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
- 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? - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - Beethoven's ViennaCourse start date: Wed 14 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Katy HamiltonLudwig van Beethoven’s music has come to stand for the greatest and best-known aspects of the Western classical tradition. But who was he? And what exactly did he do? Come and discover more about this most famous Viennese composer.
Full fee £269.00 Senior fee £215.00 Concession £188.00 - Use your voice assertively (online)Course start date: Sat 17 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Allis MossDo you want to sound more confident, grounded, self-assured and assertive? Improve your vocal skills through a series of exercises that will support you to become more vocally confident, expressive and dynamic without appearing arrogant. This course will be delivered online.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £139.00 - Music history bookclub: Viva Violetta and VerdiCourse start date: Fri 17 Apr 2026
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 4
Course start date: Mon 20 Apr 2026 (and 2 other dates)Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Selena KayStudy more complex musical language including duplets, double-dotted rhythms, alto clef, double sharps/flats, the concept of enharmonic equivalence, and recognising and writing common triads. Learn the technical names for scale degrees, and standard ornaments and instruments. NB: scheduled break week: 4th & 25th May 2026.Full fee £249.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £174.00 - Piano/keyboards 2B Course start date: Mon 28 Apr 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Simon AtkinsCan you play grade 1 standard pieces? Work on technique, fluency of reading and explore more complex rhythm patterns.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £139.00 - Piano/keyboards 5CCourse start date: Mon 28 Apr 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Simon AtkinsFor pianists with around four years' experience. Improve your finger technique, coordination, phrasing, music
reading, and your confidence. Break weeks: 6 May & 27 May 2024.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £139.00 - Music theory: introduction to score reading Course start date: Mon 28 Apr 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Selena KayLearn to navigate music scores and analyse basic structures. Learn to identify stylistic characteristics of music from different periods of music history, suitable for developing your understanding of music in its historical context, and to support the style identification elements of grade 5+ ABRSM exams. NB: this course has a scheduled breaks on 5th & 26th May 2025.Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £160.00 - Piano/keyboards 4CCourse start date: Thu 1 May 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: David FrankelFor pianists with around three years' experience. Improve your finger technique, coordination, phrasing, music
reading, and your confidence.Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £229.00 Concession £160.00
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