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

Website of Steve Neff

  • BLOG
  • SHOP
  • MEMBER’S AREA
    • JOIN
    • FAQ
    • MEMBER LOGIN
    • Member Monthly Lessons
    • Member VIP Area
    • Member-Practicing with Neff
    • Member-Brecker Alternate Fingering Lessons
    • Member-Killin’ Altissimo Lick Lessons
    • Member-Monster Lick of the Day
  • RAVES
  • CONTACT
  • SUPPORT
You are here: Home / Jazz Lessons / Practice Habits / Memorizing Jazz Standards-Lesson 1

Memorizing Jazz Standards-Lesson 1

Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 2 customer ratings
(2 customer reviews)

$9.99

SKU: 267 Category: Practice Habits Tags: jazz improvisation, jazz standards, learning, memorizing
  • Description
  • Reviews (2)

Description

One of the best things you can do for yourself is to learn and memorize jazz standards.  Most working jazz musicians have hundreds of  jazz standards that they have memorized and can play at any moment.  For many students,  learning these standards can be one of the most difficult tasks to complete.   They spend countless hours trying to memorize and play the standards they should know only to get on the gig  and fall apart.  It can be a very frustrating and intimidating experience.

In this lesson, I take you through the process that I find most effective in memorizing jazz standards.  I show you the complete process as I try to memorize a standard that I do not know (Yes, I do not know them all)  This is a revealing lesson for you because I take you through the beginning steps of how I think through the melody and chord changes.  I teach you the things I find the most effective when trying to memorize a song and the chord changes as well as warning you of the common road blocks we all face.  Believe me, I was horrible at this when I was younger so I hope to impart some of the things I have learned over the years  so you can benefit from them.  This is a great lesson to really digest so you can build up your jazz standard repertoire.  It is not easy nor will you find any magic here.  You will just find lots of advice  on what to practice  and how to practice it. This is Lesson 1 of 3. (31 minute video)

2 reviews for Memorizing Jazz Standards-Lesson 1

  1. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    John – February 20, 2011

    Big Big thanks to Steve for making this series of lessons, Steve gives some very honest views and detail on what he considers are the important areas to memorizing a jazz standard thoroughly. As usual the lessons are flavored with elements of Steve’s humor taken from his life experiences which easily connect with the listener in an enjoyable way. I am looking forward with anticipation to putting Steve’s thoughts to the test on the great choice of tune he uses throughout the lessons – ’Have You Met Miss Jones’

  2. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Chris Cole (verified owner) – February 23, 2018

    5 Stars! Steve’s four lessons on tune memorization are awesome. Very few players in this era are in the fortunate space where they’re blowing jazz gigs nightly. This makes learning and retaining jazz repertoire a real challenge. Steve’s well thought out approach in each of these lessons and his taking the time in those lessons to explain his thought process is pure gold. It’s rare to get a player of Steve’s calibre is actually slow down and take you through the actual steps he takes. I highly recommend all four of these lessons.

    chis cole

Add a review Cancel reply

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

Related products

  • Memorizing Jazz Standards-Lesson 2

    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
    Add to cart
  • 12 Great A7 Dominant Blues Licks Lesson

    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
    Add to cart
  • Practicing Tunes in Other Keys Lesson

    $9.99
    Add to cart
  • New Approach to Learning Tunes Lesson

    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
    Add to cart

Primary Sidebar

Cart

Search Products

COMPLETE LESSON INDEX

PRINTED BOOKS


NEFFMUSIC PRINTED BOOKS

Testimonials

Hey Steve! I hope you and your family are well.  I’m just writing to say thank you so much for all the resources you have made available to the saxophone community. I have been using your material for many years and I always come back to it… in fact I just took a break from practicing to write this…( reviewing “CreatingModern II-V-I Lines with simple pentatonics”.) I am, and continue to be, one of your raving fans! Blessings to you and your family this holiday season! Wishing… Read more
Gerry Aylward
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

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

Steve,  Just want to say thanks for all you are doing for all of us. I’ve learned more from you than anyone else in my 40 years of playing.

If you can give some tips on One Note Samba, Ceora, and Wave… that would be cool.  I really like learning how you apply your concepts to actual songs!

Have a great year,

Kevin Ledbetter

I've learned more from you than anyone else in my 40 years of playing.
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 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
Two years later I began a search for a sax teacher and happened to come across Steve Neff when I was searching YouTube for sax teachers.  I went to neffmusic.com and was very impressed with the lessons Steve Neff was offering.  The concept of selecting lessons was an approach that I thought was unique and purchased a few lessons.  I liked the lessons so much that I signed-up for a 6 month package. I was very happy with all the lessons I selected.  I also purchased Steve’s book Mastering the B… Read more
Michael
I have NEVER seen material like yours.  Amazing!!
Jerry
Just wanted to send you a quick note to say thank you for being you, your playing, your website and your desire to help others. I’m a professional musician in the US Army and I’ve visited your website almost every day since discovering it a couple of months ago. Your lessons are profound and easy to use. I’ve purchased most of your PDF books and now am starting to delve more into the video and audio lessons.  Thank you for being a great resource!
James
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

Featured Lessons

  • Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book)
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $19.99
  • The Secret to Modern Outside Jazz Lines Lesson-Minor $9.99
  • 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
    Rated 4.90 out of 5
    $9.99
  • The Secret to Altissimo (no one has ever told you about before) Lesson
    Rated 4.75 out of 5
    $9.99
  • Lesson Series Deals-Save Big on Select Lessons

Product Categories

Recent Reviews

  • Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book)
    Rated 5 out of 5
    by Lloyd Whitty
  • Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book)
    Rated 5 out of 5
    by Murray Middleman
  • Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book)
    Rated 5 out of 5
    by Paul
  • Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book)
    Rated 5 out of 5
    by Az Samad

Top Rated Products

  • Triad Pair Blues Audio Lesson
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • Major Triad Intermediate Workout Lesson
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • Monthly Silver Lesson Subscription
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $30.00 on the 1st of each month

Footer

Recent Comments

  • 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)
  • Lloyd Whitty on Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book)
  • Brent G. on Alexander Superial I Jazz 7* Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review
  • Jason Mingledorff on 100 Must Know Jazz Tunes Consensus List

Top rated products

  • Triad Pair Blues Audio Lesson
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • Major Triad Intermediate Workout Lesson
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • Monthly Silver Lesson Subscription
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $30.00 on the 1st of each month
  • Triad Pairs 4x4 Lesson
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • Amazing Grace Lesson
    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 © 2023