Andre Correa has a theory about why so many guitarists hit a wall. They learn the shapes, memorize the patterns, nail the arpeggios, then find themselves repeating the same ideas night after night. He knows because he’s been there.
“I noticed that I was repeating myself too much in gigs and improvisations,” the Brazilian guitarist says. “That was a wake-up call.”
That realization, among others, led Correa to develop what he’s now sharing with the world: a comprehensive guitar education system called The Ultimate Guide, launching in 2026 with its first volume on the major pentatonic scale. The series is built around his FCA Method, which organizes learning into three pillars: Foundation (vocabulary building), Connection (understanding relationships across the fretboard), and Application (turning material into real music through improvisation, phrasing, and artistic identity).
It’s an ambitious project. Correa has dozens of volumes planned, designed for everyone from intermediate players to music schools looking for a structured curriculum. The goal isn’t quick results. It’s long-term development of guitarists who can think and express themselves on the instrument, not just reproduce what they’ve heard.
The book series arrives at a busy moment for the composer. He released his debut album Seasons in late November 2025, a seven-track collection documenting his years studying at Berklee College of Music in Boston. In January 2026, he followed it with the single “Histórias”, an instrumental piece that explores how stories transform as they pass from person to person, like a game of telephone, blending baião rhythms with fusion elements.
Both releases reflect Correa’s belief that music should tell stories rather than simply display technique. Each track on Seasons represents a specific chapter of his Boston experience. “First Step” captures the anxiety and anticipation of moving to a new country. “Slow It Down” addresses the overwhelming pace of his first Berklee semester. “Randy” honors Professor Randy Roos, a pivotal figure in his artistic development.
Correa was born in Valinhos, São Paulo, and raised in Campinas, where he began learning keyboard from his father at eight years old. By twelve, he had picked up guitar and began his first experiences playing in Christian communities, an environment that shaped his fundamental approach to music.
“Playing in church from a young age taught me that music is not about showing off, but about serving, listening, and creating space for something meaningful to happen,” he says. “That idea still sits at the center of everything I do.”
In Brazil, he immersed himself in the work of Milton Nascimento, Djavan, and Hermeto Pascoal, artists who demonstrated that music could be both sophisticated and deeply emotional. At Berklee, where he earned the John Abercrombie Scholarship and Guitar Achievement Award, he studied with Danilo Pérez, John Patitucci, Sheryl Bailey, and others who refined his thinking about improvisation and intention. He also participated in the Berklee Global Jazz Institute, performing in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and community projects.
Now living in Orlando, Florida, Correa balances his work as a solo artist with a regular residency at Jazz Tastings, where he continues developing his sound in front of live audiences. He maintains an active presence on Instagram and YouTube, with the latter focused primarily on educational content.
What ties all of it together, Correa says, is a belief that music isn’t really his to begin with.
“My goal is not to impress,” he says, “but to be honest and to use what I’ve been given in a way that points beyond myself.”
For guitarists looking to break out of their own repetitive patterns, Correa is betting that honesty, combined with the right framework, might be exactly what they need.
Stream Andre Correa’s music on Spotify and Apple Music, and follow his work on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, and LinkedIn.
