kaden powers
About
Hello there! My name is Kaden Powers, and I teach jazz piano, composition, and music theory. I started seriously learning piano at the age of 17, learning various jazz solos, watching youtube videos, and briefly took piano lessons. I did not learn in the traditional sense. However, that does not mean I cannot share my wealth of knowledge with you. I have studied pianists such as:
Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson, and Mcoy Tyner.
I have also studied various non-pianist jazz artists such as Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Cannonball Adderly, and John Coltrane.
As far as my compositional/jazz knowledge goes, I can provide teaching on the following subjects:
Scales, Harmony, Modes, Rhythm, Intervals, Modulation, Transposition, Scale of Chords, Cadences, Substitutions, Circle of 5ths, Ear Training, Transcription, and Time Signatures.
Teaching Style
I do not offer the traditional structured lesson. I am more of a hands on teacher, getting you to play from day one. I treat music like a language, as I believe it is one. Whether it's composition or soloing, I will give you the tools of knowledge you need to think for yourself in a musical sense. Things we could do/learn during a lesson:
transcribing a solo, aspects of improvisation, how to stay in time, fundamentals of composing, transcribing a composition, chord building, find a jazz standard to learn and play over, play music together, compose a song, and much more!
Curriculum
I recommend you check out Victor Wooten's "The music lesson" which I have provided below. The book fundamentally changed my outlook on music, and life in general.
I teach by providing feedback, giving explanations, having you try out what I explained myself, and then repeating the process. I will not assign you anything unless you specifically request you want assignments. I am there to help you grow at any pace!
Credentials & Affiliations
I completed a Music Theory course at West Shore Community College in 2019, which provided a strong foundation in music education and theory. In 2022, I joined the band Potential Disaster, performing original songs live at a venue in Manistee, Michigan. In Spring 2023, I participated in the West Shore Community College Jazz Band as a pianist for their annual concert. That same year, I also performed with the swing ensemble Third Coast Swing at The Old Goat in Muskegon.
As a composer, I created the full original soundtrack for the indie short film Knowing You, directed by Dawson Segraves. While I do not hold a formal degree in music, I bring several years of experience in music production, live performance, and composition. I believe every musician brings a unique perspective to the craft, and that teaching is not only a way to share knowledge—but also to deepen it.