Tania Zountsa

Saxophone Lessons in Amsterdam

Hey there! I’m Tania Zountsa, a Greek saxophonist, composer, improviser, and passionate saxophone teacher based in Amsterdam.

In my lessons for beginners, you’ll build a strong technical foundation, develop musicality, and work on repertoire that genuinely interests you. If you’re already playing at an intermediate or advanced level, we’ll dive deeper into improvisation, musical expression, and more complex pieces.

Want to Write Your Own Music?

Writing your own music and expressing your creativity is both challenging and incredibly rewarding. Besides being a saxophonist, I’m also a composer, and I can guide you through the creative process step by step.

Pop, Jazz, Blues & More

I specialise in jazz, R&B, soul, blues, and pop music. If you’re interested in free improvisation or classical music, you’re absolutely in the right place too.

Beginners Welcome

You’re never too old to start learning music or take your very first saxophone lessons. We’ll begin with the music you love, while gradually developing your musicality and technical skills.

We work on:

• breathing technique
• relaxed posture
• embouchure
• scales
• basic music theory
• reading sheet music

From the very beginning, we’ll play together, helping you develop your ear through listening and imitation. If you’d like, we can also start exploring improvisation early on.

Saxophone Lessons for Children

A great age for children to start saxophone lessons is around 8 years old. At that age, they’re usually physically ready to hold the instrument and their teeth are developed enough as well. The alto saxophone or the soprano saxophone are the best choice for younger beginners, due to smaller size and lighter weight.

Playful Approach for Children

My fun and engaging saxophone lessons for children offer playful methods like games, movement, reading music, and familiar popular tunes to make learning exciting and are known for its cosy atmosphere. I make sure that your child will practise with pleasure and stays motivated.

Already Playing?

If you already feel comfortable on your instrument, we’ll focus on developing your personal sound and discovering how to get that rich, expressive tone from your saxophone. With regular practice and targeted technical guidance, you’ll notice progress quickly.

Finding Improvisation Difficult?

At first, improvising can feel unfamiliar — playing without sheet music and “just making something up” may seem intimidating. But improvisation is absolutely something you can learn.

I’ll teach you how to listen in a way that allows you to play back what you hear. You’ll also learn the mechanics behind improvisation, including working with chords, scales, and harmonic variations.

The key is to start, build your understanding of jazz harmony, and keep going. Together, we’ll develop your improvisation skills so you can express your creativity freely through music.

Rhythm & Movement

Rhythm and movement are essential elements of music. Through exercises such as body percussion, you’ll internalise timing and groove in an interactive and physical way — and you’ll immediately notice the benefits in your playing.

Next Level — What Can You Expect?

We can work on:

• sound development
• breathing techniques 
• articulation
• phrasing
• music theory - jazz harmony
• rhythm studies
• improvisation in jazz, blues, and free music
• jazz - pop standards 
• etudes and advanced repertoire

I also encourage students to compose their own music and develop their unique artistic voice.

Trial Lesson

During the trial lesson, we’ll get to know each other and do some playing together. I’ll always give you practical tips that you can immediately apply. If you’ve never tried the saxophone before, no worries — we’ll explore it together. I have an instrument ready for you to use during the lesson if you don’t own one yet. I’d also love to hear what kind of music inspires you. The trial lesson gives you a feel for my teaching style, and I can also advise you on renting or buying a good, affordable instrument.

Where Do I Teach?

I teach in Amsterdam at my studio in Treehouse NDSM. The studio is easy to reach from both Amsterdam Centre and Amsterdam Noord. We can also make recordings during your lessons, or use the studio for other recording projects if you’d like.

About Me

My musical journey began at the age of 9 with the guitar, where I already developed a passion for composition and improvisation. Later, I studied classical double bass at the State Conservatory of Greece. During that time, I discovered the saxophone — and immediately fell in love with its expressive possibilities and the unique way sound can be shaped through breath and articulation.

This passion brought me to Brussels for private studies and eventually to the Netherlands, where I completed a Bachelor’s degree in Jazz & Pop Saxophone and a Master’s degree in Music Performance at the HKU Conservatory.

Performances

I’ve performed in Greece, the Netherlands, and Finland, where I led my ensemble *Singularity Point* and released my debut album *AWAKE* in 2022. A second album is currently on the way.

What Kind of Music Do I Compose?

My compositions combine contemporary jazz with elements of ancient Greek music, reflecting my fascination with ancient cultures, rituals, and improvisation. In 2022, I received support from the Norma Fund for my projects *MARUSKES* and *Lila Duo*. I continue to explore the fusion of music, dance, and visual arts through multidisciplinary collaborations.