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
- Jazz today
Course start date: Wed 5 Nov 2025Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Albi GravenerAn exploration of jazz music as we find it today and as it has developed over the past forty years.Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £119.00 Concession £104.00 - Music analysis for listeners: Messiah Part ICourse start date: Wed 10 Dec 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Pauline GreeneHandel’s Messiah, composed in1741, is a stalwart work for concert programmers everywhere at Christmas and Easter. We look at Part I, from the beginning to the duet and chorus ‘His yoke is easy’, briefly putting the work in context and examining its forms and overall structure. We will then analyse a passage of recitative, an aria, and a chorus, in order to show how the composer created his effects and how effective this was for audiences then and now. *This course includes a 60 minute break.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £59.00 Concession £59.00 - Symphonies in productionCourse start date: Wed 14 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Pauline GreeneStudy symphonies coming up in the 2026–27 season, we will discuss their composition, context and style, and then hear a selection ofmusical examples. NB Break week: 30 May 2027.Full fee £269.00 Senior fee £215.00 Concession £188.00 - 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 - Music theory: grade 4 Course start date: Wed 30 Apr 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
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: 28th May 2024.Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £160.00 - Speak Shakespeare monologues and scenes: comediesCourse start date: Wed 7 May 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Vernon ThompsonDo you enjoy speaking Shakespeare or would you like to enjoy it? Whether you are preparing a Shakespearean monologue for audition or simply have an interest in their structure, rhythm and poetry, this course enables you to work on and speak monologues from the Comedies with confidence as well as rehearse duologues/ scene work from As You Like It and All's Well That Ends Well specifically. The course is held at the college, and includes a trip to the Box Office Studio in Shoreditch, site of the original Theatre where the Lord Chamberlain's Men performed.
Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £104.00 - Piano/keyboards 2B Course start date: Wed 30 Apr 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Simon AtkinsCan you play grade 1 standard pieces? Work on technique, fluency of reading and explore more complex rhythm patterns.Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £160.00 - Recorders 2C Course start date: Wed 30 Apr 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Caoimhe de PaorA course for recorder players to develop technique further, explore repertoire, and learn how to play both solo and in ensemble. Suitable for those with at least one year's playing experience, and confident in music-reading. Break week: 28 May 2025.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £139.00 - Piano/keyboards 1F Course start date: Wed 30 Apr 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ana Claudia MagalhaesThis is the final term of our beginners piano programme. For pianists who can play tunes and chords in simple keys, play legato and staccato and read music. NB: no lessons on bank holiday Mondays 6 & 27 May 2024.Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £160.00
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