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saxophone

Saxophone Microphone Review and Audio Shootout

February 19, 2014 by Steve 49 Comments

I recently had a member on my site (Walter Ruckdeschel)  post an in-depth review of 8 different  stand mounted microphones that can be used for live gigs.  I was so fascinated that I asked him if I could post his finding here for everyone to see.  If I didn’t have my hands full teaching and […]

Filed Under: Saxophone Stuff Tagged With: Beyerdynamic, Electro Voice, live mics, microphone sound clips, Rode, saxophone, Sennheiser, Shure, Walter Ruckdeschel

Rafael Navarro Maestra Soprano Saxophone Mouthpiece

March 8, 2013 by Steve 5 Comments

I have another Rafael Navarro mouthpiece up for review today.  This is a hard rubber Maestra 6* soprano saxophone mouthpiece.  I used a Vandoren Java 2 1/2 reed on it with a Vandoren Optimum metal ligature.  My soprano sax is a Yamaha YSS-62. Like all of Rafael’s mouthpieces I have tried so far, this one […]

Filed Under: Soprano Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: Maestra, Rafael Navarro, saxophone, soprano mouthpiece

Rafael Navarro Maestra Marble Tenor Mouthpiece

March 7, 2013 by Steve 27 Comments

I have another Rafael Navarro tenor mouthpiece up for review today.  This is a marble Maestra 8.  I used a Rigotti Gold 2 1/2 strong reed on it with a Francois Louis Ultimate ligature. Like all of Rafael’s mouthpieces I have tried so far, this one is a work of art.  The mouthpiece looks so […]

Filed Under: Tenor Low Baffle Reviews, Tenor Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: Maestra, marble, Rafael Navarro, saxophone, tenor mouthpiece

Branford Marsalis Masterclass

March 7, 2013 by Steve 3 Comments

Here’s a great masterclass by Branford Marsalis.  There’s a lot of wisdom in this 18 minutes. I love Branford’s sound on the soprano.   What he says about the importance of melody and speaking through your music to people is huge.  Making some sort of connection with the audience………….Great stuff!  Check it out!

Filed Under: Jazz Education Tagged With: Branford Marsalis, masterclass, saxophone, video

More Saxophone Teachings from Joe Allard Via Harvey Pittel

February 14, 2013 by Steve 4 Comments

 Harvey Pittel is an award winning and internationally acclaimed classical saxophonist who has performed as a soloist with many of the world’s greatest orchestras and has recorded extensively as a soloist and with ensembles including his own saxophone quartet. He is the Professor of Saxophone at The University of Texas at Austin Butler School of […]

Filed Under: Saxophone Stuff Tagged With: basics, fundamentals, Harvey Pittel, Joe Allard, saxophone

“A Complete Approach to Sound for the Modern Saxophonist” by Ben Britton

January 29, 2013 by Steve Leave a Comment

Recently, I received a copy of  A Complete Approach to  Sound for the Modern Saxophonist by Ben Britton.  Ben is a great saxophonist and educator in Pennsylvania.   I first heard of Ben many years ago when I stumbled upon a youtube clip of him trading fours with Chris Potter.   That, in of itself is very […]

Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: Ben Britton, Complete Approach to Sound, fundamentals, saxophone, tone

Jazzlab Saxholder Neckstrap Review

November 14, 2012 by Steve 7 Comments

Today, I will be reviewing a new neckstrap by Jazzlab called the saxholder.  This is a revolutionary neckstrap that is designed so that there is no pressure whatsoever on the neck and upper spine of the player. A few years ago, I started having numbness and tingling in my hands and arms.  I would get […]

Filed Under: Saxophone Stuff Tagged With: Jazzlab, neck pain, sax neckstrap, Saxholder, saxophone

Macsax Bob Sheppard Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece

November 13, 2012 by Steve 10 Comments

Today, I am reviewing a new MacSax tenor saxophone mouthpiece that is made by Eric Falcon.  I have reviewed a number of other mouthpieces in the past that were made or refaced by Eric Falcon including the LA, FJIII tenor mouthpiece and Bob Sheppard alto mouthpiece which were all great. This mouthpiece is the Bob […]

Filed Under: Tenor Medium Baffle Reviews, Tenor Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: Bob Sheppard, Eric Falcon, MacSax, saxophone, tenor mouthpiece

Joe Allard Lesson Videos

June 2, 2011 by Steve 1 Comment

Joe Allard (December 31, 1910 – May 3, 1991), a native of Lowell, MA,was a famous saxophone and clarinet professor at Juilliard, The New England Conservatory and The Manhattan School of Music. Some of his most famous students were: Michael Brecker, Eddie Daniels, Bob Berg, Dave Liebman, Paul Winter, Steve Grossman, Kenneth Radnofsky, Bill Pierce […]

Filed Under: Saxophone Stuff Tagged With: clarinet, embouchure, Joe Allard, saxophone, teaching video

Bending Notes on the Saxophone

April 16, 2011 by Steve Leave a Comment

A great sax player has mastered the art of bending and shaping  their notes to express what they want to convey.  It might be a mood, attitude or emotion.  There is no doubt that bending notes adds excitement and emotion to a solo.  Bending notes on the saxophone is one of the coolest things that […]

Filed Under: Saxophone Stuff Tagged With: bend notes, saxophone, steve neff, throat, tongue, voicing notes

Free Universal Method for the Saxophone

November 27, 2010 by Steve 5 Comments

I was looking around the internet today for a music book that I could use in my online video lessons.  I’ve had a bunch of requests for some lessons on sight reading and I thought it would be cool if I could find something to use that was in the “public domain”.    I was surprised […]

Filed Under: Saxophone Stuff Tagged With: Paul de Ville, public domain, saxophone, Universal Method

Sakshama “Lost Wax” Florida Link Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece

November 23, 2010 by Steve 9 Comments

This is a Sakshama “lost wax” florida link metal mouthpiece that I received from Sakshama Koloski  a few months ago.  He was gracious enough to let me try one of his mouthpieces.  I put lost wax in quotations because I’m not sure exactly what that means.  This mouthpiece is a great example of a great […]

Filed Under: Tenor Low Baffle Reviews, Tenor Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: lost wax, Sakshama, saxophone, tenor mouthpiece, tenor sax

Kanee Custom V7 Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece

November 9, 2010 by Steve 5 Comments

Here’s a brand new mouthpiece review for you. You probably have never heard of this brand.   I had never heard of them before a couple weeks ago either.   I received an email from someone from China asking if I would be willing to try some of their mouthpieces and post a review of […]

Filed Under: Tenor Medium Baffle Reviews, Tenor Mouthpiece Reviews Tagged With: Custom V7, Kanee mouthpieces, saxophone, tenor mouthpiece

“Live” Clip of a Yamaha WX-5 Harmonica Solo

April 30, 2010 by Steve 7 Comments

I didn’t think I would ever do this but…………about once a month I get an email from someone asking if I can put up some sound clips and lessons on the Yamaha WX-5 wind controller.  A Yamaha WX-5 is what is known as a wind controller.  You blow air into and finger it just like […]

Filed Under: Live Recordings Tagged With: saxophone, sound clip, wind controller, Yamaha WX-5

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Testimonials

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

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

Kim
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’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
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 si… Read more
Jon
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
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
Michael Byington

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

Eddie Parente

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

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

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!

Julia
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

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.
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 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 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 absolu… Read more
Ron
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 h… Read more
Nick
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
Pierre
I have NEVER seen material like yours.  Amazing!!
Jerry

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

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

P

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
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
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!
Roger

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