Testimonials for 'Learning at Neffmusic'

I want to say something about Steve Neff's series of lessons, Beginner Jazz Improvisation. For a couple of years I tried many beginner lessons and my problem was that there was a gap between lessons that were fairly simple and ones that I was not quite ready for and my progress stalled out. That problem was solved with the series Beginner Jazz Improvisation. He guides you step by step along the way and builds a foundation for learning jazz and blues. He leaves no question about what to practice and focus on and the material is very interesting. I think this is the best teaching series available and he continues to add more lessons to the series. I can't thank him enough for it. May he go on for ever! Pete

Mastering the Blues Scale Vol. 1 Minor (PDF Book)
Mastering the Blues Scale Vol.1 Overview.mov and
Mastering the Blues Scale Vol. 1 Lesson-Alto.mov

The 2 lessons above and the book are a fantastic combination!!

I started playing saxophone as a teenager in my grammar school band and quickly became addicted to the sax.  Because my family of 7 needed help to pay for groceries, medical, and a great variety of other needs, I had to sell my sax, give-up playing and find a job.

Several years later I started playing again and "fell in love" with the sax. I took lessons in New York City from the teacher who taught King Curtis; his name was Joe Napolian.  I practiced religiously, started a band and began making money at a variety of gig types. My teacher past away and I moved to North Carolina to work at IBM as a network engineer and had to stop playing.

Two years later I began a search for a sax teacher and happened to come across Steve Neff when I was searching YouTube for sax teachers.  I went to neffmusic.com and was very impressed with the lessons Steve Neff was offering.  The concept of selecting lessons was an approach that I thought was unique and purchased a few lessons.  I liked the lessons so much that I signed-up for a 6 month package.

I was very happy with all the lessons I selected.  I also purchased Steve's book Mastering the Blues Scale that contains 100 licks or patterns in all 12 keys.  I quickly selected the lesson for the overview of the book and the lesson where Steve demonstrates all 100 licks. Hearing them played by Steve was great, since you can hear the various articulations which makes a great difference to the sound of the licks.

Using the book and corresponding 2 lessons made a dramatic improvement in my soloing that is incredible to say the least.  Even my wife and daughter said my playing has improved and they rarely make any comments about my sax playing.  My daughter even picked out 3 licks that are her favorites - Unbelievable!

I strongly recommend to any one who wants to learn to play sax or play better to try a few of Steve's lessons.  You will not regret it.

Sincerely,

Michael J. Smith

I'm Gilles, I'm french, and i discovered your website for 1 month. And it's an awesome discovering to me. You have changed my idea to practice and with so fews lessons that i have donwload, you brought me out a giant progress. With your video, i have understood the principle so easy to resolve the phrases. and it's a real big pleasure to learn your principles. I hope you will give us many videos and help saxophonist like me to reach their goal.
You cover so passionted subject like triad, styling, rythmn, it's a gold mine. I hope one day you will make a video about bob berg, who is one my favorite saxophonist.
Thanks for all and please never stop to give your unbelievable knwoledge and your technique.

Thanks for all and keep going on.

Just wanted to send you a quick note to say thank you for being you, your playing, your website and your desire to help others. I'm a professional musician in the US Army and I've visited your website almost every day since discovering it a couple of months ago. Your lessons are profound and easy to use. I've purchased most of your .pdf books and now starting to delve more into the video and audio lessons.

Thank you for being a resource, and I hope to meet you someday when I'm in town. Maybe a skype lesson is in order as well.

Thanks again,

SGT James Shank

Dear Steve,
Thank you so much for the great job you are doing to help further our jazz studies. Though I make my living as a repairer of musical instruments I am a student of jazz and have been fortunate enough to be involved with a big band and a combo for the last several years. As my children began to leave "the nest" I had decided to dedicate the next half of my life to a more serious study of the sax but I didn't know exactly how I would go about doing this until a friend of mine turned me onto your site... I ordered two of your  books (Major Bebop and The  II-V-I Primer) and have been more excited about practicing than ever in my life. The progress I've made in such a short time is amazing! But here is the really cool thing... I had just started an extensive study of Rhythm Changes and then I get your Feb. Newsletter. I can't tell your how cool it was to see this transcription and get to integrate this into my studies! Thanks again Steve, I appreciate what you are doing more than you can imagine.
Jon Deavers
North East Ohio

"Steve, your Basic Improv lessons are THE BOMB!!! I have gone through so many teachers and none of them explains the concept and methodology quite as simply and easy to understand as yours! They just ask you to memorize scales and play what comes to mind. All jazz instructors should take a look at what you have.

Please consider writing a Neff Method to Basic Jazz Improv. I believe it will become a must have book for many Jazz Improv 101 college programs.

Looking forward !

Adrian

I live in Harlem. What I feel is Jazz mecca. (Yeah Detroiters calm down). But what I love about Steve is, with the wealth of musicians & artistry that I can find playing in Central Park to St Nick Pub, none of have explained to me or broken down a process to learning as concise and simple as Steve Neff. I am reminded of a college Professor who had a degree in Logic but couldn't teach math to save his life. Sometimes musicians tend to be purposely obscure. Steve taught me more in a few months than a teacher I had for a few years and I've NEVER met the man.... Thanks Steve.

Hey Steve, I'm a new member and really enjoy your site, it's great for someone who's time is limited. I really enjoyed your lesson on practicing and have recommended your site to a few friends. Your way of explaining and demonstrating is clear and concise and it's great how I can watch or listen to my lessons any time I want. Thanks, Joe