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You are here: Home / Learning at Neffmusic / Practicing with Neff Video Practice Sessions

Practicing with Neff Video Practice Sessions

February 16, 2019 by Steve Leave a Comment

In 2018, I started an experiment in the Member’s VIP Learning Area of the site, where I started recording myself practicing for an hour at a time so that subscriber’s to my website could learn from my example.  As of this blog post, I currently have 21 hours of practice time recorded that member’s of the site can watch as part of their subscription (along with 600+ lessons they can choose from every month)

Why am I doing this?  I think too often, students are told what to do, what to work on, how to practice, how to think, how to feel, etc……. The students goes back home and does the best they can in the privacy of their home.  Very rarely, if ever, would a student ever see a teacher practicing and working on something they can’t do. Very rarely, if ever, does a student actually see these words of advice firsthand as the teacher practices.

When I was a young teacher, I thought the sacred rule of teaching was to never let a student see you make a mistake. Never admit you can’t do something. Never show a weakness.  This is how I thought in those early days and it did not give me a sense of security and peace when thinking about teaching, that is for sure.

Now, years later, I think very differently about teaching.  Students don’t need to be told what to do by a teacher that can seamlessly do everything perfect. They need to be taught by a human just like themselves who they can relate to.  A human that has good days and bad days. A human that makes mistakes and gets frustrated.  A human that is working towards a goal and trying to figure out how to overcome an obstacle to their progress.  That is what most students need to see and understand so that they know they are not alone in their struggles and frustrations. Understanding this simple truth gives the most important element to the learning student…….hope!  Hope that they can overcome and achieve their musical goals also.

Screenshot of ever growing “Practicing with Neff” VIP Lesson Area

Now, in this modern age of video, finally a student can see the truth about what goes into a real life practice session.  The good, the bad and the ugly.  These videos are not pretty.  I make mistakes and I get frustrated quite a bit.  Somedays, I can’t seem to focus and there are plenty of grunts and frustrated exclamations by me. Other days, things just seem to flow.  There is a crazy amount of repetition to the point that it is extremely boring but the lesson that can be learned is not.  The lesson is this: It’s not about talent, it’s about hard work.  It’s not about just being able to do something naturally, it’s about figuring out how to do something effortlessly.

I’m going to keep recording these videos of me practicing.   I always say in my lessons “This isn’t easy, but if you put in the work and stay focused, you will see incredible results”.  I believe this with all my heart.  People always say “Steve, you are so talented to be able to play the sax like that!”  I honestly believe that talent has nothing to do with it.  I was a kid that couldn’t sing the right notes, couldn’t tap my foot to the beat and didn’t know if I was in-tune or not.  I still sing in church and to this day people around me still look at me as if they are bewildered at how I could be a musician.  What I did have and try to still have is a determined focus on hard work driven by passion.  If I didn’t have a natural talent then I would find a path through deliberate practice.  The bottom line is that you have no say whatsoever in what talents you are born with.  What you do have a say in is what you focus on and how hard you will work to get it……….

If you are curious about what I am writing about, then try a subscription. Download a few lessons to work on (600+ lessons at this time) and watch a few videos of me practicing something I can’t do.  We are in the same boat, you and I.  Let’s work together to become the best musicians and sax players we can be!   See you inside!    Steve

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Filed Under: Learning at Neffmusic Tagged With: Jazz Education, learning, Neff, practicing, video

Steve

About Steve

Steve Neff has been playing and teaching saxophone and jazz improvisation around the New England area for over 30 years. He is the author of many best selling jazz improvisation methods as well as founding the popular jazz video lesson site Neffmusic.com.

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Hello Steve, I’m getting so much out of your lessons and books, amazing how much one may think one knows, there is always a new frontier or new way to view something you think you had somewhat down. You have taken it all to a new level and am so grateful. Your lessons are so down to earth and understandable and clear!  Thanks so much Steve! Cheers, Eddie

Eddie Parente
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 si… Read more
Jon
I have found your videos and publications inspiring and your contribution to the world of saxophone playing is immense. Paul
Paul
I’ve been downloading your lessons for 4 months now (20 lesson) and I have noticed tremendous growth in my playing thus far! I’m so happy that I stumbled upon your site!
Bob
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 … Read more
Pete

I must say again how much I appreciate all your material. Including the video tutorials. It help keep me focused and knowing what to aim for. And your laid back teaching style appeals to me too. 

Thanks

P

P
Just a brief note to compliment you on your teaching skills and in particular for the honesty of your lessons.  I am a returning alto sax player in my 50’s and I was looking for a no nonsense, straight to the point kind of guidance. I had intended to email you with a few questions regarding the use of the bis key but then I noticed that there was a lesson on that specific topic and after viewing it,  all my questions were answered. I once took a group lesson with a well known professional sax … Read more
Patrick
I’ve been a member of Steve’s site for about six months now and the difference it has made to my playing is immeasurable. The (many) benefits of this membership are that you can have lessons at time convenient to you, they work out A LOT cheaper than face-to-face lessons with a teacher of the same calibre and you can replay them ad infinitum. I don’t know how many times have I had lessons in the past where I’ve ended up covering the same concepts when really a ‘replay’ of the last lesson would h… Read more
Nick
First, I’m really excited about your materials! This site is a vast resource for any aspiring (and maybe already inspired) jazz musicians. I’m not a sax player, I play mandolin and fiddle, but have been learning jazz and playing weekly with a quintet for the past 6 months and have been struggling with all of the issues you get into in your lessons. I bought several books and lessons and plan to continue with some others as soon as I organize my practice routine. Thanks again for a great site … Read more
Tony Galfano
I can see from your instructional videos that you are a fantastic teacher – one that can truly relate to all ages – humble yet very positive in approach – never coming across as superior and yet so totally capable of demonstrating the principles and techniques that you seek to impart to the students. I have gained so much confidence in my playing from “pouring over” time and again these invaluable lessons. Invaluable not only in musical content, but also in human interaction content. I am absolu… Read more
Ron

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