Steve- I joined your site this month and have downloaded 4 lessons and also purchased your new book and video on diatonic patterns. I just want to say I am very pleased with your approach and teaching techniques. I am getting back into playing after laying off for some time. The information you offer on your site is of great value and I am enjoying being a member. Thank you for what you are doing for the saxophone community.
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
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
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
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
I like so many other subscribers feel so encouraged by Steve’s learning techniques; you will enjoy reading the comments of praise others have left as you too will feel that you share a common view and path. I feel very lucky to have come across Neffmusic and that feeling will remain with you as you search through a treasure trove of learning materials on offer, you will quickly find the lessons that you are suited to. You will instantly recognize the unparalleled quality of Steve’s teaching style as technique and theory are rolled out to you in a way that demystifies anything you have puzzled over before. I have found this experience extremely rewarding, I feel I have grown and continue to grow, even going back to basics leaves a feeling of satisfaction, having the knowledge that you can completely trust learning materials is so important; therefore the format of Neffmusic is a great way to learn! Kindest Regards Stephen
I have been a member of Neffmusic for more than a year now and have enjoyed every minute of it! I have not only been going thru the Dominant Bebop Scale lessons and book (OUTSTANDING!) but the mouthpiece reviews, solo clips and transcriptions are very interesting. Steve approach to beginning and intermediate improv have given me many new pathways to teach my high school jazz ensemble students. Congratulations Steve, great product!
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 player in London when I worked there. He was a great sax player but his teaching skills were so bad that the other students and I had to revert to teaching ourselves and exchanging information, knowledge and ideas. In fact, we had booked a total of 10 lessons with him and he was so bad that he didn’t even show up for half of them.
So I would like to compliment you on your knowledge and teaching skills and in particular for the honesty in which you impart that knowledge.
You will be pleased to know that I now have purchased all your books and that I have signed up for a 1 year subscription.
All I need now is the time to put all this knowledge and information to good use.
Well done to you Steve.
Best regards
Patrick (Dublin, Ireland)
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!
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 and some of the best jazz lessons I’ve ever seen on the web. I’m looking forward to getting it together with your stuff!
Tony
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.
It is so refreshing to have a great player, who can provide lessons and examples in a manner which is understandable to most any enthusiastic saxophonist who is ready to improve. not just the, do this, do that, memorize this, memorize that… while all that is absolutely necessary, you go on to give reasons and examples to explain and validate why you have to do all of these things, the benefits, if you will… that is the key for me, you tell, explain, demonstrate, explain some more, you give personal experience and stories, it all comes together, a complete picture. so many “self-proclaimed ” saxophone teachers believe because they are a professional player, they are automatically a teacher, absolutely not the case. you must have the ability to transfer what you know, and most importantly, in my mind, the DESIRE to teach, and the need to know that your instruction is getting through, the constant search for more and better ways to deliver the instruction. the PASSION to teach. YOU have all these qualities, that is why i am a Neffaholic 🙂
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 you health and happiness.
Gerry Aylward
Absolutely the best learning experience in my 40 years of playing.These books are awesome!!
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 Blues Scale that contains 100 licks or patterns in all 12 keys. I quickly selected the lesson for the overview of the book and the lesson where Steve demonstrates all 100 licks. Hearing them played by Steve was great, since you can hear the various articulations which makes a great difference to the sound of the licks.
Using the book and corresponding 2 lessons made a dramatic improvement in my soloing that is incredible to say the least. Even my wife and daughter said my playing has improved and they rarely make any comments about my sax playing. My daughter even picked out 3 licks that are her favorites – Unbelievable!
I strongly recommend to any one who wants to learn to play sax or play better to try a few of Steve’s lessons. You will not regret it.
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!
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!
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
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?154873-Steve-Neff-s-music-books-the-missing-link
I can now say that I am very glad I found your site.
I don’t know how long it will take me to go through most of your lessons, but I have the feeling it will go fast.
Thanks for building NeffMusic.com
A la prochaine!
Claude
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.
Your lessons on playing the blues is so clear . I have been through many books on blues playing and not one of them explains as clear as your lessons . Most of them say “Play the same blues scale over all three chords of a 12 bar blues ” Its very misleading . Thanks
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 doors for him, and I am very grateful. He has always had a love for music, but his confidence with and expression through his horn have greatly improved since his lessons with you. I pray God’s continued blessings on you in all areas of your life. Thank you for impacting others! ~~Carole B
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
Hi Steve,
First, I want to thank you for all of your great lessons. They are like a “For Dummies” version of all the books on my shelf. The lessons break things down into manageable pieces, and give me the confidence that I’m practicing the right pieces. I’m starting to make progress. Thank You, Kim
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