Raves

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 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 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

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.

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.