Hello Steve, I’m getting so much out of your lessons and books, amazing how much one may think one knows, there is always a new frontier or new way to view something you think you had somewhat down. You have taken it all to a new level and am so grateful. Your lessons are so down to earth and understandable and clear! Thanks so much Steve! Cheers, Eddie
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
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 🙂
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
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
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 just joined Neff Music last month. I can’t tell you how excited I’ve been to be able to pick back up on lessons. I’ve been in a rut and you got me out! I’ve especially appreciated the Lesson Path section. It was so clear I knew exactly where to jump in and start. Many many thanks!
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
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!
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
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.
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.
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 have been fine! I’m not on commission here – just wanted to write a review to encourage people to do this. Without doubt the most time and cost effective investment I’ve made in taking my playing to where it should be…Cheers Steve.
Steve’s monthly lessons are entirely valuable. Without brow beating, he tells you all the stuff you deep down know you really should be working on, instead of just relying on the same old patterns. In spite of the fact that you’re taking a video lesson, Steve’s presentation is comfortable and “real”. In a little more than a year, he’s developed a library of lessons that seem to offer any player a lifetime’s worth of practice material. I’m just glad I stumbled upon it.
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 and focus on and the material is very interesting. I think this is the best teaching series available and he continues to add more lessons to the series. I can’t thank him enough for it. May he go on for ever! Pete
Hi Steve, I can’t express just how much I appreciate your teaching. My playing has improved so much over the past year since I have been studying and practicing with your lessons. It is possible to teach an old dog new tricks, these lessons are proof! Thanks, Michael Byington
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 have found your videos and publications inspiring and your contribution to the world of saxophone playing is immense. Paul
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
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.
Absolutely the best learning experience in my 40 years of playing.These books are awesome!!
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 site… I ordered two of your books (Major Bebop and The II-V-I Primer) and have been more excited about practicing than ever in my life. The progress I’ve made in such a short time is amazing! But here is the really cool thing… I had just started an extensive study of Rhythm Changes and then I get your Feb. Newsletter. I can’t tell your how cool it was to see this transcription and get to integrate this into my studies! Thanks again Steve, I appreciate what you are doing more than you can imagine.
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
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….
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