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
- 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 - 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 - 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: Fri 2 May 2025 (and 4 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
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 online.Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £259.00 Concession £181.00 - Introduction to chamber musicCourse start date: Fri 26 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Pauline GreeneWhat is chamber music, and how is it different from a Symphony or an opera? What sort of musicians would play chamber music and which periods of music history does it come? - English pronunciation: stage 2Course start date: Thu 1 May 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: David John GwillimDesigned for people who have completed ‘English Pronunciation: stage 1’ although new students with sufficient skills can join. Develop confidence and clarity, explore diphthongs and triphthongs, inflection and the rhythms of Standard English. This term the course will be taught in the college.Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £259.00 Concession £181.00 - Comedy writing and performing: tasterCourse start date: Tue 30 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Alan NixonExplore your comedy writing and performance potential under the guidance of an Emmy-award winning comedy producer/director. Alan Nixon shares an introduction to the skills behind creating powerful comedy using classic and modern techniques.Full fee £39.00 Senior fee £39.00 Concession £39.00 - Storytelling for business and pleasure 1Course start date: Tue 29 Apr 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ariella EshedAll cultures respect the world of Story. The ability to tell Stories, in a variety of settings, is a skill that has seen a strong resurgence both in the workplace and in contemporary performance. Gain greater confidence in your communication skills and apply this to your wider experience. This course will be delivered in the college.Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £229.00 Concession £160.00 - Comedy writing and performing Course start date: Tue 6 May 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Alan NixonExplore your comedy writing and performance potential under the guidance of an Emmy-award winning comedy producer/director. Alan Nixon shares the skills behind creating powerful comedy using classic and modern techniques.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £139.00 - Introduction to string quartetsCourse start date: Fri 7 Nov 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Pauline GreeneString quartets developed new musical forms and ensured success for many composers, whilst allowing an intimate conversation with their audiences. We trace the quartets of the masters from Haydn and Mozart to Shostakovich and beyond.Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £119.00 Concession £104.00 - Music history bookclub: The Great PassionCourse start date: Fri 12 Dec 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 - Music theory: grade 3Course start date: Mon 12 Jan 2026 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Selena KayDevelop your understanding of musical language by learning to read and write rhythm and melody in compound time, phrase structure and anacrusis (upbeat/pickup), transposing between clefs, major and minor keys up to four
sharps/flats. NB: break week 16th Feb 2026.Full fee £249.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £174.00 - Radio and podcast presenting: improvers (online)Course start date: Mon 12 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Allis MossExtend and develop your skills for a range of podcasts and radio broadcasts, presenting and putting a live news, current affairs, features and music programme to air, creating the content yourselves. The course is the second of three that allows students to progress from complete beginner to an advanced level with the aim of being able to present and pitch programme ideas professionally. You'll need to have taken the beginners’ course or have previous industry experience. This course will be online and supported by a media technician.
Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £139.00
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