• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Website of Steve Neff

  • BLOG
  • SHOP
  • MY ACCOUNT
  • RAVES
  • CONTACT

Search Neffmusic

You are here: Home / Reviews / Mouthpiece Reviews / 10mFan Virtuoso Soprano Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

10mFan Virtuoso Soprano Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

April 10, 2021 by Steve 28 Comments

Today, I am reviewing a new soprano saxophone mouthpiece from 10mFan saxophone mouthpieces.  This is the Virtuoso 7 hard rubber soprano saxophone mouthpiece and is the first soprano saxophone mouthpiece 10mFan has produced.   I have already reviewed a number of great 10mFan tenor saxophone and alto saxophone mouthpieces in the past that you can find here.

Whenever Mark Sepinuck, at 10mFan mouthpieces, comes out with a new saxophone mouthpiece model, I am always really excited to try it out because all of his saxophone mouthpieces are so good!  Mark is always thinking about how he can meet the needs of the sax playing community with new uniquely designed mouthpieces.

Since this is the first 10mFan soprano saxophone mouthpiece model Mark has released, and also a large chambered soprano mouthpiece, I was super excited to try it out!

10mFan Virtuoso Hard Rubber Soprano Saxophone Mouthpiece

Here’s a description of the 10mFan Virtuoso soprano saxophone mouthpiece that Mark Sepinuck posted on Sax on the Web:

“This project has been so much fun and I am incredibly proud of how the Virtuoso soprano sax mouthpiece has turned out!  After much thought about what I wanted to put out for a first soprano saxophone mouthpiece, I decided that the best way to go, would be to make an original soprano mouthpiece design that is an ALL-AROUND killer mouthpiece that can do it all.  A soprano sax mouthpiece that a really large group of players could ALL enjoy and be proud to have in their arsenal.

I opted against making a soprano sax mouthpiece that was too dark or a mouthpiece that was too bright, so I made something that will be accessible for a huge group of soprano sax players.  A soprano sax mouthpiece that can be warm and full and gentle or very powerful, that allows for some brightness too.  The Virtuoso soprano saxophone mouthpiece has great response top to bottom, but has what I consider to be the right resistance to push against.  The length of the piece, the bore size and length, the baffle, the chamber, side walls, floor, and beak shape, all coordinate together to make this a VERY fun soprano mouthpiece to play! It plays easy and has an excellent feel.  The palm keys and low end are full, and it tunes great….and thats a big deal!
It’s been played on older horns and modern horns and I think we have really found the sweet spot that will allow this to work well for a HUGE number of soprano sax players.

In the production process, I realized that, all the changes being made were putting me right in the direction of my highly successful Robusto tenor mouthpiece design…. so that’s where I’ve taken it!  It has ended up as a medium large chamber with a Robusto baffle and floor. This way, it is really a sensational all-around soprano mouthpiece for tons of players to be able to enjoy. Very responsive because of the baffle, and a rich fullness because of the chamber. This mouthpiece has lots of power available!” -Mark Sepinuck

10mFan Virtuoso 7 Hard Rubber Soprano Saxophone Mouthpiece

Here is some further details from Mark Sepinuck’s description of the 10mFan Virtuoso soprano sax mouthpiece from the 10mFan website:

“It is an excellent all-around mouthpiece that does everything from warm to powerful.  It really allows the player incredible versatility with sound color and also the range of power that it offers. It has a medium large chamber which gives it a richness and fullness, and a nice baffle to give it great response and clarity.  It has a similar design to my highly successful Robusto tenor sax mouthpiece model. It tunes beautifully and is very responsive from top to bottom. An incredibly fun original design, hand finished soprano saxophone mouthpiece.

This is the ultimate “all-around” hard rubber soprano mouthpiece that can do everything from warm, to brighter with punch! It’s got a focused sound and is really “locked in”.  For those of you who like altissimo on soprano…this piece kills it! 

For me, this is absolutely the most important unique original design soprano mouthpiece to hit the soprano saxophone market in decades!!!”-Mark Sepinuck

10mFan Virtuoso 7 Hard Rubber Soprano Saxophone Mouthpiece

The 10mFan Virtuoso soprano saxophone mouthpiece came in a well packaged box.  Inside, amidst the packaging was a clear tube. Inside the tube, was a velvet looking bag with gold trim that protected the Virtuoso soprano saxophone mouthpiece while shipping.

In my experience, Mark Sepinuck is incredibly diligent with his dedication to customer communication, shipping and satisfaction. Every mouthpieces that he has shipped to me over the years has been accompanied with texts alerting me of the shipment and tracking, photos of the box and then even follow up texts from Mark that the tracking says the mouthpiece is in my mailbox and asking if I received it.  Mark Sepinuck is on top of the whole shipping process and wants to make sure you get what you ordered from him.

The new 10mFan Virtuoso soprano saxophone mouthpiece has the traditional 10mFan three rings on the shank that all of the 10mFan saxophone mouthpieces have.  It also has “10mFan” and “Virtuoso” engraved on the top of the mouthpiece.  On the bottom corners of the mouthpiece next to the table is engraved “U.S.A.” and “7”.  The 7 tip opening measures at a .070 tip opening.  It is made out of quality German bar stock hard rubber.

As you can see in the photos, the table, rails and tip rail, look flat, even and perfectly crafted as all 10mFan mouthpieces do.  The Virtuoso soprano saxophone mouthpiece has an initial medium high baffle that travels a short distance before ending at a curved edge. After the curved edge,  the baffle slopes down towards the rear of the chamber.  The baffle run, all the way down to the rear of the chamber, has a side to side curve to it.

Mark Sepinuck describes the Virtuoso soprano mouthpiece as having a medium large chamber.  Since it is one of the larger chambered soprano mouthpieces I have played I would describe it as a large chambered soprano sax mouthpiece.  The chamber looks very close in size to my Theo Wanne Gaia soprano saxophone mouthpiece which also has a large chamber. I asked Mark why he described the chamber as medium-large and he explained that he has seen some vintage soprano mouthpieces with larger chambers.  Very few people have seen as many saxophone mouthpieces as Mark Sepinuck has, so for the rest of us mere saxophone mortals, I think we can call this a large chambered soprano sax mouthpiece.

The side walls are slightly carved out on each side as they lead into the large sized chamber. The rails look even and precise as they head towards the tip rail.  The shape of the tip rail matches the shape of all of my soprano sax reeds I used on it.

Brian Powell and Erik Greiffenhagen do all the finishing work on all of the 10mFan saxophone mouthpieces and their work is always exemplary.  Erik and Brian have been together for decades, as they both learned their craft from the great Ralph Morgan and they are two of the best in the mouthpiece making business.

10mFan Virtuoso Hard Rubber Soprano Saxophone Mouthpiece

So, how does the new Virtuoso 7 soprano saxophone mouthpiece play and sound?  The Virtuoso played incredibly well with Vandoren Java 2 1/2 soprano saxophone reeds for me.  The Virtuoso mouthpiece also played well with harder strength  Java 3 soprano reeds  and Roberto’s Winds 3 Soft soprano reeds, but I liked how effortless the 2 1/2 Vandoren Java reeds were to play, so I chose them for the sound clips below.

The Virtuoso soprano saxophone mouthpiece has a tone that has some brightness and power available to it because of the baffle while the large chamber makes the tone fat, full and rich.  I love that fat round sound on the soprano sax just because many soprano mouthpieces with smaller chambers seem to have a bit of a smaller sound to them in my opinion.

Personally, I also find smaller chambered soprano sax mouthpiece to have way too much resistance for me.  I seem to prefer the resistance from a larger chambered soprano saxophone mouthpiece which the 10mFan Virtuoso mouthpiece is.  It has a balanced resistance that is perfect and doesn’t cause any bottlenecking of the air like I have experienced with some soprano sax mouthpieces with “pea” sized chambers.

Mark writes this about the Virtuoso mouthpiece: “For those of you who like altissimo on soprano…this piece kills it!   I have to be honest and admit that I don’t play the altissimo on the soprano and rarely even play in the palm keys in the upper register.  I have some hearing issues that make any notes in that register of the horn distort and it is not enjoyable (actually painful) for me to listen to.  I will say that I did go up into the palm keys for a few seconds while playing the Virtuoso mouthpiece and playing those notes was much easier than most soprano sax mouthpieces I have tried.

10mFan Virtuoso 7 Hard Rubber Soprano Saxophone Mouthpiece

One of the surprising benefits to playing the 10mFan Virtuoso soprano saxophone mouthpiece was the intonation.  I don’t think I have ever played a soprano sax mouthpieces that was so locked in intonation wise.

I usually take out my tuner once I begin to play a new sax mouthpiece and after I make sure I am relatively in-tune, I leave the tuner on as I play.  I only look at it if I notice something off with the intonation of a note just to confirm what I am hearing.  With the 10mFan Virtuoso mouthpiece, every time I happened to glance at the tuner it was about as close to the “0” as possible (meaning perfectly in-tune).  I was really amazed by this great intonation the Virtuoso soprano mouthpiece gave me on my Yamaha YSS-62 soprano saxophone!

10mFan Virtuoso 7 Hard Rubber Soprano Saxophone Mouthpiece

The 10mFan Virtuoso soprano mouthpiece has a great focus and core to the sound that I loved.  The fat and rich tone really compelled me to play slower lines and melodies as I listened to the Virtuoso’s beautiful sound. The Virtuoso has a sweetness to the tone that I really enjoyed.

The articulation was crisp and clean and the tone throughout the range of the horn was even, consistent and smooth between the registers.

The first clip below is of the Virtuoso soprano saxophone mouthpiece with a bit of added reverb to the clip. I like this clip the most just because it represents the type of reverb I would use on my soprano sax during a live performance or gig.

The second clip is the same as the first but with no reverb at all.  I actually like this clip more during the faster lines I play just because it sounds cleaner to my ears.

10mFan Virtuoso 7 Hard Rubber Soprano Saxophone Mouthpiece

The 10mFan Virtuoso soprano saxophone mouthpiece is a great playing soprano mouthpiece that has a beautiful tone, great intonation and a wide dynamic range that can play really loud or incredibly soft.  If you are looking for a new soprano mouthpiece and the characteristics I have listed in this review appeal to you, then I would suggest giving the 10mFan Virtuoso soprano saxophone  mouthpiece a try.

If you like the sound and look of the 10mFan Virtuoso hard rubber soprano saxophone mouthpiece, you can order one of them from Mark Sepinuck at connsaxman@comcast.net.  You can also check out his site at 10mFan.com for more information and order a Virtuoso soprano sax mouthpiece right there on his website.

If you have played or end up playing a 10mFan Virtuoso soprano saxophone mouthpiece or have any other thoughts or comments about this review, I would love to hear what you think in the comments below.  Thanks,  Steve

*To hear the most detail from these clips it is best to listen to them from a computer with nice audio speakers or headphones rather than from an iPhone or laptop speakers.  It makes a world of difference!

https://cdn.neffmusic.com/2021/VirtuosoReverb-Final.mp3

10mFan Virtuoso 7 Soprano Saxophone Mouthpiece-Vandoren Java 2 1/2-Theo Wanne Enlightened Ligature-Reverb Added

https://cdn.neffmusic.com/2021/VirtuosoDry-Final.mp3

10mFan Virtuoso 7 Soprano Saxophone Mouthpiece-Vandoren Java 2 1/2-Theo Wanne Enlightened Ligature-Dry Recording (No Reverb)

Disclosure:  I received the sample mouthpiece reviewed above for free in the hope that I would try it and perhaps review it on my blog. Regardless, I only review sax mouthpieces that I enjoy playing and believe will be good for other saxophone players to try also.     Steve

Filed Under: Mouthpiece Reviews, Soprano Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: 10mFan, hard rubber, review, saxophone mouthpiece, soprano sax, Virtuoso

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.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. AvatarLev Liberman says

    April 10, 2021 at 2:15 pm

    Sounds like you’re having fun, Steve, showing off the Virtuoso’s range of expression — from fluid, light & lyrical to sassy & assertive. Your clip makes the case for this mouthpiece as multi-tool in styles including minimalism, jazz ballads, bop, or the blues. If I wasn’t already digging my Virtuoso, I’d want one! Maybe two…

    Reply
    • SteveSteve says

      April 10, 2021 at 8:32 pm

      Thanks Lev! Yeah, it’s so easy to record a sound clip when you are really digging the sound and playability of a mouthpiece. I did have fun making this…. I hope you enjoy your Virtuoso!!

      Reply
      • AvatarKenny says

        July 30, 2021 at 6:06 pm

        Steve you sound great but like my famous teacher used to say you sound like you whatever you play

        Reply
  2. AvatarJAMES M CARTER says

    April 11, 2021 at 6:43 am

    Sounds nice and even through the part of the range you’ve played, but I need to hear the extremes to which it can be pushed! The low C,B & Bb were ignored as well as the left palm stack and beyond! If this piece is anywhere near his Showboat alto, I might hafta holla! Regards, JC

    Reply
    • AvatarMark Sepinuck says

      April 11, 2021 at 12:09 pm

      Hi James!
      I hope you are well, my friend. The low-end speaks beautifully and the high-end is incredible. Check out some of the clips on my website. Players are constantly telling me that the altissimo is phenomenal. I’m still not sure why people enjoy altissimo on soprano, 🙂 , but it speaks great up there if you need it.
      I’ll contact you today.

      Reply
      • AvatarKenny says

        July 30, 2021 at 6:04 pm

        Mark this piece sounds great may be getting a hold of you.

        Reply
  3. AvatarKevin Ledbetter says

    April 14, 2021 at 1:17 pm

    Sounds so musical… this must be your new “go to” soprano piece. Do you use a mouthpiece patch or just play it as is?
    Totally loved the sound.

    Reply
    • SteveSteve says

      April 14, 2021 at 1:49 pm

      Thanks Kevin! I use a patch on all my mouthpieces. I’m so used to the patches that it is hard for me to put my front teeth on bare hard rubber anymore. Just feels weird and uncomfortable to me.

      Reply
  4. AvatarRich Winkler says

    April 26, 2021 at 7:32 pm

    Sounds great! I also play a YSS-62 with a Drake HR 7 “Son of Slant” with a Rovner Versa ligature. I like it because it has more of a warm, dark sound compared to several other mouthpieces I have and still plenty of projection. It looks like the Drake has less baffle and more rounded sides leading into the chamber than the 10mFan. (That’s the best I can describe – I’m not well versed in describing mouthpieces.) Anyway, have you ever reviewed the Drake 7 on your YSS-62 ? I would be curious how they compare.

    Reply
  5. AvatarKevin Ledbetter says

    May 20, 2021 at 12:41 pm

    I got one of these from Mark… a 7 tip opening. It plays flawless from top to bottom, very even and perfectly in tune. All notes speak well and it’s a joy to play. If you want you can push it for some edge, or back off a little for some amazing sweet tones… it does it all. It seems to like around a 2 1/2 reed as Mark recommends for this size tip opening. I can’t see how any player wanting a soprano piece could go wrong with this mouthpiece. The 10mfan mouthpieces are just the top of the game at this point.

    Reply
    • SteveSteve says

      May 20, 2021 at 1:29 pm

      Thanks for the review Kevin. I agree! I played a solo for church a couple of weeks ago using the Virtuoso and I thought it sounded pretty great also! Steve

      Reply
  6. AvatarPhil Godfrin says

    May 29, 2021 at 10:42 am

    Mine is arriving next week. This will be the second mpc I’ve acquired from Mark – nice work my friend!

    Reply
  7. AvatarAndy Geiger says

    July 30, 2021 at 11:55 pm

    I love this mouthpiece! I ordered after hearing your clips and reading your review. Not sorry,

    Congratulations to Mark…thank you, Steve!

    Reply
  8. AvatarRobert Wagenvoort says

    August 9, 2021 at 1:46 am

    Hi Steve,
    I’ve played the Gaia for about 7 years
    and I want to try the Virtuoso.
    Is the 7 tip opening about the same as
    the tip opening 8 from the Gaia and does it
    play easier?

    Robert

    Reply
    • SteveSteve says

      August 10, 2021 at 12:20 am

      Robert, The Gaia 7 and the 10mFan Virtuoso are both 7’s and measure the same at a .070 tip opening. I wouldn’t say one plays easier than the other but just a difference in tone. I hear the original Gaia as brighter sounding and the Virtuoso as having a fatter sound. Steve

      Reply
      • AvatarRobert says

        August 10, 2021 at 1:25 am

        Thanks Steve!

        Verstuurd vanaf mijn iPhone

        Reply
  9. AvatarJohn Liles says

    September 17, 2021 at 4:57 pm

    Steve, based on your review, I decided to try the Virtuoso on my SC991 (curved soprano). I’m really glad I did! I’ve been pretty committed to my RPC mouthpieces for a long time, and the soprano was no exception. But the Virtuoso has replaced the RPC as my main soprano mouthpiece. Thanks for the detailed review!

    JL

    Reply
    • SteveSteve says

      September 20, 2021 at 8:00 pm

      Wow! That’s great to hear! Thanks for coming back and letting me know. Steve

      Reply
  10. AvatarJacco says

    March 24, 2022 at 1:18 pm

    Hi Steve,

    Did you like the 7 tip size or would you prefer a 6*?

    Jacco

    Reply
    • SteveSteve says

      March 24, 2022 at 2:11 pm

      No, the 7 tip size felt perfect for my tastes.

      Reply
  11. AvatarPaul says

    June 23, 2022 at 8:37 am

    Steve
    How did this facing curve feel to you compared to the DS SYOS you reviewed, with a similar tip opening? You sound more expressive on the virtuoso, but I’m not sure how much of that was the reed and how you felt at the time, dynamics potential/ chamber etc.

    Reply
    • SteveSteve says

      June 23, 2022 at 2:47 pm

      I didn’t play them at the same time so I can’t comment on how they compared as far as the facing curves. I also can’t speak on the expressive part of it because it could be the mouthpiece playing so well that I am excited by it and play more expressively or it could just be my energy level on that day. I have days where I have had three cups of coffee and am raring to go and other days where I’m dead tired so…… I remember both mouthpieces playing great for me. Sorry I couldn’t go into more detail on the differences…….

      Reply
      • AvatarPaul says

        June 23, 2022 at 6:42 pm

        Yeah thanks Steve, it was a tricky question to be sure. Didn`t intend for it to be a “how long is a piece of string sort of question”, which it invariably is. But i was hoping that it was because you were excited by the virtuoso mpc. I just got the impression that there is more scope/potential to mould the sound, while of course not knowing the fine differences that there probably are between the two mpc`s.

        Reply
        • SteveSteve says

          June 23, 2022 at 7:21 pm

          I was definitely excited about the Virtuoso because it was a large chambered soprano mouthpiece and played incredibly well for me. I was also surprised by the SYOS soprano piece because I believe it was the first SYOS soprano piece I had tried and I just kind of assumed it wouldn’t be that great but it played really great. My preference between the two would be the Virtuoso but the SYOS is a great alternative for those short on funds I think……..

          Reply
  12. AvatarMitch Paliga says

    July 12, 2023 at 1:44 pm

    Virtuoso vs. Ambika 3?

    Reply
    • SteveSteve says

      July 12, 2023 at 7:49 pm

      The Virtuoso has a bigger and fatter sound with more volume when pushed. The Ambika 3 has a darker sound with not as much cut through power I think. It is a pretty sound but for live playing I think I would go for the Virtuoso because of the ability to get more volume out of it.

      Reply
  13. AvatarM. Henry says

    October 16, 2023 at 10:28 am

    Thanks for your review of the 10mfan virtuoso! I’m going to get one as a result.
    If you don’t mind me asking, what mouthpiece patch do you recommend?
    Many thanks,
    Mike

    Reply
    • SteveSteve says

      October 16, 2023 at 8:25 pm

      I’m not really picky when it comes to patches. I like them thinner more than thick. I have been using the Forestone patches I reviewed on my site as well as the Roberto’s Winds patches. I also used just plain 3M patches for years and still have a roll of those to use.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Cart

Subscribe to the Neffmusic Newsletter for the latest reviews and best deals delivered straight to your inbox every month. Join now and you will also receive my 40 Ultimate Michael Brecker Licks free!

Select list(s) to subscribe to


Thanks for joining!


NEFFMUSIC PRINTED BOOKS

Testimonials

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 like so many other subscribers feel so encouraged by Steve’s learning techniques; you will enjoy reading the comments of praise others have left as you too will feel that you share a common view and path. I feel very lucky to have come across Neffmusic and that feeling will remain with you as you search through a treasure trove of learning materials on offer, you will quickly find the lessons that you are suited to. You will instantly recognize the unparalleled quality of Steve’s teaching … Read more
Stephen
I am a music book junkie and I have to say that your books are the most clear, user friendly, and helpful books I own.  They are my absolute favorites and I only wish I had them years ago.  I wouldn’t change a thing about the experience I had in acquiring my degree at Berklee, but my playing has perhaps grown more in the time I’ve spent buried in your books and lessons.  Keep up the great work!!! Thanks, John
John
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
By the way, BIG COMPLIMENTS to you, Steve! Not only are you a great player, you are also a great teacher! I, too, am a woodwinds player/teacher. I have new inspiration to play and teach because of you. The concepts and “thinking” is similar to what I already learned in College, but hearing you explain and PLAY the concepts REALLY MAKES THE DIFFERENCE! Also, your written patterns are more interesting than other books I have seen! Keep up the good work. I will be recommending your sit… Read more
I will be recommending your site to others!
Hey Steve, My name is Jason Freese and I play keyboards and sax in the band Green Day.  I grew up taking sax lessons from Eric Marienthal when I was a kid and got out of it for a long time. I ran into you on youtube while searching for sax stuff. I bought a whole bunch of your lessons and have been loving it! Thanks! Here is my wikipedia so you can see the albums I’ve played on….Thanks again. It’s sparked my interest in practicing again.   Jason
Jason Freese (sax player for Green Day)
I am enjoying your style of teaching, and you’ve done a great job with the videos….good sound quality and well constructed lessons.  Balances the more guitaristic material found on the majority of guitar based programs.  Jazz vocab is what I’m all about at this point in the journey.   I especially dig the fact that you’ve studied with Bergonzi…helps me see his voluminous output in a more  bite sized way.
Milton

Never really had lessons before just kinda worked things out on my own. Was in a rut but your lessons are really helpful in opening melodic possibilities. Ur an awesome resource to the saxophone community. Thanks for sharing. 

Anthony
I have NEVER seen material like yours.  Amazing!!
Jerry
Just to say thanks for your advice and lessons.  I’ve just read your amazing story.  I really appreciate what you do in regards to teaching.  I have bought a couple of your lessons and frankly they’re undersold.   I’ve learned much more with these two lessons than with 2 years of sax teachers.   Thanks so much………..
Mike
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
Hi Steve, I have been shedding your materials for quite a while now and I love them! They are extremely well organized and presented and there are tons of ’em! I really appreciate your methodical approach and find myself referring students to your resources often.  Thanks so much!  
Kenyon Carter

Thank You Steve. I think that I will be busy for years. Thank You for your great contribution to jazz music. Your books, more than teaching “how to play jazz”, actually teach “how to speak jazz”. I wish I found your methods years ago.  

Jean-Eric
I just started looking at my lessons and I have to say, dude you are awesome.  I ABSOLUTELY will learn from you!  I started the tenor about 1 ½ yrs ago and have since picked up an alto, and more recently a soprano.  I spend most of the time on the tenor, followed by soprano, and have only gotten to the alto a few times.  I think I’ll be sticking with tenor.  I’m having a great time and hope one day to play well enough to get regular gigs.  I’ve been playing keys for about 35 years (… Read more
Wil

Steve, just a note to say thanks.

I’ve been playing a long time, but your material, laid out in such a thoughtful way, helps me to understand concepts in a new and deeper way.

You are a true gift to the jazz community.

60 lessons and going strong,

Kevin Ledbetter

Kevin Ledbetter
I’m an experienced player in the pop/soul/funk areas of music and, previously, classical.  Over the decades I’ve been playing, I’ve always felt that I could do what I needed in those styles of music.  However, recently I began to feel limited by my use of the same old licks. When I discovered Steve Neff’s website, and heard the audio examples based on the exercises in his books, I realized they were what I needed.  I purchased all of them and have been working on them since.  It’s very hard work… Read more
Paul
Hi Steve, I can’t express just how much I appreciate your teaching. My playing has improved so much over the past year since I have been studying and practicing with your lessons. It is possible to teach an old dog new tricks, these lessons are proof! Thanks, Michael Byington
Michael Byington
I have been a member of Neffmusic for more than a year now and have enjoyed every minute of it! I have not only been going thru the Dominant Bebop Scale lessons and book (OUTSTANDING!) but the mouthpiece reviews, solo clips and transcriptions are very interesting. Steve approach to beginning and intermediate improv have given me many new pathways to teach my high school jazz ensemble students. Congratulations Steve, great product!
Craig
Your major diatonic patterns book is great. I”m studying the first twenty patterns (first twenty pages) each day with different articulation each day and slowly increasing the tempo each week or so.  There is a noticeable improvement in finger coordination across all keys and its amazing how much more secure I feel on the difficult keys when attempting to play pieces with 5+ flats/sharps. I’m able to sort out the fingerings for these pieces now much more quickly than before, often in one or two … Read more
Geoff
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

Mr. Neff,  I want to thank you for sharing your God-given talents through your on-line lessons.  My husband, Michael, is blind, but he is a great sax player and he has been enjoying your lessons for quite some time now.  It’s not unusual for me to hear “Hey, babe, listen to THIS!” – and he will cut loose on his sax, just thrilled at what he learned during his session with you.  His excitement warms my heart!  You have no idea how much you have poured into my husband.  You have opened musical … Read more

Carole B
I’ve been having ‘ online’  lessons with Steve for a few months now. Being a teacher myself I had had some reservations with the idea at first and the practicalities of it .  Let me just say that my playing has taken a huge leaps forward while studying with Steve and continues to do so.Steve studied with some renowned player/teachers such as Bergonzi and Garzone– this in itself is invaluable but Steve teaches from his own books, which cover a a vast amount of  jazz language. Steve h… Read more
David

Hello Steve,

I just want to say thank you so much for your unbelievable work, it is just mind opening, thanks for sharing it.

Wolfgang from Berlin

Wolfgang from Berlin
Steve’s monthly lessons are entirely valuable. Without brow beating, he tells you all the stuff you deep down know you really should be working on, instead of just relying on the same old patterns. In spite of the fact that you’re taking a video lesson, Steve’s presentation is comfortable and “real”. In a little more than a year, he’s developed a library of lessons that seem to offer any player a lifetime’s worth of practice material. I’m just glad I stumbled upon it.… Read more
Grant

Featured Video Lessons

  • Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book) Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book)
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $19.99 Original price was: $19.99.$14.99Current price is: $14.99.
  • The Secret to Modern Outside Jazz Lines Lesson-Minor The Secret to Modern Outside Jazz Lines Lesson-Minor $9.99
  • Creating Modern II-V-I Lines with Simple Pentatonics Lesson Creating Modern II-V-I Lines with Simple Pentatonics Lesson
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • The Best Embouchure for Tone, Intonation and Endurance Lesson The Best Embouchure for Tone, Intonation and Endurance Lesson
    Rated 4.91 out of 5
    $9.99
  • The Secret to Altissimo (no one has ever told you about before) Lesson The Secret to Altissimo (no one has ever told you about before) Lesson
    Rated 4.75 out of 5
    $9.99

Now over 600 video and audio lessons to choose from!

Free Lessons

  • Free Lesson on The New Ultimate II-V-I Primer-Major Keys
  • Free Video Lesson on Mastering Altered Pentatonics
  • Free Video Lesson on Mastering the Blues Scale Volume 1 & 2
  • Free Video Lesson on Mastering the Dominant Bebop Scale and Language Book 1 & 2
  • Free Video Lesson on Approach Note Velocity Book

Recent reviews

  • Bebop Scale-Altered Scale II-V-I Practice Lesson Bebop Scale-Altered Scale II-V-I Practice Lesson by Noah
  • Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book) Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book) by Andy
  • Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book) Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book)
    Rated 5 out of 5
    by Russ
  • Creating Modern II-V-I Lines with Simple Pentatonics Lesson Creating Modern II-V-I Lines with Simple Pentatonics Lesson
    Rated 5 out of 5
    by Timothy
  • The Best Embouchure for Tone, Intonation and Endurance Lesson The Best Embouchure for Tone, Intonation and Endurance Lesson
    Rated 5 out of 5
    by Ray Holland

Footer

Recent Comments

  • Perry on Will the Real Michael Brecker’s Sax Mouthpiece Please Stand Up?
  • Steve on Will the Real Michael Brecker’s Sax Mouthpiece Please Stand Up?
  • Perry on Will the Real Michael Brecker’s Sax Mouthpiece Please Stand Up?
  • Dominique on Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review
  • Felipe on Drake Jerry Bergonzi Master Series Power Resonance 7* Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

Top rated products

  • Mastering the Major Bebop Scale & Sound (Digital PDF Book) Mastering the Major Bebop Scale & Sound (Digital PDF Book)
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $14.99
  • Tune of the Week-Softly as a Morning Sunrise Lesson Tune of the Week-Softly as a Morning Sunrise Lesson
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • The Style of Dexter Gordon-Lady Bird Lesson 1 The Style of Dexter Gordon-Lady Bird Lesson 1
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • Tune of the Week-Days of Wine and Roses Lesson Tune of the Week-Days of Wine and Roses Lesson
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • Tune of the Week-Invitation Tune of the Week-Invitation
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99

Product tags

alto sax alto saxophone approach notes audio lesson bebop scale beginner beginner saxophone blues blues licks blues patterns blues scale blues scales diminished scale dominant chords ear training fundamentals II-V-I improvisation jazz improvisation jazz lines jazz patterns jazz sax jazz saxophone jazz standard jazz standards licks Mastering the Blues Scale Michael Brecker modern improv modern improvisation online lesson patterns playing outside practice habits reading music sax basics sax lessons saxophone scales smooth jazz steve neff tenor sax tenor saxophone video lesson video lessons
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • SUPPORT

Neffmusic © 2005–2025