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You are here: Home / Archives for Steve

Hi! I am Steve Neff

I have been playing and teaching saxophone and jazz improvisation around the New England area for the last 30+ years. I love teaching and anything to do with the saxophone. I hope you find this website helpful in your musical journey. Thanks, Steve

Saxscape Hudson Model .113

January 3, 2009 by Steve Leave a Comment

Saxscape Hudson Model Refaced by Brian Powell to .113 I received this piece from a friend who wanted me to try it out. It was made by Ken Barry at Saxscape mouthpieces.  The person who owned it before me had Brian Powell reface it (I’m not sure why) It has berg like baffle in it […]

Filed Under: Tenor Medium Baffle Reviews, Tenor Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: hudson model, saxscape mouthpieces

How Much Should My Child Practice?

November 8, 2008 by Steve Leave a Comment

I get asked this question quite often by concerned parents. What I usually recommend for fourth grade beginning students is 3 15-20 minute times a week. I find that if students do this they will make steady progress during the first year with no problems. Of course, if a student is really excited and wants […]

Filed Under: Jazz Education Tagged With: music student, Practice, student

Poll of 9 Tenor Mouthpieces

October 20, 2008 by Steve 6 Comments

I decided to run a poll for 9 sound clips I just made of my last 9 tenor mouthpieces.  I’m having a heck of a time deciding which ones to sell and I figured it would help me to play them side by side and record them.  On all 9 clips I’m just playing a […]

Filed Under: Tenor Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: blues, Brian Powell, mouthpiece poll, solo sax, Tenor Mouthpiece Reviews

100 Top 40 Tunes Every Working Sax Player Should Know

September 23, 2008 by Steve 14 Comments

The other day one of my students said he wanted to get out of the house and start gigging and making some money. We’ve been working on standards and jazz improvisation over the last year or so. He asked me if I thought he was ready and we got into a discussion about playing out. […]

Filed Under: Saxophone Stuff Tagged With: gigging sax player, saxophone repertoire, wedding gigs, working sax player

Sax Mouthpieces: The Length of the Facing Curve

August 16, 2008 by Steve 26 Comments

I’ve been doing a lot of experimentation into different facing curve lengths on my alto and tenor saxophone. On my alto I have been using mouthpieces that were all refaced by Brian Powell to .80 tip openings. These are what I’ve been using: Florida Hard Rubber Link-20mm facing length Florida Hard Rubber Link-20.5mm facing length […]

Filed Under: Saxophone Stuff, Tenor Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: alto sax, Brian Powell, facing curve, sax mouthpiece

NeffMusic Lessons: Learning How To Learn!

July 14, 2008 by Steve Leave a Comment

I’m writing this article to all my Neffmusic members to help them get the most out their lessons at Neffmusic. In order to really get the most out of my lessons there are some skills that you need to develop. These lessons are a bit different than going to a teacher and taking one on […]

Filed Under: Jazz Education, NeffMusic News Tagged With: jazz instruction, NeffMusic lesson, online lessons, steve neff, video lessons

Free Saxophone Intonation Tracking Graph

June 25, 2008 by Steve Leave a Comment

I made a video lesson on saxophone intonation where I taught about charting your intonation tendencies of your saxophone by using a tuner. What you do is play naturally for a few seconds and then end on the target note and while holding it turn and look at the tuner. You then put a mark […]

Filed Under: Saxophone Stuff Tagged With: intonation tendencies, sax intonation graph

Chris Potter on Standards Transcription Book

May 17, 2008 by Steve 1 Comment

While I was searching the internet a few weeks ago, I stumbled across this site. AJ Kluth has put out a transcription book of Chris Potter solos. Chris Potter is a phenomenal tenor saxophone player that is pretty popular on the jazz scene these days.  I’ve been working on transcribing a few Chris Potter solos […]

Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: AJ Kluth, chris potter, jazz sax, jazz solos, solo, standards, tenor sax, tenor saxophone, transcription, transcription book

Great Video on Giant Steps

February 25, 2008 by Steve 1 Comment

I found this posted on Dave Valdez’s blog.  It’s really amazing to watch. It’s a video of John Coltrane’s Giant Steps solo transcription being put on the page as the recording is playing. There is something about watching the video that is amazing. You’re hearing John Coltrane play a great tenor sax solo as the […]

Filed Under: Saxophone Stuff Tagged With: Giant Steps, jazz sax, John Coltrane, solo transcription, tenor saxophone, video

Kenny Werner Masterclass

December 3, 2007 by Steve Leave a Comment

This is a great masterclass by Kenny Werner. I’ve been a fan of Kenny Werner since I read his book “Effortless Mastery” a number of years ago. I love his mindset of letting go of the fear and distraction that can attack us when we perform. So often when I was younger, I would be […]

Filed Under: Jazz Education Tagged With: Jazz Education, Jazz Improvisation, Kenny Werner, masterclass

The Portland Collection Contra Dance Music Real Books

July 18, 2007 by Steve Leave a Comment

About a year ago a soundman and good friend of mine ,Dave Fagan, played a CD through the sound system that immediately caught my attention. It sounded great and I asked him what it was. He said it was “Contra Dance Music” I had never heard of it before. After talking more about it, he […]

Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: Clyde Curley, contra dance, jigs, Pacific Northwest, portland collection, Real Books, reels, Susan Songer

Practicing Jazz Saxophone With Focus

June 14, 2007 by Steve Leave a Comment

One of my biggest weaknesses when I was a kid was practicing without a specific focus. I wanted to do it all, play everything, be the best. I wanted results now. I would spend endless hours in the practice room practicing everything. The problem was, I wasn’t focused. I didn’t set goals. Instead of getting […]

Filed Under: Jazz Education Tagged With: focus, habits, Jazz Improvisation, practicing, saxophone

Saxophone Mouthpiece Clips

December 23, 2006 by Steve Leave a Comment

I just thought you might be wondering what the deal is with the mouthpiece clips part of the page. They are mostly meant to be of interest to other sax players that are interested in tenor sax mouthpieces.

Filed Under: Saxophone Stuff Tagged With: mouthpiece, Neffmusic, reviews, sax, saxophone, sound clips

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Testimonials

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
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 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

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
Hi Steve, I live in a gorgeous but rural area of Oregon-no music store within 80 miles. Your lessons are my lifeline!  Truly the best there are anywhere online. Love your playing. Love your teaching.  Thanks again. Ed
Ed Woodmansee
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
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
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

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
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

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Devastating Minor Lines for Jazz & Funk
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Mastering the Blues Scale Vol. 2-Dominant Chords
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Approach Note Velocity
Mastering the Blues Scale Vol. 1-Minor Chords
Mastering the Blues Scale Vol. 1-Minor Chords
Major Bebop Scale Book
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Recent Comments

  • Steve on KPoudavoff Zimberoff Dukoff Hollywood 6* with Dexter Gordon’s Facing Curve Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review
  • Eliah on KPoudavoff Zimberoff Dukoff Hollywood 6* with Dexter Gordon’s Facing Curve Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review
  • Paul on Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book)
  • Murray Middleman on Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book)
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