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Jazz Education

My “Secret” List of the Funkiest Minor Tunes to Practice to……..

February 6, 2017 by Steve 2 Comments

Today, I’m going to share my “secret” list of funk tunes that I have been practicing to for a few years now.  These are tunes that I bought on iTunes because I was sick of the generic Jamey Aebersold tracks that we all practice to.   I spent many hours one week going through iTunes […]

Filed Under: Jazz Education, Jazz Improvisation Tagged With: funky tunes, iTunes, Jazz Improvisation, minor grooves, playalong, song list

Amazing Jazz Saxophone Masterclass by Dave Liebman

December 15, 2016 by Steve 1 Comment

This is a Dave Liebman masterclass from 2/7/15 in Nashville at the studio of Jeff Coffin.   I’m watching it right now as I post this but am so amazed at how deep and insightful this is that I feel I have to post it immediately.   I’m at the 60 minute mark and have to […]

Filed Under: Jazz Education Tagged With: Dave Liebman, Jazz Improvisation, masterclass, saxophone

Joe Graziosi’s Soul Station in all 12 Keys Project

November 8, 2016 by Steve 5 Comments

Every once in a while I happen upon something extraordinary that bewilderingly gets little to no attention from the jazz saxophone world.  A number of months ago, Joe Graziosi started a thread on SOTW (Sax on the Web) letting people know about a new project that he had been working on over the last three years […]

Filed Under: Jazz Education Tagged With: 12 keys, Hank Mobley, Joe Graziosi, saxophone transcription, Soul Station, tenor sax

Chris Potter Masterclass 12-04-2015 Akron, Ohio

December 22, 2015 by Steve 4 Comments

Here’s another great Chris Potter masterclass from 12-4-15 in Akron, Ohio that someone posted on Youtube.  This is just an audio of the masterclass.  Chris Potter’s opening solo on Cherokee is amazing as usual.  I can’t get enough of these solos and masterclasses!  Check it out!

Filed Under: Jazz Education Tagged With: Cherokee, chris potter, Improvisation, masterclass, tenor saxophone

The Dick Oatts Solo Collection Review

December 2, 2015 by Steve 3 Comments

  Today I am reviewing an awesome new transcription book of solos by alto saxophonist Dick Oatts.  Dan Bayliss wrote the transcriptions and did the work of putting this ebook together.  It includes 9 solos from 3 albums and is 68 pages long. The CD’s the solos are from are Dick Oatts “Standard Issue Volume […]

Filed Under: Book Reviews, Jazz Education Tagged With: alto sax, Dan Bayliss, Dick Oatts, jazz saxophone, jazz standards, Transcriptions

2015 Aebersold Jazz Workshop with Chris Potter

October 23, 2015 by Steve 3 Comments

Here’s another great workshop with Chris Potter that I came across just now on Facebook. Chris Potter is one of the top tenor saxophone players in the world.  There is a great duo performance in the beginning of “Out of Nowhere” . Chris then answers questions from the students and faculty afterwards. Great stuff.    Check it out!

Filed Under: Jazz Education Tagged With: chris potter, clinic, Jazz Education, masterclass, tenor saxophone, workshop

The New Ultimate II-V-I Primer Lesson Series Deal only 14.99

October 17, 2015 by Steve Leave a Comment

Hi Everyone, I’m running a big sale on lessons I made that get you started with working with the New Ultimate II-V-I Primer. I made 5 lessons that are usually 49.95 for all 5  but I’m running a sale so you can get all 5 for 14.99 at this link. The New Ultimate II-V-I Lesson […]

Filed Under: Jazz Education

This Guy Blows My Mind…….Derek Brown

October 15, 2015 by Steve 3 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: advanced, beatbox sax, Derek Brown, modern sax playing, saxophone, saxophone techniques

Free Video Lesson on Approach Note Velocity Book

April 18, 2015 by Steve 16 Comments

I decided to offer a free video lesson on my book “Approach Note Velocity Volume 1 & 2” for everyone. I have sold many of these books over the years and really want to make sure that everyone is getting the most out of them that they can.  You can consider this an  “overview” lesson on […]

Filed Under: Free Lessons, Jazz Education Tagged With: approach notes, free lesson, Jazz Improvisation, jazz instruction, saxophone, video

Transcriptions of Chris Potter On Rhythm Changes

January 30, 2015 by Steve 23 Comments

Here are two short transcriptions of solos Chris Potter did on a March 8, 2008 Masterclass. The bootleg was floating around the internet (www.dimeadozen.org) and I was lucky enough to grab it. In these two examples Chris is showing the differences in his playing style from when he was younger to now. The first solo […]

Filed Under: Jazz Education, Transcriptions Tagged With: chris potter, rhythm changes, solo, tenor sax

Great Lenny Pickett Clinic

November 25, 2014 by Steve 3 Comments

I just found these videos on Youtube a few minutes ago and started watching them.  Lenny Pickett is a tenor sax player known to almost all saxophone players.  If you have ever watched Saturday Night Live, you have heard Lenny Pickett.  He’s the sax player in the middle of the TV screen playing notes so […]

Filed Under: Jazz Education, Jazz Videos Tagged With: clinic, Jazz Education, jazz sax, Lenny Pickett, masterclass, tenor saxophone

Great George Garzone Masterclass

September 5, 2014 by Steve 2 Comments

Here’s a recently posted masterclass by the great jazz teacher and tenor saxophone player George Garzone.  I studied with George for a semester or two while at Berklee back in the mid 80’s.  I remember him messing up my whole musical worldview by telling me to not tongue and stop playing licks. ( I had […]

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

Keeping a Beat at 9 Months Old………

July 10, 2013 by Steve 1 Comment

I found this video the other day while going through all my home movies I’ve made.  I had forgotten all about it but when I saw it, it brought a smile to my face.  As a musician and father, I was always looking for ways where I could practice and watch my kids at the […]

Filed Under: Jazz Education

Branford Marsalis Masterclass

March 7, 2013 by Steve 3 Comments

Here’s a great masterclass by Branford Marsalis.  There’s a lot of wisdom in this 18 minutes. I love Branford’s sound on the soprano.   What he says about the importance of melody and speaking through your music to people is huge.  Making some sort of connection with the audience………….Great stuff!  Check it out!

Filed Under: Jazz Education Tagged With: Branford Marsalis, masterclass, saxophone, video

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Testimonials

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 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
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
Steve really changed my way of practicing: I got a whole lot of new ideas for my playing the tenor.  His lessons are really helpful, give a lot stuff to practice and give clear answers to complicated stuff.  Steve has a lot of humor and I wish I had laughed so much in my former days with the horn.  All topics, from Blues to Approach note are dealt with clearness that wet ones appetite to play and practice that great ideas.
Uwe

Love your lessons!  I have been using your lesson packages for many months now, and am learning a lot.  It is so perfect for me with a very busy adult schedule and difficulty in taking jazz/improv music lessons from reputable instructors who live and hour or more away from me.

Lenore
For anyone living in remote areas away from live jazz sax teachers, Neff is the way to go. In fact this is a great resource for anyone seriously interested in mastering the sax. I’ve never been disappointed in a lesson.
Oliver

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 found your videos and publications inspiring and your contribution to the world of saxophone playing is immense. Paul
Paul
I want to let you know that your instructional material is transforming my playing.  It is an immense pleasure to learn and play now, and I can’t tell you how grateful I am. The instructional material I got from you is by far the best of any I own (and I have over 100 books, DVDs, and what not). I literally can’t thank you enough! Deric
Deric
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’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 have NEVER seen material like yours.  Amazing!!
Jerry
I would like to say that in the last year my sax playing has progressed loads from your lessons. I have had a sax for about 20 years and dabbled with lessons from a few teachers and have learnt very little from them. As you have said in your lessons many teachers tell you to use the blues scale and leave it there, not even showing you the resolution points!!. I am now believing I can in time become a good improviser.
Thanks again,
Shane
Shane
Absolutely the best learning experience in my 40 years of playing.These books are awesome!!
Alfred LaBella

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

Steve,

I have played for many years and have enjoyed going “back to the basics” in some of your lessons!  You have such a gift for explaining concepts.  As I have gotten older, some of the basic things have gotten muddled because I just play, not knowing why.  As I refresh myself with “why”, it increases my confidence and expands my playing.  Thank you so much for using your gift!  You are a blessing!

Julia

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’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

Your material is great! I got your New Altissimo Lesson 6 months ago and I have learned more from that than in all my 44 years of playing! I appreciate your down to earth teaching method and I really appreciate the heart that you teach with. I have been a subscriber to your lessons for the past 6 months and I have learned a great deal. Over that period of time I have had some questions and you have never failed to respond. Thanks! I have already recommended your lessons to a number of players in… Read more

Michael Byington
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 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

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

After reading your story I will never feel quite right about complaining about any of my MINOR health issues!!    God bless Steve and I really hope that your health doesn’t stop you from fulfilling your calling.    These books have been such a help to open up my jazz vocabulary…   Thanks so much for sharing your story and for providing these great teaching tools…   John Leclerc   Saxophonist / composer/ EWI player and professional working musician of 35 years….

John Leclerc
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

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