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Greenfield Music overview
The GRES Music Department follows a Kodály-inspired method of teaching, focusing on intonation, rhythm skills, music literacy, and the ability to sing in increasingly complex parts. We believe that students should learn and experience music at their own individual pace through a challenging yet accommodating curriculum. Outside of the music classroom, this Kodály-inspired method has been shown to improve perceptual functioning, concept formation, motor skills, and performance in other academic areas such as reading and math. Our end goal is to not only help students achieve musical growth, but also to inspire them to pursue future opportunities in the arts once they have left Greenfield.
"Often a single experience will open the young soul to music for a whole lifetime.” -Zoltan Kodály
ConGratulations to our 2025 VCU student teacher, Ms. HUGHEs!
ConGratulations to our 2025 VCU student teacher, Ms. HUGHEs!
She did a phenomenal job and while she will ALWAYS be a Greenfield dragon... she is officially the new director of choirs at Meadowbrook High School! We are so proud of you!!
About Mr. Leonard
Mr. Leonard is an alumnus of Christopher Newport University, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Clarinet Performance. He then attended Virginia Commonwealth University, earning a Bachelor of Music degree in Instrumental Music Education.
After graduating from VCU Music, Mr. Leonard completed his Orff Level I training at The Collegiate School. He then became the itinerant music teacher at Hening, Chalkley, and Jacobs Road Elementary Schools in Chesterfield County. Mr. Leonard then went on to become the general music teacher at Greenfield Elementary School where he has taught for the past seven years.
He began his Kodály Level I training in the summer of 2019 at MidWestern State University in Wichita Falls, TX and became fully certified in July of 2022. He now serves as Program Co-Director at that same Kodály teacher education program.
He currently serves as the Co-Chair of the VMEA (Virginia Music Educators Association) Advocacy & Government Relations Committee. He has previously served as the Central VA Member-at-Large for VOKE (the Virginia Organization of Kodály Educators) and continues to actively present workshops and professional developments in his area. He is a recent Teacher of the Year and the recipient of the Outstanding Young Alumni Award from VCU and the Superintendent Game-Changer award from Chesterfield County.
Mr. Leonard is currently a Graduate Fellow at Michigan State University pursuing his Master's degree in Music Education. He is thrilled that he gets to remain at Greenfield while doing so.
Helpful links
Please visit the links below if you would like additional information about Greenfield Elementary School, our music department, or a glimpse into a Kodály-inspired music education:
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