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
- Composition techniques
Course start date: Tue 29 Apr 2025 (and 3 other dates)Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Edward HendersonDevelop your skills in composing. Analyse selected techniques and apply them to your own composition project. Good music theory knowledge needed (grade 7 or equivalent).
*break week: 27 May 2025.Full fee £249.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £174.00 - Exploring the music of Richard StraussCourse start date: Tue 16 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Katy HamiltonFrom the heady waltzes of Der Rosenkavalier to the awe-inspiring opening of Also sprach Zarathrustra, come and delve into the life and works of the brilliant – and controversial – composer and conductor, Richard Strauss.
Full fee £269.00 Senior fee £215.00 Concession £188.00 - 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 - Dance 60+Course start date: Tue 29 Apr 2025 (and 5 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Francis AngolJoin our weekly dance and movement classes to improve mobility, posture, balance and coordination. Our aim is to inspire older men and women to get creative with dance and movement.Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £143.00 Concession £125.00 - Jazz harmony, ear training and ensembles: intermediateCourse start date: Tue 6 May 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Cerys HoggPractise ear training, study jazz harmony, and learn to play challenging repertoire in term 3 of this substantial course. For able players with established jazz education at foundation level. New applicants may apply to be assessed for entry by contacting music@citylit.ac.uk.Full fee £429.00 Senior fee £429.00 Concession £300.00 - 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. - Listening to the 20th century 1Course start date: Tue 16 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Edward HendersonUsing Alex Ross’s 'The Rest is Noise' as a guide, we'll investigate art music in the first half of the 20th century. This module covers Mahler’s last symphonies, fin de siècle Paris and the Ballet Russes, and Expressionism and the Second Viennese School. Break week: 28 October 2025.Full fee £269.00 Senior fee £215.00 Concession £188.00 - Saxophone 5Course start date: Sat 3 May 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: David HarrisonMaintain and extend your playing skills and musicianship in our advanced course. Repertoire is pop, jazz, and world music, and you will rehearse sax ensemble arrangements.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £139.00 - Piano: advanced workshop Course start date: Wed 30 Apr 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: 29 May 2024.Full fee £349.00 Senior fee £349.00 Concession £244.00 - Recorder ensemble: advanced Course start date: Wed 30 Apr 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Caoimhe de PaorIf you are already experienced in recorder ensemble playing, join this small, friendly group to develop your ensemble skills playing Renaissance, Baroque and contemporary music. Break week: 28 May 2025.Full fee £279.00 Senior fee £223.00 Concession £195.00 - Piano: repertoire workshopCourse start date: Wed 17 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 29th October 2025.Full fee £379.00 Senior fee £379.00 Concession £265.00 - Sing musical theatre: techniqueCourse start date: Wed 17 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Shachar ShamaiThis course explores musical theatre singing with a focus on technique. Suitable for singers and actors wanting to improve their singing technique for musical theatre repertoire.Full fee £279.00 Senior fee £223.00 Concession £195.00 - Acting for radio and podcast dramas: advancedCourse start date: Wed 17 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: David GoodersonSeeking work in Radio Drama? Explore microphone techniques and acting skills for radio at a higher level. Exclusively for those who have completed Acting for Radio Beginners and Improvers courses or have previous relevant industry experience. This course will be taught in our media studio. - Ballet pointe: improversCourse start date: Wed 30 Apr 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Dilek TaptikRefine, stregthen and challenge your pointe work. With expert guidance you will gain greater confindence and build on your technique as we explore more complex combinations at the barre and in the centre. Working safely and with correct alignment are at the core of what we do so to get the most out of this course you should have attended regular ballet classes and pointe work for at least 12-18 months.Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £143.00 Concession £125.00 - Lieder: music and poetryCourse start date: Wed 17 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Katy HamiltonFrom the late-eighteenth to the mid-twentieth centuries, the German Lied developed and blossomed as a musical genre for amateurs, professionals, homes and concert halls. We trace its history through some of its most important composers.
This course has a scheduled break week on 29 Oct 2025.
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