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 has some important qualities that are rare to find in a teacher anywhere these days- he’s a great player, great teacher and a great guy.”
DAVID WRIGHT Musician and Educator
I have found your videos and publications inspiring and your contribution to the world of saxophone playing is immense. Paul
Thanks so much for putting all this great learning material out there. I don’t often have the time to take a lesson with a teacher, so the ability to download lessons is really invaluable. My playing has improved enormously (I think :)) – and the lessons are so varied there’s always something to be inspired by. Incredible value too!
Absolutely the best learning experience in my 40 years of playing.These books are awesome!!
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….
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.
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 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
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 my area. Again, THANKS! Your lessons have been a real blessing!
Sincerely, Michael Byington
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 absolutely loving your latest book Devastating Lines for Jazz and Funk Soloing.
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
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.
Thank you for the wealth of helpful lessons you’ve provided over the years. I truly feel as though it has improved my playing more than the 4 years I spent at Berklee… and that’s not a slight on the school as I loved my experience there.John
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!
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
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.
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
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
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!
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 – mind crunching sometimes – because I’m memorizing each exercise in every key, and using different rhythms as Steve suggests, but I can see the development taking place and the old barriers starting to break down already. Steve has obviously put so much of his experience and time into these books and I think it’s great that he’s made it all available for others to benefit from.-Paul
By the way, BIG COMPLIMENTS to you, Steve!
Not only are you a great player, you are also a great teacher!I, too, am a woodwinds player/teacher. I have new inspiration to play and teach because of you.
The concepts and “thinking” is similar to what I already learned in College,
but hearing you explain and PLAY the concepts REALLY MAKES THE DIFFERENCE!Also, your written patterns are more interesting than other books I have seen!
Keep up the good work.
I will be recommending your site to others!
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!
I bought Steve’s dominant bebop book and took a couple of online lesson from him. I really appreciated Steve’s careful listening of what I wanted to get done in a lesson and his clear, concise ideas on next steps to improve my playing and musical interpretation. His mastering the Dominant Bebop Scale has lots of exercises to use a scale that addresses the largest percentage of chords I come across in pop/blues music. The dominant V7. Needless say it has improved my playing. I teach and also have recorded lots of online lessons and Steve’s explaining style and demonstrating ability is top notch. I wish he was close enough for direct lessons. I plan to use him in the future. Thanks Steve
Just to say thanks for your advice and lessons. I’ve just read your amazing story. I really appreciate what you do in regards to teaching. I have bought a couple of your lessons and frankly they’re undersold. I’ve learned much more with these two lessons than with 2 years of sax teachers. Thanks so much………..
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