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
- Great works: Bach's Christmas OratorioCourse start date: Mon 8 Dec 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Edward BreenDiscover Bach’s Christmas Oratorio. Learn about the forms of this work and the history behind the first performances.Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £29.00 Concession £29.00 - 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 - The essential history of jazz in 20 cutsCourse start date: Mon 12 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Albi GravenerThrough a selection of 20 iconic albums, we will study the key figures, the innovators and the star soloists of 20th century jazz, as well as some important artists you might be less familiar with. Break week: 16 Feb 2026.Full fee £269.00 Senior fee £215.00 Concession £188.00 - Great works: Arvo Pärt's PassioCourse start date: Mon 30 Mar 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Edward BreenEstonian composer Arvo Pärt (b.1935) is one of the most frequently performed classical composers of our times. Explore his setting of St John’s passion and learn about his compositional techniques.Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £29.00 Concession £29.00 - 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 - Violin and viola 1C Course start date: Mon 28 Apr 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Robert PuzeyLearn the basics of playing violin or viola in a friendly environment, using a range of fun music. Suitable for those who have been learning for at least two terms. Break week: 5th & 26th May 2025.Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £143.00 Concession £125.00 - Clarinet 2CCourse start date: Mon 28 Apr 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: George SleightholmeThis course is for students who have played Bb clarinet for at least a year. Come and improve your technique and performance skills, and explore a variety of styles and repertoire. Break weeks on 5th and 26th of May 2025.Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £143.00 Concession £125.00 - 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
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