SF Piano Studio  - Master Piano with Expert Guidance

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Meet Severin Finch

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Hi, I'm Severin Finch; wife, mom, LCMS Lutheran and passionate music educator in Casper, WY. At SF Piano Studio, I nurture young musicians in personalized piano lessons focused on performance, collaboration, and appreciation. Join us to develop your musical skills in a fun, supportive environment. Start your musical journey today!

Welcome to my Studio

Group lessons promoting teamwork and ensemble playing among young musicians.

Collaborative Ensemble Sessions

Introduction to piano fundamentals for K-12 students, focusing on basic techniques and music reading skills.

Beginner Piano Lessons

Developing skills through performance and collaboration, tailored for students with basic piano knowledge.

Intermediate Piano Coaching

Prepare for recitals and competitions, emphasizing musical expression and technical proficiency while keeping joy and curiosity at the forefront of all performance practices.

Piano Performance 

Gain experience collaborating with teachers, peers, and local musicians to prepare for future engagements as school or church-based choir, instrumental, and sacred ensemble accompanists.

Collaborative Piano 

Understand music structure and history to foster appreciation and enhance playing skills using Royal Conservatory of Music and David's Harp curriculum.

Music Theory and Appreciation

Perform, Collaborate, and Appreciate Music

SF Piano Studio - Collaborative Recital, Spring 2023

SF Piano Studio - SP 2024 Student Presentation Day 

SF Piano Studio - FA 2022 Christmas Recital 

SF Piano Studio - Collaborative Recital SP 2023

SF Piano Studio - Collaborative Recital SP 23

Gallery

boy during a warm-up before a piano concert

If you use/love my work, please follow me on Instagram <3 https://www.instagram.com/paige.marie.cody/ 
@Paige.marie.cody

a jazz pianist playing one of his favourite tunes.

This piano keyboard was in the lounge of a hotel. The keys reflected in the body of the piano.

Join the journey of musical growth!

Severin is a diligent, conscientious teacher. We really appreciate her dedication to good practice habits and to musical excellence in lessons and in performance for our children. Her warmth, enthusiasm, and humor are icing on the top of great piano instruction! 

We had a wonderful experience with Severin Finch’s Piano Studio. Severin’s enthusiasm for music is contagious, making lessons both fun and memorable. She creates a positive and encouraging environment for her students. I would highly recommend her to other families!

I really enjoy Severin's relaxed manner. She has a way of letting children know that she's serious and expects them to do their best, yet she is always kind and humorous. I also appreciate her sensitivity to parents' opinions and desires for what they want their children learning. She is quick to adapt to whatever is needed, while also providing guidance from her own knowledge and experience. My boys learned so much in the year they had her as a teacher, and we look forward to many more years of piano lessons! 

Our daughters have learned so much from their studies with Mrs. Finch. From being truly beginners in piano, to being taught theory and technique, Mrs. Finch will meet you where you are and work forward from there.

Reviews

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Severin Finch. Revised June 2025<h3>Performance</h3>The Skill of Performing Music&nbsp;Psalm 57 says, "My heart, O God, is steadfast; my heart is steadfast. I will sing and make music." There is truly no greater outlet for human expression than music. Not only the Psalmist recognized this; Plato, Clement, Luther, and numerous others have shared insight on the powers of music and the roles it plays in faith, culture, politics, health, and entertainment. Harnessing this power is another thing altogether!Performing music for an audience requires a certain mastery of the instrument, which takes time, self discipline, and perseverance. For some, performance comes fairly naturally. For most others, it takes years of patience and a tremendous amount of practice to feel comfortable sharing their musical abilities with the world -- not to mention their communities, families, and friends. In my studio I believe in concrete, incremental improvement, not abstract, eventual perfection. As a member of MTNA, my students have many opportunities to practice sharing their foundling skills in supportive, uplifting, and forgiving environments; such as Casper Area Achievement Day, Christmas at the Nic, and SF Piano Studio Recitals. Perfection not required! However, the students who particularly excel in juried performance have the opportunity to advance to the MTNA State Conference. There, students experience music performance in a higher-educational setting, network with other young musicians, and learn about the numerous avenues in which performing music can take place.Quality Curriculum is Essential to Proficient PerformanceA chief indication of a good performer is a musician who truly understands the mechanics of their craft. My studio is proud to utilize the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) graded piano curriculum, in tandem with David's Harp liturgical curriculum for the preparation of parish musicianship.&nbsp;RCM Theory &amp; Repertoire Curriculum is considered by many to be the highest standard among piano educators, and is the one I trust to guide my students through each stage of piano education; from their first kindergarten recital to their first collegiate audition. From note recognition to melody connection, to rhythm comprehension and execution, to ear-training, transposition, harmonic analysis and composition, RCM theory is a comprehensive curriculum presented in simple format that doesn't overwhelm the student. I tailor each lesson to include one or two concepts from the theory module, which is then reinforced by the corresponding RCM repertoire studies. By the end of each academic semester, the successful piano student may advance through as much as one curriculum level and/or one level of repertoire.For students interested in parish music and the rich liturgical heritage of the LCMS church, I encourage the addition of David's Harp Liturgical Curriculum to their studies. David's Harp "Hymns of the Seasons" and "Lutheran Liturgies" series are a practical introduction to Lutheran hymns and liturgy for the youngest pianists. Through each volume, the beginner keyboardist is introduced to easy arrangements of a hymn or liturgical selection from the Lutheran Service Book, which progress in degrees of difficulty until the student is able to easily play the original LSB setting. David's Harp guides the youngest musicians through hymnbook performance they wouldn't otherwise experience, effectively preparing them for parish music accompaniment far sooner than other, traditional approaches to hymnody can produce.<h3>Collaboration</h3>Collaborative Musicianship at the Heart of Piano EducationTraditional approaches to piano education can be a lonely affair. In many of these settings, piano is generally considered to be the instrument you play by yourself, for yourself. This is because piano is a solo instrument -- or at least, that's what we're taught to believe. SF Piano Studio boldly rejects this belief. In reality, the piano is a flexible, multifaceted instrument, varied enough to be captivating completely on its own, but also equipped to lead choirs, add tone color and dynamic richness to small instrumental ensembles, and support a solo musician in lieu of an entire orchestra. Piano isn't just a solo instrument, and I help change that perception by introducing my students to collaborative experiences early on. From simple student-teacher piano duets, to intermediate vocal accompaniment, to advanced accompaniment in choir or instrumental settings, I search for, organize, support, and encourage collaborative assignments for every student, and enjoy showcasing our collaborative efforts in my studio recitals.&nbsp;Collaborative Piano fosters Good Communication&nbsp;Outside of musical context, existing verbal communication skills are improved upon, and new skills are taught. From "When shall we meet for rehearsal? Let's do 1PM on the 5th" to "I think that passage sounded too loud. Can we try it again softer?" and "That was too fast for my fingers. Let's go slower with this try", students are exposed to communicative situations between teacher, peers, and collaborative partners that help build basic interpersonal skills. Students learn how to be assertive and direct with their musical intentions, while also practicing kindness and respect in collaborative settings -- valuable, life-long skills that are applicable to countless situations, in or outside of music.<h3>Appreciation</h3>Finding Joy in Music EducationAlthough appreciation for music isn’t something that can be practiced in the sense that a Mozart sonata is, I lead my students to discover the joys of music with their own pace, learning style, and personal goals at the forefront of their studies. I am energetic, expressive, and humorous with all my students, and similarly encourage them to fully express themselves in lessons. Combined with my incremental approach to solid technique and personal artistry when building their 'tool box' of piano skills, I aspire to see every student leave their lesson feeling enlightened, encouraged, and even relieved by their new knowledge of the day, rather than burdened, discouraged, or disheartened.Clearly understanding the parent's wants, needs, and expectations for their child's piano education is an important facet in guaranteeing the child's success, and so is listening to the student when they express a desire to learn a certain piece, style, or genre of music. Although these may seem like a clash waiting to happen, I seek the intersection of parental expectation with student desires and find positive outcomes for all involved. This helps to nurture, support, and fortify a positive relationship with music for years to come.A Supportive Learning EnvironmentMy Studio is a welcoming space designed to inspire creativity and focus. I prioritizes creating a supportive environment where students enjoy exploring their musical interests and reach their full potential. With tailored lesson plans, ongoing feedback, and opportunities for recitals and masterclasses, my approach to well-rounded lessons stands out as a favorite choice for piano education in the Casper LCMS community.

Comprehensive Music Education: Performance, Collaboration, and Appreciation

After moving to Casper, WY, Severin Finch began tutoring piano for a few close friends. Over the summer, her tutor list grew to the point that Severin decided to open an independent piano studio -- and in the fall of 2022, Severin Finch's Piano Studio (SF Piano Studio) was founded. Since joining the community of Casper, Severin has musically collaborated with students and teachers at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://mounthopecasper.com/school/">Mt. Hope Lutheran School</a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.lutherclassical.org/">Luther Classical College</a>, and is an active member in the Casper chapter of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.mtna.org/MTNA/Home/MTNA/Default.aspx?hkey=91963004-fbe4-4711-a192-b6293aedc31c">Music Teacher's National Association</a>. Currently, Severin is enrolled in the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://certification.mtna.org/">MTNA Professional Certification</a> program, expecting to complete her NCTM certification in summer 2026. EDUCATION At the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.uwyo.edu/music/">University of Wyoming</a>, Severin refined her piano technique in the studio of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.uwyo.edu/music/faculty_staff/bogard_theresa.html">Dr. Theresa Bogard</a>, and studied collaborative piano under the direction of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://music.illinois.edu/people/profiles/chi-chen-wu/">Dr. Chi-Chen Wu</a> (professor emeritus), honing skills in both vocal and instrumental accompaniment. In addition to her performance studies, Severin's most intensive work at UW was in instrumental conducting with <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.uwyo.edu/music/faculty_staff/griffith_michael.html">Dr. Michael Griffith</a> (UWSO) and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.uwyo.edu/music/faculty_staff/professors-emeriti.html">Dr. Robert Belser</a> (UW Wind Symphony, professor emeritus). An avid percussionist, Severin spent her collegiate summers playing percussion in the Laramie Municipal Band under the direction of Dr. Belser. In Laramie, Severin was a member of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/CandraWyoga">Gamelan Candra Wyoga</a>, Wyoming's only Indonesian Gamelan ensemble, founded by I Made Lasmawan and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.uwyo.edu/music/faculty_staff/professors-emeriti.html">Dr. Rodney Garnett</a>. Her experience in Gamelan performance was enriched by an independent study of the musical styles of Balinese and Javanese Gamelan, under the instruction of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.sheridan.edu/faculty/chris-erickson-2/">Dr. Christian Erickson</a>, Sheridan College. Severin holds her <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.sheridan.edu/academics/programs-a-z/music/">Sheridan College</a> education close to her heart. There, she gained experience in various forms of ensemble performance under the baton of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.music.af.mil/Home/Biographies/Display/Article/2566526/michael-flynn/">Dr. Michael Flynn</a>, including Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo (piano), Wind Band (piano and percussion), Percussion Ensemble (marimba), and collaborative performances (piano and marimba) with local and student composers. Severin's strong foundation in written and aural music theory began under the instruction of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.sheridan.edu/faculty/chris-erickson-2/">Dr. Christian Erickson</a>, with whom she also studied world music and music technology. Severin appreciates good Lutheran Chorale, and enjoys singing alto in <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bachtochurch.org/">Bach to Church</a> choral settings at Mt. Hope Congregational Choir. Severin also sang alto in St. Andrew's Lutheran Church and Campus Center Choir under the direction of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.ecspublishing.com/composers/h/steven-hoffman.html">Dr. Steven Hoffman</a>.

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