This four-week Summer School workshop will introduce you to the vibrant world of contemporary piano music (20th Century onwards). From extended techniques and minimalism to graphic scores and prepared piano, this course aims to demystify contemporary repertoire and open up a whole new dimension in your pianism!
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
This course offers a practical introduction to contemporary piano idioms and performance practices. You will learn how composers in more recent times have worked developed ways to explore the piano's full potential and experimented with new notational languages. Through contemporary repertoire and guided activities, you will try techniques such as inside-piano playing, clusters, harmonics, plucking and muting strings, and simple prepared-piano setups. This course aims to give you an understanding these techniques and to give you confidence when working with non-traditional scoring.
What will we cover?
Over four sessions, we will explore:
Extended piano techniques: clusters, glissandi, harmonics, silent keys, plucking/muting strings, and forearm/hand techniques
Principles of working inside the piano safely
Introduction to prepared piano: what it is, how to read preparation charts, simple and safe preparations
Approaches to rhythm and pattern in minimalist and post-minimalist works
Reading and interpreting graphic and non-traditional scores
Strategies for learning contemporary repertoire efficiently
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Identify and perform a range of basic extended piano techniques
Understand how to approach and interpret graphic scores and unconventional notation
Demonstrate familiarity with key contemporary piano styles, including minimalism and experimental music
Analyse and rehearse a short contemporary piece with confidence
Apply new listening and interpretative skills to modern repertoire
Develop a more adventurous and creative relationship with the piano
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable for pianists of a range of abilities. Contemporary repertoire comes in all shapes and sizes, so whatever your playing ability, there will be something for you to discover on this course! You should be comfortable:
Reading standard notation fluently
Trying new techniques under guidance
No prior experience with contemporary music or extended techniques is required. Curiosity and openness to experimentation are all that we require!
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Teaching will include:
Tutor demonstrations at the piano
Individual and group exploration of contemporary techniques
Guided score-reading and interpretation tasks
The chance to practice in break out rooms individually and collaborate with other students
Listening and discussion
Short in-class performance opportunities
Short tasks may be set between sessions, such as listening assignments, trying simple extended-technique exercises, or preparing short excerpts to bring to the next class.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Music and specialised materials for demonstrations will be provided. However, you may like to choose repertoire in advance which will be listed on the Piano Repertoire Page before the course starts.
Please bring:
Manuscript paper
Pencils and an eraser
Any contemporary scores you are already working on (optional)
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
City Lit offers a wide range of piano classes from beginner to advanced levels. If you are new to City Lit piano classes, please take a moment to read our Piano Department page, which lists our full sequence of piano classes.
Lewis Kesterton is a classical pianist, teacher and writer based in London. He studied at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire with Mark Bebbington and Katharine Lam, at Trinity Laban Conservatoire under the tutelage of Penelope Roskell, at the Royal College of Music with Mengyang Pan and City, University of London with Laura Roberts. He has also studied the Taubman Approach with Robert Durso, student of Dorothy Taubman. Lewis often performs around the capital as a soloist, chamber musician and accompanist, and is in high demand as a teacher. He is currently on the teaching faculty of Morley College and The City Literary Institute, London's two specialist adult colleges, and is also a solo and ensemble piano tutor in the Junior department at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Lewis has a particular interest in working with students overcoming injuries and has a passion for helping nurture innovative 21st-century musicians, and in 2023 was appointed as a Trustee of EPTA UK.
Maya-Leigh Rosenwasser is a performer, improviser, composer and researcher specialising in performing and composing works for piano (solo and chamber), live electronics and multi-disciplinary ensembles. She graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2018 with a BMus in Classical Piano Performance and later, a Masters of Music (Distinction) from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. Notable performances include solo recitals at Kyrios Steinway Gallery, Leeds International Piano Competition, Oxford University, Bishopsgate Institute, Cafe Oto, Snape Maltings and Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival. Alongside her busy and eclectic performance career, Maya-Leigh has extensive teaching experience working with students of all ages including leading Higher Education workshops and performance classes at Trinity Laban. She firmly believes that music should be accessible and enjoyable at every level and that learning the piano can be such a rewarding and confidence building experience as an adult. She has ran piano workshops and community classes in the Pianodrome, Farnham Maltings, The Artsdepot and Finchley Youth Theatre.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/contemporary-piano-workshop3003406Contemporary piano workshophttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/piano-repertoire-1024.jpg179179GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Performing arts/Courses/Performing arts/Music/Courses/Performing arts/Music/Piano workshops22851314135115501228513141351<p>This four-week Summer School workshop will introduce you to the vibrant world of contemporary piano music (20th Century onwards). From extended techniques and minimalism to graphic scores and prepared piano, this course aims to demystify contemporary repertoire and open up a whole new dimension in your pianism!</p>003003400Contemporary piano workshop179179https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/piano-repertoire-1024.jpgInStockEveningWedKeeley StreetAvailable courses1 to 4 weeksWeekday2026-07-15T00:00:00+00:00Some experience, AdvancedJul 2026Performing artsME924179179Contemporary piano workshop179125179Lewis Kesterton, Maya-Leigh Rosenwassercontemporary-piano-workshop/me924-2526<p>This four-week Summer School workshop will introduce you to the vibrant world of contemporary piano music (20th Century onwards). From extended techniques and minimalism to graphic scores and prepared piano, this course aims to demystify contemporary repertoire and open up a whole new dimension in your pianism!</p>0000-Available|2026-07-15 00:00:00<p>This course offers a practical introduction to contemporary piano idioms and performance practices. You will learn how composers in more recent times have worked developed ways to explore the piano's full potential and experimented with new notational languages. Through contemporary repertoire and guided activities, you will try techniques such as inside-piano playing, clusters, harmonics, plucking and muting strings, and simple prepared-piano setups. This course aims to give you an understanding these techniques and to give you confidence when working with non-traditional scoring.</p><p>This four-week Summer School workshop will introduce you to the vibrant world of contemporary piano music (20th Century onwards). From extended techniques and minimalism to graphic scores and prepared piano, this course aims to demystify contemporary repertoire and open up a whole new dimension in your pianism!</p><p>Over four sessions, we will explore:</p><ul><li>Extended piano techniques: clusters, glissandi, harmonics, silent keys, plucking/muting strings, and forearm/hand techniques</li><li>Principles of working inside the piano safely</li><li>Introduction to prepared piano: what it is, how to read preparation charts, simple and safe preparations</li><li>Approaches to rhythm and pattern in minimalist and post-minimalist works</li><li>Reading and interpreting graphic and non-traditional scores</li><li>Strategies for learning contemporary repertoire efficiently</li></ul><ul><li>Identify and perform a range of basic extended piano techniques</li><li>Understand how to approach and interpret graphic scores and unconventional notation</li><li>Demonstrate familiarity with key contemporary piano styles, including minimalism and experimental music</li><li>Analyse and rehearse a short contemporary piece with confidence</li><li>Apply new listening and interpretative skills to modern repertoire</li><li>Develop a more adventurous and creative relationship with the piano</li></ul><p>This course is suitable for pianists of a range of abilities. Contemporary repertoire comes in all shapes and sizes, so whatever your playing ability, there will be something for you to discover on this course! You should be comfortable:</p><ul><li>Reading standard notation fluently</li><li>Trying new techniques under guidance</li><li>No prior experience with contemporary music or extended techniques is required. Curiosity and openness to experimentation are all that we require!</li></ul><p>Teaching will include:</p><ul><li>Tutor demonstrations at the piano</li><li>Individual and group exploration of contemporary techniques</li><li>Guided score-reading and interpretation tasks</li><li>The chance to practice in break out rooms individually and collaborate with other students</li><li>Listening and discussion</li><li>Short in-class performance opportunities</li></ul><p>Short tasks may be set between sessions, such as listening assignments, trying simple extended-technique exercises, or preparing short excerpts to bring to the next class.</p><p>Music and specialised materials for demonstrations will be provided. However, you may like to choose repertoire in advance which will be listed on the <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1a0zAXTERFh-iDm-UaX50OdGAXx3FbwyKHwx8vK2PPSg/edit?tab=t.0#" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Piano Repertoire Page</a> before the course starts.</p><p><br/>Please bring:</p><ul><li>Manuscript paper</li><li>Pencils and an eraser</li><li>Any contemporary scores you are already working on (optional)</li></ul><p>City Lit offers a wide range of piano classes from beginner to advanced levels. If you are new to City Lit piano classes, please take a moment to read our <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/blog/choosing-piano-class-city-lit" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Piano Department page</a>, which lists our full sequence of piano classes.</p>MusicPiano workshopsvirtual179179125ME924NONEWed15/07/26 - 05/08/2618:00 - 20:0018:0020:004 sessions (over 4 weeks)41 to 4 weeksEveningWeekdayKSKeeley StreetLewis Kesterton, Maya-Leigh RosenwasserSome experience, AdvancedAvailable courses2026-07-15T00:00:00+00:00Jul 2026Performing arts179179Contemporary piano workshopcontemporary-piano-workshop/me924-2526<p>This four-week Summer School workshop will introduce you to the vibrant world of contemporary piano music (20th Century onwards). From extended techniques and minimalism to graphic scores and prepared piano, this course aims to demystify contemporary repertoire and open up a whole new dimension in your pianism!</p>0000-Available|2026-07-15 00:00:00<p>This course offers a practical introduction to contemporary piano idioms and performance practices. You will learn how composers in more recent times have worked developed ways to explore the piano's full potential and experimented with new notational languages. Through contemporary repertoire and guided activities, you will try techniques such as inside-piano playing, clusters, harmonics, plucking and muting strings, and simple prepared-piano setups. This course aims to give you an understanding these techniques and to give you confidence when working with non-traditional scoring.</p><p>This four-week Summer School workshop will introduce you to the vibrant world of contemporary piano music (20th Century onwards). From extended techniques and minimalism to graphic scores and prepared piano, this course aims to demystify contemporary repertoire and open up a whole new dimension in your pianism!</p><p>Over four sessions, we will explore:</p><ul><li>Extended piano techniques: clusters, glissandi, harmonics, silent keys, plucking/muting strings, and forearm/hand techniques</li><li>Principles of working inside the piano safely</li><li>Introduction to prepared piano: what it is, how to read preparation charts, simple and safe preparations</li><li>Approaches to rhythm and pattern in minimalist and post-minimalist works</li><li>Reading and interpreting graphic and non-traditional scores</li><li>Strategies for learning contemporary repertoire efficiently</li></ul><ul><li>Identify and perform a range of basic extended piano techniques</li><li>Understand how to approach and interpret graphic scores and unconventional notation</li><li>Demonstrate familiarity with key contemporary piano styles, including minimalism and experimental music</li><li>Analyse and rehearse a short contemporary piece with confidence</li><li>Apply new listening and interpretative skills to modern repertoire</li><li>Develop a more adventurous and creative relationship with the piano</li></ul><p>This course is suitable for pianists of a range of abilities. Contemporary repertoire comes in all shapes and sizes, so whatever your playing ability, there will be something for you to discover on this course! You should be comfortable:</p><ul><li>Reading standard notation fluently</li><li>Trying new techniques under guidance</li><li>No prior experience with contemporary music or extended techniques is required. Curiosity and openness to experimentation are all that we require!</li></ul><p>Teaching will include:</p><ul><li>Tutor demonstrations at the piano</li><li>Individual and group exploration of contemporary techniques</li><li>Guided score-reading and interpretation tasks</li><li>The chance to practice in break out rooms individually and collaborate with other students</li><li>Listening and discussion</li><li>Short in-class performance opportunities</li></ul><p>Short tasks may be set between sessions, such as listening assignments, trying simple extended-technique exercises, or preparing short excerpts to bring to the next class.</p><p>Music and specialised materials for demonstrations will be provided. However, you may like to choose repertoire in advance which will be listed on the <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1a0zAXTERFh-iDm-UaX50OdGAXx3FbwyKHwx8vK2PPSg/edit?tab=t.0#" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Piano Repertoire Page</a> before the course starts.</p><p><br/>Please bring:</p><ul><li>Manuscript paper</li><li>Pencils and an eraser</li><li>Any contemporary scores you are already working on (optional)</li></ul><p>City Lit offers a wide range of piano classes from beginner to advanced levels. If you are new to City Lit piano classes, please take a moment to read our <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/blog/choosing-piano-class-city-lit" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Piano Department page</a>, which lists our full sequence of piano classes.</p>MusicPiano workshopsconfigurable
