Little Chopin's Music Lessons Instructors
MIDDLE C MUSIC INSTRUCTORS
Seda Lokiani
Voice/Piano Instructor
Seda Lokiani is an Armenian Opera Singer. She completed her Master’s Degree in Voice from the Komitas State Conservatory of Yerevan under the supervision of Karine Mkrtchyan.
Seda
was a member of the famous “KOHAR” Symphonic Orchestra from 2007 to 2009, and also worked at the “KASA” Swiss humanitarian foundation from 2006 to 2009 as a vocal teacher and a kapellmeister (conductor). Seda has participated in a number of international vocal competitions such as “Veratsnund” (Renaissance) in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 in Yerevan, as well as “New Opera World” in 2015, held in Moscow.
Seda and her family moved to the US in 2017. She currently teaches at the New Orleans Russian Community Center as a voice, choir, and piano instructor.
Guitar
Instructor
David McGhee
Dave McGhee Hails is originally from Atlanta, Georgia. Out of high school, he attended the Atlanta Institute of Music where he majored in guitar performance. Dave moved to Chicago at the age of twenty-two where he spent seven years teaching guitar lessons and performing at various blues clubs and festivals around the city. This included performances with Charlie Love and the Silky Smooth Blues Band; a mainstay at the world-famous Kingston Mines. After a few years on the Chicago music scene, Dave decided to go back to school and pursue his other passion; aviation. He attended Middle Georgia State University and earned his commercial pilot’s license and later went on to major in Air Traffic Management which led him to a career as an air traffic controller in Miami, Florida. After having lived in Miami for almost eight years, it was time for a change. Dave has recently brought his musical talents to the Northshore and is excited to share his love for music with his students!
Landon Blocker
Trombone/Low Brass
Instructor
Mr. Landon Blocker graduated from Louisiana State University in 2019 with a Bachelor’s of Music in Music Education. During his time at LSU, he performed in several ensembles on campus including the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Winds, Symphonic Band, Lab Jazz Band, Trombone Choir, and marched in the Golden Band from Tigerland. Upon graduating from LSU, he began his teaching career at Hahnville High School where he served as the Assistant Band Director for two years. In 2021, he made the move to Slidell High School to become the Assistant Band Director. In 2022, Mr. Blocker assumed the role of Band Director of the Slidell High School Band. Since he began his teaching career, Mr. Blocker has never received less than straight superior ratings at concert assessment.
Mr. Blocker has also performed professionally as a trombonist and tubist in productions including Ascension Community Theatre’s Wizard of Oz, Episcopal High School’s Evangeline, Hahnville High School’s Matilda, Slidell High School’s Anything Goes, and most recently in Slidell High School’s Shrek the Musical.
Mr. Blocker also currently serves as District Director for the District IX Band Directors Association. He is also a proud member of the Louisiana Music Educators Association and the Louisiana Music Adjudicator’s Association.
Taylor Mroski
Guitar/Electric/String Bass
Instructor
Taylor Mroski is a professional bassist, guitarist, songwriter, and producer based in Covington, Louisiana. Having studied many styles deeply, Taylor can be heard throughout New Orleans playing at jazz clubs, broadway shows, ballets, dance floors, songwriter rounds, and more. Not only is he a competent musician; he is well acquainted with the process of music production and promotion. He received an undergraduate degree in Music Education from Loyola University New Orleans in 2016. He has toured nationally and internationally with various artists from New Orleans. Whether you're just starting out, or you're trying to find mentorship to start booking gigs of your own, Taylor would love to help you in your musical journey.
Wesley Daniels Arceneaux
Harp/Piano
Instructor
Wesley is originally from Raleigh, North Carolina, but has a musical and family connection to Louisiana, which was a deciding factor on attending Loyola University New Orleans. There, she studied Music Industry Studies and Classical Performance of the Harp. Wesley began playing the harp in 2009 and has been privileged to study under harpists’ Laura Byrne and Rachel Van Voorhees. After graduating from Loyola University in 2020, with a Bachelor of Music, Wesley has pursued a career within the Music Industry as a professional harpist, where she currently performs the harp at public, private and volunteer events of all kinds across the state of Louisiana and the Gulf Coast. Additionally, she teaches private harp and piano students of all ages. Wesley is also a wife and mother of three, who enjoys cooking, gardening and spending time with loved ones.
Daniel L. Davis
Low Brass/Piano
Instructor
Mr. Dan Davis currently serves as the Assistant Band Director at Slidell High School located in Slidell, Louisiana. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Louisiana State University and a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from Tennessee Technological University. He also serves on the District IX Band Directors Association Executive Board as the Treasurer.
As a child, Mr. Davis played the piano competitively for over a decade and studied with his late grandma, Shirley West, a professional piano player. At age 14, he changed his focus from piano to the tuba; however, piano continued to be a recreational musical outlet. He currently teaches two sections of Class Piano at Slidell High where he leads classes in both beginner and intermediate piano playing as well as music theory instruction.
From 2017-2022, Mr. Davis toured with The King’s Brass, a renowned brass ensemble known for delivering over 150 concerts a year. He has recorded with both the Summit Records and Mark Records Label and has held the tuba chair in esteemed performing groups including the Meridian Symphony Orchestra, Bryan Symphony Orchestra, and the Brass Arts Quintet.
Prior to his tenure at Slidell High School, Mr. Davis served on the faculties at various academic institutions including Cornerstone University, Tennessee Technological University, and the University of the South. He has also taught at the secondary education level, serving as the Band Director at Dutchtown Middle School and as a Marching Technician at St. Amant High School, East Ascension High School, and Denham Springs High School. Mr. Davis has presented clinics, recitals, and masterclasses at institutions and schools domestically and internationally, including the prestigious Moscow Conservatory of Music.
Outside his education endeavors, Mr. Davis enjoys unwinding with his feline companion, Jax, while delving into the pages of a good book.
Aubrey is a clarinetist from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She earned her Bachelor of Music Education from Louisiana State University in 2019. She has spent the last four years as the Assistant Band Director at Mandeville High School. During her time there, she was a member of the Louisiana Music Educators Association as well as Secretary for the District IX Band Directors Association. Her bands at Mandeville consistently earned Superior ratings at Large Group Assessment. Aubrey has been teaching for the last 12 years, and is dedicated to music education in our community. Although Aubrey's primary instrument is clarinet, she enjoys teaching brass, woodwinds, and piano.
William Green
Saxophone/Piano
Instructor
William grew up singing and playing piano with his parents and, when he was 10, started playing flute in his school music program. At age 12, William took to the saxophone in pursuit of other musical styles such as jazz and R&B. Shortly after, he and his peers formed a jazz group called The Footsteps who went on to open for the great New Orleans jazz pianist, Ellis Marsalis Jr. at the Dew Drop Inn in Mandeville, LA. While in highschool, William spent time playing flute, saxophone, and clarinet and, in 2019, was a featured soloist alongside world-class trumpeter Allen Vizzuti at the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. Before graduating, William became the tenor saxophonist for The Brasshearts Brass Band, which he still plays with today. With them, he has performed at notable venues such as The Howlin’ Wolf, Tipitina’s, and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival as well as made multiple appearances on WWL’s “Great Day Louisiana” television program. William is currently in his final year of receiving his Bachelor’s of Music Education degree from Loyola University New Orleans. After which, he will pursue a career in teaching and performing.
“Every musician is on their own journey, which is why I believe everyone deserves an individualized approach to learning music. I want to find out what my students are passionate about and help them to achieve it at whatever level they desire. From fundamentals and theory to improvisation and practical applications, there is something for everybody!"
Clarinet/Piano
Instructor
Aubrey Farriel
Lauren Joiner
Voice/Piano/Flute Instructor
Lauren Joiner began her career as a musician and performer at the early age of 5, often singing for church on Sundays. By the third grade, she became a talented music student, learning more theory, piano skills and singing harmony with fellow students. By middle school, she picked up the flute, and this became her new passion all the way through college, where she studied music media at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. With knowledge of music from all over the world and from every age, Ms. Joiner is a well-rounded teacher, specializing in folk and pop music. She combines her musical ability with recording and editing skills to create a custom, modern and fun educational experience for students to learn, grow and express themselves in through music!
Chris Fletcher
Drum/Piano Instructor
Chris Fletcher is a percussionist who resides in New Orleans. Originally from Maine, he taught music in public schools for 26 years. Chris and his wife relocated to Louisiana to be closer to their sons who are also musicians and play in a band in New Orleans.
Besides being a music educator, Chris has played in many bands in many genres of music. He was most recently a member of Maine Marimba Ensemble a popular Zimbabwean-style marimba band in Portland, ME.
Chris teaches drums, drumset, percussion and piano. Chris enjoys sharing his love of music with everyone and is excited to be teaching at Middle C Music.