Simone Carugati

Hi, I'm Simone, a professional guitarist based in Lisbon with 20 years of playing, 16 years of teaching, and a deep love for the guitar in all its forms. I have toured and recorded with international artists including Brazilian singer-songwriter Leo Middea and Paulo Novaes, performed at festivals across Europe and North America including the Edmonton Folk Festival in Canada, and had my original instrumental music placed on US network television on Law & Order: Organized Crime on NBC and Teen Mom on MTV, through my US sync agency Castlepeak. I also teach a Country Music masterclass on Os Mestres da Música, one of Brazil's leading online guitar platforms. I work with students aged 13 and up, from complete beginners to advanced players, and I teach comfortably in English, as well as in Italian and Portuguese for students who prefer either of those languages.
My roots are in American blues, rock and roots music, but over the years, through touring, recording and collaborating with artists from Brazil, West Africa and Portugal, my musical world expanded in ways I never anticipated. That breadth is something I bring directly into my teaching. Whether you want to explore blues, rock, jazz, country, fingerstyle, or sounds shaped by Brazilian and West African music, I can meet you where you are and take you where you want to go. As a recording artist I am also a featured performer on "Casca do Ovo" by Paulo Novaes (2021), a track that has accumulated over 500,000 streams on Spotify and appeared in multiple Spotify editorial playlists.
My formal training combines structured academic study with real-world professional experience. I hold a diploma from the Nerolidio Music Academy in Como, Italy, where I studied guitar performance and theory under Beppe Pini, Filadelfo Castro and Antonio Cervellino, and I completed an advanced jazz guitar course at the Accademia della Suono in Milan with Bebo Ferra. I have also studied privately with Heggy Vezzano, Max De Bernardis and Giorgio Secco, and attended workshops with Scott Henderson, John Scofield and Victor Wooten. I started teaching privately at 21 and have worked with students continuously ever since, and it remains one of the most genuinely rewarding things I do.

Most students come to me with one of three situations: they are complete beginners who do not know where to start, players who have been practicing for a while but feel like their progress has stalled, or more advanced players who want to go deeper into a specific style or technique. All three are challenges I genuinely enjoy working on, and my approach to each one is different because it has to be.
What stays consistent across all levels is this: every lesson is built around music you actually care about. Technique, theory, ear training and improvisation are all essential parts of learning the guitar, but they sink in far more effectively when they connect directly to something you want to play. Over sixteen years of teaching I have accumulated a wide library of materials covering scales, chords, rhythm, technique, theory and style across many genres, from Hal Leonard method books to style-specific resources, and I draw on all of it depending on what each student needs. Every lesson plan is tailored specifically to you.
Beyond guitar, my musical world extends into lap steel, 6-string banjo, ukulele, bass, and percussion and drums, instruments I have played extensively in recording and production contexts. I am also a songwriter and composer. My project Cavalo55, whose music has been licensed for US television, is entirely self-written, and I have been producing, recording and editing music professionally throughout my career. That wider perspective on how music is made, from the first chord to the final mix, informs everything I bring into my teaching.
My experience covers a wide range of styles including blues, rock, country, folk and fingerstyle, jazz, reggae, Latin and more, so whatever direction you want to develop in, I can meet you there. I am patient and direct: I will always be honest with you about what needs work, and I will make sure every lesson ends with something you have genuinely understood or improved. The goal is not just technical progress. It is the kind of musical confidence that lets you play freely and expressively, on your own terms. I offer a free trial lesson for new students so we can meet, talk about your goals, and make sure we are a good fit before you commit to anything.