ideas under the fingers. Venturing off a foundational structure.

[@jaxkass6996]

Excellent Video. Very well put together.

[@RaineStudio]

Not finding this transcription at your website. Is it coming soon? I'm a good reader and seeing the notation would help me understand your exigesis.

[@JoshWalshMusic]

Hey. I haven’t done this transcription. He improvised it differently for every show. I do want to do the one from his solo album of the shows music. But it’s intense. Timothy Gondola’s channel has the transcription of his version of It’s Such a Good Feeling.

[@martingravel1157]

Awesome vid Josh! Thx a lot! Wasn’t Mr Rogers a good pianist too?

[@JoshWalshMusic]

Indeed. And he wrote all the songs too.

[@paulflute]

he 'picked up' the piano.. so strong too..

[@PseudoIntellectual2.0]

Julian Lage is now the Mister Rogers/Bob Ross of music. Just watch an interview of him. At any moment I'm expecting him to say "happy little note."

[@JoshWalshMusic]

So true!

[@DovidM]

Johnny Costa taught music as well.

[@mckernan603]

K where’s the sheet music?

[@JoshWalshMusic]

I transcribe a new tune every week on the newsletter. I want to do Costas version from his Mr Roger’s solo album. Pretty ambitious transcription. Going to take some time. Lol

[@MM-bg7in]

Great video. Wish I could reach a tenth. Signed - small hands

[@TheRealSandleford]

Costa party casette from YT is in my car cd player plus charles bell trio ...and a track from the meters for filler aint no use ..... That party cassette has a string of standards on it

[@JoshWalshMusic]

I need to look this up!

[@Photologistic]

Be glad you could have 30 years to work on it.

[@alz7880]

He must have been a strong accordion player to pick up the piano!

[@laurencefinston7036]

The problem with the piano is that there aren't any straps.

[@Dr.RolyndDellaSylvan]

@JoshWalshMusic Wonderful video and insights! -Does anyone here remember young Wynton & Branford Marsalis on Mr Roger’s Neighborhood?!…and, the Canadian Brass?…and so much great music by Johnny Costa & band, and guests ? -@JoshWalshMusic thank you for being you. I wish you many more rapturous musical moments in 2025 ! hug 🫂 from the road, Dr D