Performing Arts Courses & Classes in London and Online
City Lit offers performing arts courses in the heart of Covent Garden in Central London during the evening, daytime and at weekends. Explore our range of subjects including acting, (including accredited acting courses), dance, radio and screen, and voice, speech and communication as well as a full range of music courses, such as piano, singing, strings and wind instruments to jazz and pop, music technology, music theory and history
Our courses are labelled clearly for beginners or those with previous experience and you can speak to a specialist advisor to help you choose the right level. If you would you like some help or advice:
For music courses email music@citylit.ac.uk. You can also view our music auditions and advice page.
For drama, dance and speech courses email drama@citylit.ac.uk
- Acting: improvers
Course start date: Thu 1 May 2025 (and 5 other dates)Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Deirdre Strath ClydeContinue your development as you explore a range of exercises and acting techniques that will illuminate and enliven a variety of scripts and scenes. Consolidate techniques and deepen your understanding in a safe and supportive atmosphere.Full fee £279.00 Senior fee £279.00 Concession £195.00 - Pentatonics and beyond: improvising in popular musicCourse start date: Sat 19 Jul 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: David HarrisonStudy how to improvise in popular music. These two practical sessions are for players of any instrument. Get to grips with improvisation in this exploration of common scales and approaches to improv in pop, rock, blues, folk and jazz. We’ll look at blues scales, pentatonics, extension notes and more to help you get the most out of your improvisation.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £79.00 - Sing musical theatre workshop Course start date: Tue 29 Apr 2025 (and 8 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Katherine StrohmaierThis popular course explores musical theatre singing. Grow your knowledge of the repertoire. Suitable for singers and actors wanting to improve their singing and acting through song technique. Be guided through the basics to find the right singing qualities for this repertoire.Full fee £299.00 Senior fee £299.00 Concession £209.00 - Tap dance: improversCourse start date: Mon 28 Apr 2025 (and 5 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Jacqueline PertPractice and improve your basic Tap skills and increase your vocabulary of steps and sequences. Gain a greater understanding of rhythm, tempo and syncopation. Suitable for students of all ages with good general fitness. Tap shoes are essential.Full fee £189.00 Senior fee £189.00 Concession £132.00 - Piano/keyboards 4ACourse start date: Tue 16 Sep 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Edward HendersonFor pianists with around three years' experience. Improve your finger technique, coordination, phrasing, music
reading, and your confidence.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £175.00 Concession £153.00 - Piano: workshop 8 Course start date: Tue 16 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Gisela MeyerIf you play piano at around grade 8 standard, join one of these workshops to develop your playing by studying a wide repertoire, learning to make your own stylistic and interpretive decision under your tutor's guidance. Break week 28th October 2024. - Piano: advanced workshop Course start date: Thu 18 Sep 2025 (and 7 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Petros MoschosCity Lit's most advanced, regular classes are for advanced pianists, whether performers or specialist teachers. This course is designed to continue to develop your technique, broaden your repertoire and increase your understanding of piano playing to the highest level.
Entry to this course is subject to audition with the Head of piano. If you are interested in joining this class, please apply using the pink button; someone will be in touch with you to arrange an audition.
Break week 29th October 2025.Full fee £379.00 Senior fee £379.00 Concession £265.00 - Piano: repertoire workshopCourse start date: Thu 18 Sep 2025 (and 8 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Shelagh SutherlandIf you have a minimum playing standard of grade 8, come and explore the wealth of piano repertoire, concentrating on style and period. Broaden your interpretive skills and gain experience in performance practice.
Please note that entry to this course is subject to audition with the Head of Piano. If you would like to apply, please click the pink button; someone from the music department will be in touch to arrange an audition.
Break week 30th October 2025.Full fee £379.00 Senior fee £379.00 Concession £265.00 - Flute: intermediate Course start date: Thu 1 May 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Pamela Pecko SmithThis course is for flautists with at least three years’ experience, or grade 3-5 standard, to advance their solo and ensemble playing in a variety of musical styles. Develop your instrumental technique, tone and musicianship in a creative and supportive environment. Break week 29th Feb 2025.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £139.00 - Singing workshopCourse start date: Thu 1 May 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Siobhan BlakeA workshop class for singers with a solid foundation in vocal technique and musicianship: employ your vocal technique in a more flexible and artistic way and deepen your understanding of critical evaluation of singing. Repertoire to be discussed with the tutor. Break week 29th May 2025.Full fee £299.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £209.00 - Acting: scenes to performance Course start date: Wed 30 Apr 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Laura BaggaleyPractise and develop your acting skills by rehearsing scenes in detail. Engage with the fundamentals of performance in front of a live invited audience in our John Lyons Theatre in the final session.Full fee £279.00 Senior fee £279.00 Concession £195.00 - Classical ballet: improvers 2 Course start date: Thu 18 Sep 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Alexander SimpkinsWe will continue developing ballet technique through barre, centre work and allegro exercises. Suitable for those who have been practicing for some time and have a strong grasp of techniques and terminology.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £219.00 Concession £153.00 - Singing workshop (contemporary)Course start date: Thu 1 May 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Colette MeuryContinue your study of singing technique and learn songs in popular music styles of folk, jazz, pop, rock, musical theatre. Live sessions online. Develop your musicianship, and add new songs to your repertoire. New students with experience of singing and some formal training are welcome.Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £259.00 Concession £181.00 - City Lit a cappella Course start date: Thu 18 Sep 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Blended (learn both online and in-person)
Tutors: Della RhodesThis established ensemble sings original arrangements of jazz and popular songs. Develop your listening, timing, intonation, musical memory, and team work. New members with good music reading and aural skills are welcome. The group mixes in-person rehearsal and online sessions, working to record and perform our repertoire.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £219.00 Concession £153.00 - English pronunciation: stage 3Course start date: Thu 25 Sep 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: David John GwillimDesigned for students who have completed 'English Pronunciation' stages 1 and 2, and those who have near native placement. Conversation and the reading aloud of a variety of texts will help to pinpoint those pronunciation worries still to be addressed when speaking English as a non-native speaker. This course will be taught in the college.Full fee £279.00 Senior fee £279.00 Concession £195.00
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