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You are here: Home / Jazz Lessons / Practice Habits / New Approach to Learning Tunes Lesson

New Approach to Learning Tunes Lesson

Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 1 customer rating
(1 customer review)

$9.99

Category: Practice Habits Tags: chord progressions, ear training, learning songs, memorizing standards, practice habits, video lesson
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  • Reviews (1)

Description

In this lesson, I talk about a new approach I have to learning the changes to tunes. I will be 50 years old in the fall and you would think that I would have all the tools I need mastered by now but a couple months ago I tried a new approach to learning a jazz standard that really surprised me. It surprised me because I had the changes to the tune memorized before ever picking up my sax!

Now, three months later, I still remember the changes to this tune even though I haven’t played it in over a month. The old method of learning a tune would be for me to play it over and over again on the sax until it was memorized. This was effective in getting it into my short term memory for a gig but many times I would lose this memory after a short time of not playing the tune.

In this lesson I talk about learning the melody of each song so that you can sing it but then also learning the root movement of the chords and being able to sing those also. By treating the roots as if they were a melody and singing them even when away from the sax or a piano I was able practice this standard for hours while away from the sax. I’m a bit excited in this video as this method seems to be working for me. I just wish I had discovered it back in high school. In this video lesson I talk about the process and all the things I am learning along the way. I apply the process to three jazz standards. My Shining Hour, Someday My Prince Will Come and But Not For me.(35 Minute Video Lesson)

1 review for New Approach to Learning Tunes Lesson

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    Rated 5 out of 5

    Chris Cole – 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

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Testimonials

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
I have NEVER seen material like yours.  Amazing!!
Jerry
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’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

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
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
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
Hey Steve, I’m a 22-year-old from Australia. I thought it would be worth saying. You’re an absolute legend. I can’t thank you enough. You have helped me rekindle my love for the saxophone and music as a whole. All the best for the future, your work doesn’t go unnoticed. PS. I am loving your devastating minor lines pdf.
Sapph

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
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

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