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You are here: Home / Archives for Jazz Education

Jazz Education

Great Video Interview of the Saxophone Player and Teacher George Garzone!!

May 11, 2021 by Steve Leave a Comment

Here is a great interview of the tenor sax player and teacher George Garzone by Jay Metcalf of BetterSax that I just stumbled upon on Youtube today. I studied with George Garzone for a short time at Berklee College of Music in the late 80’s (I wish I could have studied more with him but […]

Filed Under: Jazz Education Tagged With: george garzone, saxophone, teacher, tenor sax, video interview

Free Video Lesson on The New Ultimate II-V-I Primer-Major Keys by Steve Neff

June 12, 2020 by Steve 5 Comments

I decided to offer a free video lesson on my book The New Ultimate II-V-I Primer-Major Keys (Digital PDF Book) for everyone. I have sold many of these books and really want to make sure that everyone is getting the most they can out of them.  You can consider this an “overview” lesson on the […]

Filed Under: Free Lessons, Jazz Education Tagged With: free, Jazz Improvisation, modern jazz, saxophone, The New Ultimate II-V-I Primer-Major Keys, video lesson

The Secret Super Power of a Slow Learner-Derek Brown-Beatbox Sax

February 24, 2020 by Steve 4 Comments

Derek Brown has a Youtube channel called “Beatbox Sax”.  While most of us mere mortals are just trying to figure out how to play the sax the normal way (or should I say the way that is most “common”), Derek is one of those rare individuals that is breaking new ground with the saxophone.  Check out the two […]

Filed Under: Jazz Education, Jazz Videos Tagged With: beatbox sax, Better Sax, Derek Brown, interview, Jay Metcalf, modern sax playing, saxophone, saxophone techniques

The Deep Wisdom of Victor Wooten

January 31, 2020 by Steve 2 Comments

I discovered this gold nugget of a video this morning while drinking my morning coffee and perusing around Youtube to see what was new today. Victor Wooten is an amazing bass player and musician and in this video he teaches some core truths about music in an amazing way! Check it out! (I have started […]

Filed Under: Jazz Education, Jazz Improvisation Tagged With: bass, Jazz Improvisation, music, Victor Wooten, video lesson

A Key to Jazz Improvisation Success: Boredom and Repetition

August 24, 2019 by Steve Leave a Comment

Here’s a great article that a fan of my site emailed to me a few months ago.  Although the article is dealing with the martial arts, the principles written about in this essay can just as easily be applied to music and jazz improvisation. When the writer writes about “kata” imagine that he is referring […]

Filed Under: Jazz Education, Jazz Improvisation Tagged With: boredom, Jazz Improvisation, lesson, practicing, repetition, success

FREE 12 Major Scales Practice Sheet

May 24, 2019 by Steve 4 Comments

Here’s a free sheet I give to all my students to learn their 12 major scales and major triads. When I teach my students the major scales, I teach them to memorize all the scales on this sheet exactly as written.  They should be able to play each scale on the sheet immediately when asked […]

Filed Under: Jazz Education, Jazz Improvisation Tagged With: 12 keys, free, major scale, PDF, Practice, sheet

Free Demo Lesson on Altered Pentatonic Variations

April 23, 2019 by Steve 2 Comments

I decided to offer another free video lesson based off my book Mastering Altered Pentatonics for everyone.  This is a short demo lesson based off of my full length lesson “Creating Modern Lines with Altered Pentatonic Variations-Lesson 1“.  The full lesson includes a 38 minute video lesson and  the 36 page PDF of the altered […]

Filed Under: Free Lessons, Jazz Education, Jazz Improvisation, Learning at Neffmusic

Michael Brecker International Saxophone Competition

February 7, 2019 by Steve 1 Comment

I was recently informed about this new competition by Brian Plautz and Susan Brecker and thought I would pass on the information here on the site.  If you are an aspiring saxophonist between the ages of 16-30, are a citizen of the world (no extraterrestrials) and can burn it up on the saxophone, then this […]

Filed Under: Jazz Education, Saxophone Stuff Tagged With: International, Michael Brecker, saxophone competition

Free Chord Tone Cheat Sheet

January 12, 2019 by Steve 3 Comments

Here’s a great tool that I made for my students years ago that I totally forgot about.  It’s called the Chord Tone Cheat Sheet.  I had a Skype student the other day that said he was looking for something like this on the internet but couldn’t find anything.  As he was speaking, I had this […]

Filed Under: Jazz Education, Jazz Improvisation Tagged With: 12 keys, chord sheet, chord tones, free, PDF, upper extensions

The Michael Brecker Archive at William Paterson University

October 15, 2018 by Steve 5 Comments

Dr. David Demsey at William Paterson University contacted me a few years ago to tell me about the “Living Jazz Archives” that the University was building and how they were adding a Michael Brecker Archive to the already existing archives that they already had.   The Living Jazz Archives are: A TEACHING TOOL for William Paterson University […]

Filed Under: Jazz Education Tagged With: archive, David Demsey, Improvisation, jazz sax, Michael Brecker, tenor saxophone, William Paterson University

Free Video Lesson on Mastering Altered Pentatonics by Steve Neff

September 21, 2018 by Steve 6 Comments

I decided to offer a free video lesson on my book Mastering Altered Pentatonics for everyone. I have sold many of these books and really want to make sure that everyone is getting the most they can out of them.  You can consider this an “overview” lesson on the various pentatonics covered in the book although […]

Filed Under: Free Lessons, Jazz Education Tagged With: free, Jazz Improvisation, Mastering Altered Pentatonics, modern jazz, playing outside, saxophone, video lesson

Great Rick Beato Interview with Chris Potter

March 6, 2018 by Steve Leave a Comment

I just came across this great interview that Rick Beato did with Chris Potter on Sounding Off a few days ago.  Chris Potter is one of the most amazing sax players on the scene today.  I love how down to earth, humble and real he is when answering questions.  Great stuff!   Enjoy! Great Rick Beato […]

Filed Under: Jazz Education Tagged With: chris potter, interview, jazz, Rick Beato, saxophone, Sounding Off, tenor sax

FREE 12 Major Blues Scale Sheet

January 9, 2018 by Steve 1 Comment

Here’s a free sheet I give to all my students after they learn their major scales. It’s just a sheet with all the 12 Major Blues Scales on it.  If you take a look at the sheet you might notice that the scales are the same as the scales on my free 12 blues scales sheet […]

Filed Under: Jazz Education, Jazz Improvisation Tagged With: 12 keys, blues scales, free pdf, Jazz Improvisation, major

100 Must Know Jazz Tunes Consensus List

May 9, 2017 by Steve 10 Comments

I was going through my computer deleting random “bad” photos I have been collecting for years when I found this gem among the photos.  I must have downloaded it while on my phone from Facebook or some other source because I have no recollection of downloading it at all.  I was about to delete it when I […]

Filed Under: Jazz Education Tagged With: 100 best, Jazz Education, jazz standards, jazz tunes, must know list, Real Book

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Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues
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Testimonials

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 have NEVER seen material like yours.  Amazing!!
Jerry
I can’t say enough about my membership at Neff Music. Steve has taken the mystery out of playing the saxophone well and improvising both jazz and rock music. Like most struggling players I have a load of all sorts of books on my shelf just gathering dust. Books that I didn’t understand or know how to put to use…or just have the time to go threw them. Steve’s lessons really simplify things and he puts it in a way that I can understand. They inspire me to keep pushing and having him as my guide or… Read more
Ken
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

Hello Steve,

I have not received my alto yet but have already gone through 14 lessons. I love your approach, style, knowledge and competence. I now regret so much to have stayed away from playing the sax for the past 45-50 years…(I am 65).  But It is never too late to get back to your first love. After 23 years in compuer sciences and 22 years in finances…I am now back to music for the rest of my life.

Doing some research on the net, I found this:

http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?1… Read more

Claude
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)

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
I just wanted to write a thank you note to you for this website. I play and teach saxophone, but I have always been intimidated by the gear aspect. Your website has helped me become a lot more knowledgable. Your knowledge is staggering! I’m telling all my students about your website. Pierre
Pierre
Absolutely the best learning experience in my 40 years of playing.These books are awesome!!
Alfred LaBella
I have found your videos and publications inspiring and your contribution to the world of saxophone playing is immense. Paul
Paul

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Mastering the Blues Scale Vol. 1-Minor Chords
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  • Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book)
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Mastering the Dominant Bebop Scale
Mastering the Dominant Bebop Scale-Book 2
Mastering the Dominant Bebop Scale-Book 2
The New Ultimate II-V-I Primer (Major)
The New Ultimate II-V-I Primer (Major)
Mastering Major Diatonic Patterns
Mastering Major Diatonic Patterns
Devastating Minor Lines for Jazz & Funk
Devastating Minor Lines for Jazz & Funk-Thirty 5 Star Reviews!!!
Mastering the Blues Scale Vol. 2-Dominant Chords
Mastering the Blues Scale Vol. 2-Dominant Chords
Best II-V-I Patterns Book
Best II-V-I Patterns
Approach Note Velocity Book
Approach Note Velocity
Mastering the Blues Scale Vol. 1-Minor Chords
Mastering the Blues Scale Vol. 1-Minor Chords
Major Bebop Scale Book
Mastering the Major Bebop Scale & Sound

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  • Brent G. on Alexander Superial I Jazz 7* Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review
  • Jason Mingledorff on 100 Must Know Jazz Tunes Consensus List

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