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
- Orchestra workshop
Course start date: Tue 15 Jul 2025 (and 1 other date)Location on this date: Keeley Street
A fun, intensive workshop for players of orchestral instruments of Grade 6 level upwards, with good music reading skills. Please click the 'Start interview' button, follow the login instructions, and the Music Department will contact you.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £103.00 Concession £90.00 - Introduction to prepared piano for pianists Course start date: Tue 15 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Edward Henderson, Lewis KestertonThis brand new Summer School course offers a comprehensive introduction into the world of prepared piano, with a focus on the groundbreaking Sonatas and Interludes by John Cage.Full fee £89.00 Senior fee £89.00 Concession £89.00 - Music, sound, and the moving image Course start date: Thu 17 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Neil LuckThis course explores key ideas about music for the screen, covering a broad range of examples, techniques, and ideas.Full fee £89.00 Senior fee £89.00 Concession £62.00 - 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 - String Summer School Course start date: Sun 20 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Robert PuzeyLearn technique, repertoire and ensemble skills for all orchestral strings. Develop your confidence and make new string friends. For players at grade 3 or above.
Sunday 20th July
Friday 25th July
Sunday 27th July. - Classical actingCourse start date: Mon 21 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Laura BaggaleyBroaden your skills and discover the freedom to act with classical text in a safe and fun environment, playing with a range of texts from Ibsen to Oscar Wilde. Gain the confidence to tackle different styles of language and performance through practical exercises and scene work. - Baroque instrumental ensembleCourse start date: Mon 21 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Layil BarrLove early music and want to play it with more awareness of style? Explore how to achieve a more 'authentic' sound, covering interpretation of rhythm and ornaments, tone, embellishment and more.Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £69.00 - Classical music: an introductionCourse start date: Mon 21 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Pauline GreeneAre you interested in finding out more about classical music but not sure where to start? This taster course will introduce you to the history of music through a careful choice of works. - 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 - Recorder ensemble: study dayCourse start date: Wed 23 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Caoimhe de PaorLearn to play ensemble music for recorders, with repertoire ranging from early to present day. Suitable for recorder players who have been learning for at least a year and can read music. - Sing opera workshopCourse start date: Wed 23 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Trevor AlexanderA lively short workshop class for singers with some solo experience: employ your vocal technique in a more flexible and artistic way and deepen your understanding of critical evaluation of singing. This workshop will have a focus on Operatic repertoire and the techniques required for this demanding genre. - Classical singing workshop: summerCourse start date: Wed 23 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Trevor AlexanderA lively short workshop class for singers with some solo experience: employ your vocal technique in a more flexible and artistic way and deepen your understanding of critical evaluation of singing.Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £69.00 - Great composers: Louise Farrenc Course start date: Thu 24 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Trish ShawDiscover the musical life and work of Louise Farrenc (1804–1875), the celebrated French pianist, composer, teacher and scholar. Learn about her delightful chamber music, her important piano etudes, and her impact on French music and culture in the 19th century.Full fee £39.00 Senior fee £39.00 Concession £39.00 - Opera appreciation: an introductionCourse start date: Thu 24 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Pauline GreeneWhat is opera? And how do you approach watching and listening to it? Explore the ostentatious, sometimes overwhelming, world of opera through study of two major works and styles.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £69.00 - Music history bookclub: My Tango with Barbara StrozziCourse start date: Fri 1 Aug 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Edward BreenThe music history book club meets towards the end of each term to discuss novels and biographies with musical themes and references relevant to the music history programme.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £19.00
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