Enrico D'Addazio

Every person has their own musicality—we just need to let it come out.

My goal as a teacher is to help you discover how much fun, joy, and passion music can bring. Whether you are a complete beginner or an experienced player, I will guide you in developing both your technical skills and your personal voice on the saxophone.

I began my musical journey in Verona, Italy, where I graduated in Classical Saxophone in 2017. Soon after, I started teaching saxophone at the Lizard Music Academy in Garda and introducing music to children in primary and middle schools. Later, my passion for improvisation and creativity led me to continue my studies at Codarts Conservatory in Rotterdam, where I specialize in Jazz and Latin music.

I believe music has no age: you are never too young or too old to express yourself through an instrument. If you feel drawn to the warm, expressive sound of the saxophone, let’s begin this musical journey together.

“Whatever you think can’t be done, somebody will come along and do it.” – Thelonious Monk

To truly express your musical ideas on the saxophone, you need a strong connection between body, mind, and instrument. That’s why every lesson begins with a focus on sound and technique—developing your tone, breath control, and body awareness.

You will learn how to shape your own saxophone sound and how to “sing” through the instrument. For beginners, this process may take a few weeks, but it quickly shows how musical practice can positively influence not only your playing but also your body, emotions, and creativity.

To make your learning experience enjoyable and personal, my lessons are always adapted to your goals and musical interests—whether that’s reading music, improvisation, or other areas you want to explore.

Together, we will also build your own personal repertoire of songs that reflect who you are. The second part of each lesson will be dedicated to working on these pieces, so that you develop not only technique but also musical expression.

My name is Enrico, I’m 30 years old and originally from Verona, Italy. I began my musical journey at the age of 6, and since then the saxophone has been my voice and passion.

I earned my Master’s degree in Classical Saxophone from the Conservatory of Mantova (Italy) and I've am currently continuing my studies in Jazz and Latin music at Codarts Conservatory in Rotterdam.

Over the years, I have performed in Italy, across Europe, and on international tours with a wide variety of ensembles: classical orchestras and chamber groups (such as the Mantova Saxophone Ensemble), saxophone quartets (Sax Fever, Macha Saxophone Quartet), big bands (Dixiebell Orchestra of Garda, Utrecht Big Band, Codarts Big Band, National Young Jazz Orkest), as well as Funk, Rockabilly, Latin, Afro and Pop groups. This diversity of experience has given me a deep understanding of the saxophone in many different styles.

I have been fortunate to study with world-class saxophonists such as Federico Mondelci, Claude Delangle, Nobuya Sugawa, Marc Scholten, Toon Roos, Tineke Postma, Benjamin Herman, and Nils Van Haften. With them, I explored the richness of the classical repertoire (Gershwin, Bizet, Milhaud, Rota, Bernstein, Steve Reich, Michael Nyman…) and learned how to improvise in the jazz tradition, developing a passion for creative expression.

Through both performing and teaching students of all ages, I have come to believe that music is not an inborn gift—it is something everyone can learn. Listening, recognizing intervals, understanding scales, and hearing the colors of chords are natural and fun processes that anyone can develop at any age.

In my lessons, I aim to share not only my knowledge and experience but also the passion and joy that music has given me. I strive to create the same encouraging and inspiring environment that shaped me, helping each student to discover their own voice on the saxophone and the joy of making music with others.

In my lessons, the main focus is sound. A beautiful saxophone sound has the power to captivate an audience with just a single note. That’s why we always start by working on long tones across the full register of the instrument. The more natural and relaxed your embouchure and body are, the more easily the reed will vibrate—resulting in a warmer, personal sound.

We will then explore saxophone technique, including scales, arpeggios, vibrato, tonguing, dynamics, overtones, and playing in both the low and high registers. These exercises will give you the technical foundation to express yourself freely.

From there, we’ll connect technique with music:

• Harmony & Improvisation – We’ll work directly on the songs you love. By transcribing, analyzing, and exploring harmony, you’ll learn how to improvise over chord progressions and develop your own repertoire.
• Reading Music – An essential skill if you want to play in bands, ensembles, or orchestras. We’ll practice sight-reading and written repertoire to strengthen this ability.
• Audition Preparation – If your goal is to enter a conservatory (classical or jazz), I have experience guiding students through auditions. We can focus on etudes, required repertoire, and exam preparation.

Above all, my approach is personalized to your goals and interests. Whether you want to play your favorite songs, learn to improvise, or prepare for advanced studies, I’ll guide you step by step.

I believe that music makes the mind free, and that everybody can play—it’s just a matter of practicing and listening in the right way.

If you feel that the saxophone is your instrument… what are you waiting for? 🎷 Let’s make music together!

For students who want to dive deeper into the world of the saxophone, I also offer special listening sessions dedicated to the instrument’s role in music history and across different styles.

We’ll explore the saxophone in classical repertoire (Gershwin, Bizet, Milhaud, Rota, Bernstein, Steve Reich, Michael Nyman…), and then follow its journey through popular music: Blues, Jazz (Stan Getz, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Sonny Rollins…), Latin, Rock & Roll, Pop, and beyond—right up to today’s music.

Together, we will listen to the milestones of great composers and performers who shaped the history of this fantastic instrument.

It’s a journey of discovery into the beauty of music through the saxophone—one that will inspire you, expand your listening, and deepen your passion for this amazing art form.