Student Savers by Mona Rejino

I wanted to share a few of my favorite pieces by Mona Rejino. (Don’t forget that you have until Friday to submit questions.) As I was writing this post, I became aware of a few more “student saver” pieces of Mona’s that I will be trying with my students this spring recital.  Here are the “winners:”

Today’s Hits, early-intermediate/intermediate arrangements of more pieces your pre-teen and teenage students know and love.  Here’s one of today’s super popular songs that is skillfully arranged for the intermediate student.  Yes, this is one you’ve probably hear too.  I find Mona’s arrangement of this piece fun to play myself.

Here is the same piece as a Showcase Solo: A Thousand Miles.

Since Christmas is coming, I thought I’d mention that I am going to be picking up Mona’s Merry Christmas Medleys for some of my students.  These medleys are written for intermediate pianists and I believe some of my early intermediate students will be able to handle them since they lay so nicely under the hands.

Medleys Include:  Bell Medley (Ding Dong! Merrily on High and Carol of the Bells) • Celebration Medley (Hark! The Herald Angels Sing and Joy to the World) • Festive Medley (Deck the Hall and Jingle Bells) • Good News Medley (Mary Had a Baby and Go, Tell It on the Mountain) • Lullaby Medley (Coventry Carol and Away in a Manger)

I was glancing through some of Mona’s works on the Hal Leonard site when I noticed a Level 1 piece called Ocean Breezes.  When I first look at the “Closer Look,” it seemed to be just another pleasant Level 1 piece.  But, then I played it.  Mona has done a superb job at using just a few notes to compose a remarkably expressive piece!  Seeing that the damper pedal was used throughout suggested to me that it might be in a pentatonic scale, but she has used a beautifully exquisite half step (a quasi-leading tone) to give it a bit of an impressionistic flair.  I can’t wait to use this one with my beginning students as we work on artistic playing.

Last, but certainly not least, I wanted to mention Mona’s Portraits in Style book.  My absolute favorite pieces in this book is “Nocturne” which is one of Mona’s favorite that she talks about in this post. This piece has the most beautiful melody and is perfect for a young student who loves romantic music.   Another great piece is “Reverie,” also great for the romantic loving student.