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mouthpiece

How to Spot a Fake Vintage Saxophone Mouthpiece

April 6, 2021 by Steve 1 Comment

Many of you might remember that I wrote an in-depth article about a year and a half ago on counterfeit vintage saxophone mouthpieces entitled “Buyer Beware! Counterfeit Vintage Saxophone Mouthpieces Galore“. In that article, I included as much information and photo evidence of counterfeit vintage sax mouthpieces that were (and still are) flooding the saxophone […]

Filed Under: Mouthpiece Reviews, NeffMusic News, Saxophone Stuff Tagged With: counterfeit, fake, mouthpiece, rip-off, sax, saxophone, scam, Stephan Kammerer, Vintage

Absolute Color Line Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

February 22, 2021 by Steve 2 Comments

Today, I am reviewing a new alto saxophone mouthpiece from Absolute mouthpieces in Italy.  This is neon yellow Absolute Color Line 7 alto saxophone mouthpiece.   These Absolute Color Line saxophone mouthpieces also come in neon blue as well as neon red as you can see in the photo below. Absolute Color Line Neon Yellow, Neon […]

Filed Under: Alto High Baffle Reviews, Alto Mouthpiece Reviews, Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: Absolute, alto sax, Color Line, Italy, jazz saxophone, mouthpiece, neon yellow, review

An Inside Look into the Joe Allard Approach of Saxophone Playing: Memories of the First Three Lessons

February 19, 2021 by Steve 19 Comments

In 2010, Gary Jones posted these personal memories written below on the “Sax on the Web” saxophone forum.  Gary shared these recollections from his first three lessons with George, a graduate student who personally studied with Joe Allard in the 1970’s.   He happily gave me permission to post his memories here also. This is what […]

Filed Under: Saxophone Stuff Tagged With: Allard Saxophone method, embouchure, Joe Allard, mouthpiece, Teaching Saxophone

Comparing Four SYOS Signature Model Tenor Saxophone Mouthpieces Side by Side

January 15, 2021 by Steve 4 Comments

Today, I am comparing four SYOS tenor saxophone mouthpieces that I have reviewed in the past side by side so that you can more easily hear and compare these tenor saxophone mouthpieces and sound clips to each other.  The comparison is between the SYOS Chad LB 8* tenor saxophone mouthpiece, the SYOS Tivon Pennicott 8 […]

Filed Under: Alto Low Baffle Reviews, Alto Mouthpiece Reviews, Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: Chad LB, comparison, Lorenzo Ferrero, Michael Wilbur, mouthpiece, review, Signature Model, SYOS, tenor saxophone, Tivon Pennicott

SYOS Knoel Scott Signature Model Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

December 18, 2020 by Steve 9 Comments

Today, I am reviewing the Knoel Scott signature model 7 alto saxophone mouthpiece from SYOS mouthpieces in France.   I have already completed a number of Syos saxophone mouthpiece reviews here on the site and I thought all of these sax mouthpieces played excellently so I was excited to review this Knoel Scott signature alto saxophone […]

Filed Under: Alto Low Baffle Reviews, Alto Mouthpiece Reviews, Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: Alto Saxophone, Knoel Scott, mouthpiece, review, Signature Model, SYOS

Sakshama Branford Marsalis Model Delrin Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

December 3, 2020 by Steve 28 Comments

Today, I am reviewing a Sakshama Branford Marsalis model Delrin tenor saxophone mouthpiece that I bought used online because I was curious about this tenor sax mouthpiece.  I have read that Branford Marsalis played a Guardala tenor sax mouthpiece in the 80’s and 90’s (not sure when he switched to something else) and I have […]

Filed Under: Mouthpiece Reviews, Tenor High Baffle Reviews, Tenor Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: Branford Marsalis, delrin, mouthpiece, review, Sakshama, sax, tenor saxophone

Saxscape Arizona Slim Profile Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

November 19, 2020 by Steve 16 Comments

Today, I am reviewing a Saxscape Arizona slim profile 7* (.104 tip opening) tenor saxophone mouthpiece that Ken Barry at Saxscape mouthpieces recently sent me to try out and perhaps review. Within the last year, I reviewed a Saxscape Live model tenor sax mouthpiece as well as a Saxscape Fat Cat Classic and Downtown MB1 […]

Filed Under: Mouthpiece Reviews, Tenor Medium Baffle Reviews, Tenor Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: Arizona, Ken Barry, mouthpiece, review, sax, Saxscape, slim profile, tenor saxophone

SYOS Lorenzo Ferrero Signature Model Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

November 3, 2020 by Steve 11 Comments

Today, I am reviewing the Lorenzo Ferrero signature model 8* tenor saxophone mouthpiece from SYOS mouthpieces in France.  This is my fourth SYOS tenor saxophone mouthpiece I will be reviewing today.  I have already reviewed the SYOS Chad LB signature model tenor sax mouthpiece ,the Tivon Pennicott signature model tenor sax mouthpiece and the Michael […]

Filed Under: Mouthpiece Reviews, Tenor High Baffle Reviews, Tenor Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: Lorenzo Ferrero, mouthpiece, review, Signature Model, SYOS, tenor saxophone

SYOS Steve Kortyka Signature Model Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

November 2, 2020 by Steve 6 Comments

Today, I am reviewing the SYOS Steve Kortyka Signature Model Alto Saxophone Mouthpiece from SYOS mouthpieces in France.  This is my sixth SYOS  saxophone mouthpiece I will be reviewing today.  If you want to check out the other SYOS saxophone mouthpieces I have reviewed so far you can click here:  SYOS Mouthpiece Reviews This SYOS […]

Filed Under: Alto High Baffle Reviews, Alto Mouthpiece Reviews, Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: Alto Saxophone, mouthpiece, review, Signature Model, Steve Kortyka, SYOS

JLV Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Sound Resurfacing Ligature Review

September 23, 2020 by Steve 24 Comments

Today, I am reviewing an innovative new saxophone mouthpiece ligature I received from JLV Sound in France.  It is the JLV Sound Resurfacing Sax Ligature for hard rubber tenor saxophone mouthpieces. This is not your everyday run of the mill saxophone ligature.  I have included quite a few photos and even a video presentation of […]

Filed Under: Saxophone Stuff Tagged With: hard rubber, JLV, ligature, mouthpiece, resurfacing, review, saxophone, sound, tenor sax

Boston Sax Shop Superlative Tenor Saxophone Ligature Review

September 11, 2020 by Steve 10 Comments

Today, I am reviewing a beautiful new saxophone ligature I received from Jack Tyler at the Boston Sax Shop.  It is the Boston Sax Shop Superlative Sax Ligature for hard rubber tenor sax mouthpieces. I have reviewed a number of Boston Sax Shop products on this site in the past and have written about Jack […]

Filed Under: Saxophone Stuff Tagged With: Boston Sax Shop, BSS, hard rubber, ligature, mouthpiece, review, superlative, tenor sax, tenor saxophone

SYOS Michael Wilbur Signature Model Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

July 17, 2020 by Steve 13 Comments

Today, I am reviewing the Michael Wilbur signature model 8* tenor saxophone mouthpiece from SYOS mouthpieces in France.  This is my third SYOS tenor saxophone mouthpiece I will be reviewing today.  I have already reviewed the Chad LB SYOS Signature model mouthpiece for tenor sax and the Tivon Pennicott Signature model mouthpiece for  tenor sax […]

Filed Under: Mouthpiece Reviews, Tenor High Baffle Reviews, Tenor Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: Michael Wilbur, Moon Hooch, mouthpiece, review, Signature Model, SYOS, tenor saxophone

SYOS Dayna Stephens Signature Model Soprano Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

July 15, 2020 by Steve 14 Comments

Today, I am reviewing the Dayna Stephens signature model 7 soprano saxophone mouthpiece from SYOS mouthpieces in France.  This is my first soprano sax mouthpiece from SYOS that I am reviewing and I have to admit that I am pretty blown away by this Dayna Stephens soprano mouthpiece.   I literally took this mouthpiece out of […]

Filed Under: Mouthpiece Reviews, Soprano Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: Dayna Stephens, mouthpiece, review, Signature Model, soprano saxophone, SYOS

The Best Saxophone Embouchure: Where’s that Bottom Lip?

June 30, 2020 by Steve 114 Comments

I just completed a new saxophone video lesson entitled “The Best Embouchure for Tone, Intonation and Endurance Lesson” in which I teach my approach to the saxophone playing embouchure and playing the saxophone.  While working on the sax lesson, I thought it would be a cool idea to search the internet for good photos of […]

Filed Under: Learning at Neffmusic, Saxophone Stuff Tagged With: best, bottom lip, embouchure, mouthpiece, perfect, playing, sax, saxophone

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Testimonials

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
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.
Uwe

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 … Read more

Carole B
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………..
Mike

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.

Milton
Absolutely the best learning experience in my 40 years of playing.These books are awesome!!
Alfred LaBella

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… Read more

Michael Byington

I want to thank you again, because, not only are you an inspiration to listen to, you are a fine teacher!

I have been teaching sax and other winds for over 20 years, and you give me that “push” to give my students more!

Mark Peotter

Mark Peotter
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
Martin
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 … Read more
Stephen
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 perso… Read more
Cedric
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!
Karin

I want to thank you for your “Ultimate II-V-I Primer”  which has sent me off on a much better path to improvisation.  The primer and the four bound books I have will keep me busy for a long time.  I like your lessons for two reasons.  The lessons work and THEY ARE FUN.  Thanks again.

Robert

Robert

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
I can’t say enough about my membership at Neff Music. Steve has taken the mystery out of playing the saxophone well and improvising both jazz and rock music. Like most struggling players I have a load of all sorts of books on my shelf just gathering dust. Books that I didn’t understand or know how to put to use…or just have the time to go threw them. Steve’s lessons really simplify things and he puts it in a way that I can understand. They inspire me to keep pushing and having him as my guide or… Read more
Ken
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
Shane
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
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.
Milton
I have found your videos and publications inspiring and your contribution to the world of saxophone playing is immense. Paul
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 sit… Read more
I will be recommending your site to others!
Your major diatonic patterns book is great. I”m studying the first twenty patterns (first twenty pages) each day with different articulation each day and slowly increasing the tempo each week or so.  There is a noticeable improvement in finger coordination across all keys and its amazing how much more secure I feel on the difficult keys when attempting to play pieces with 5+ flats/sharps. I’m able to sort out the fingerings for these pieces now much more quickly than before, often in one or two … Read more
Geoff
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 … Read more
Tony Galfano

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.
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.
Oliver

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