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
- Exploring classical music 1Course start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Edward BreenDo you want to know more about Western classical music? Explore selected topics and key works in Medieval to (early) Baroque music on this informative 10-week course. Ideal for people with no specialist knowledge. NB: Break week: 27 Oct 2025.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £175.00 Concession £153.00 - Piano/keyboards 2C
Course start date: Mon 28 Apr 2025 (and 2 other dates)Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Simon AtkinsMove beyond grade 1 piano repertoire and develop your technique and fluency. The repertoire in this module will encompass more complex rhythm patterns and scales from the grade 2 syllabus.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £139.00 - Piano/keyboards 1A Course start date: Mon 28 Apr 2025 (and 8 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Jonathan WilsonThis is the beginning of our piano programme, designed for absolute beginners to both piano and music-reading. This classic course is the perfect way to start your piano playing.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £139.00 - Music theory: grades 1 and 2Course start date: Thu 1 May 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Selena KayLearn the basic principles of musical language and notation: rhythmic values, time signatures, pitch on treble and bass clefs, simple major scales, intervals and key signatures, and the most common musical terms and signs. break week: 29 May 2025.Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £160.00 - Piano/keyboards 2ACourse start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025 (and 4 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Cheslav SinghThis third year of our piano programme begins with repertoire of a grade 1 standard. Improve your technique, fluency of reading and playing, and exploring more complex rhythm patterns. Break weeks: no lesssons on bank holiday mondays (6, 27 May 2024).Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £167.00 - Piano/keyboards 1C Course start date: Mon 28 Apr 2025 (and 8 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Lucia Sanchez de HaroThis is the third term in our beginners piano programme. If you have completed ‘Piano/keyboards 1B’ or have existing keyboard and music reading skills, this course will further develop your technique and musicianship.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £139.00 - Guitar: fingerstyle workshopCourse start date: Tue 16 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Tony RowdenFor classical guitar players, this online class will work on technique and fingerstyle versions of Baroque, Spanish and popular music.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £219.00 Concession £153.00 - Music theory: counterpoint 1Course start date: Tue 16 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Selena KayExplore the art of counterpoint, a musical technique in which two or more melodies are combined to create a highly
engaging musical texture. Over the year you will learn contrapuntal technique from Renaissance to Twentieth Century styles, through score analysis and practical exercises. The course is split into three terms, focusing on Renaissance style in term 1. Break week: 28 Oct 2025. - 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. - 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: Wed 30 Apr 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Blended (learn both online and in-person)
Tutors: Della RhodesThis small ensemble of experienced harmony singers learn, record and perform 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.Full fee £189.00 Senior fee £189.00 Concession £132.00 - Singing 1 (contemporary)Course start date: Thu 18 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Colette MeuryStart singing and explore your voice in this confidence-building course. These live group sessions online will teach you about healthy use of your singing voice and musicianship through a selection of songs in pop, rock and jazz styles. Attention is given to vocal technique and breathing technique. - Folk and pop guitar: advanced Course start date: Sat 3 May 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: David HarrisonExperienced and able players may join our advanced level class for contemporary guitar study. Live sessions on Zoom.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £139.00 - English pronunciation: stage 1Course start date: Sat 26 Apr 2025 (and 4 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: David John GwillimAre you a non-native fluent speaker who wants to improve your pronunciation of English and to speak the language more clearly and confidently? Work on clear formation of vowel and consonant sounds including the English neutral vowel and the distinction between voiced and unvoiced sounds. This term the course will be taught in the college.Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £259.00 Concession £181.00 - Exploring classical music 2Course start date: Thu 25 Sep 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Neil LuckDo you want to know more about classical music history? Explore selected topics and key works in Baroque, Classical and early Romantic music on this highly informative 10-week course. Ideal for people with no specialist knowledge. Break week: 30 Oct 2025.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £175.00 Concession £153.00
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