Discover the joy of making music with City Lit’s beginner-friendly music courses. Whether you’ve always wanted to learn an instrument, understand music theory, or find your singing voice, our courses offer the perfect starting point—no previous experience required.
Led by passionate and experienced tutors, you’ll explore the basics of musicality, rhythm, technique, and expression in a supportive and relaxed environment. From piano and guitar to singing, theory, and more, there's something for everyone—whatever your musical goals.
These courses are ideal for adults of all ages who want to explore their creativity, build confidence, and enjoy learning something new.
Explore our music courses for beginners and take your first step into the world of music.
- Recorders: return to playingCourse start date: Mon 12 May 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Layil BarrDiscover the joy of this delightful instrument. Learn the basics of fingering and articulation to play melodies both in unison and in ensemble. Please bring your own descant and/or treble. Break week: 26 May 2025.Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £143.00 Concession £125.00 - Ukulele 1
Course start date: Mon 12 May 2025 (and 1 other date)Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Martin WheatleyLearn the essentials of playing the ukulele on this introductory course. You’ll learn complete songs from the first week. Strumming patterns will be taught and applied to various popular songs. By the end of term you should be able to accompany your own singing or play along to recordings.Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £104.00 - Introduction to music production Course start date: Sat 31 May 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Max La VillaCome and learn the basics of recording and editing so that you can turn your musical ideas into completed songs you can share!Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £179.00 Concession £179.00 - Beethoven: an introduction to his music Course start date: Tue 3 Jun 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Edward HendersonLudwig van Beethoven is one of the most important composers in the Western classical canon. Come and discover more about this most famous of Austro-German composers on a short introductory course.Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £149.00 - Afrocentric drummingCourse start date: Sat 7 Jun 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Paul ChiversExplore your enthusiasm for drumming with African rhythms and their variations. Develop individual and group playing skills and learn how to apply a variety of percussive instruments to any musical style or setting.Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £99.00 - Learn to read musicCourse start date: Mon 7 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Cerys HoggBegin to read music, for instrumental playing and singing. Learn how to understand the notation of pitch, metre and rhythm. For absolute beginners, enjoy these practical sessions online. - Great albums: Kind of Blue Course start date: Tue 8 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Albi GravenerDiscover everything you have always wanted to know about this extraordinary recording, one of the most critically acclaimed but also commercially successful in the history of jazz.Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £23.00 Concession £20.00 - Rhythm classCourse start date: Thu 17 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Mark HuggettSupplement your instrumental or vocal study and improve your musical timekeeping. You will play in class, reading and writing rhythms, and work by ear.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £59.00 Concession £59.00 - Drumming: introductionCourse start date: Thu 17 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Mark HuggettFor beginners to learn the practical skills required to play drum kit in contemporary music, including stick technique, four-way coordination, listening and music reading. You will play acoustic and practice kits in class.Full fee £59.00 Senior fee £59.00 Concession £59.00 - Music, sound, and the moving image Course start date: Thu 17 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Neil LuckThis course explores key ideas about music for the screen, covering a broad range of examples, techniques, and ideas.Full fee £89.00 Senior fee £89.00 Concession £62.00 - Summer choirCourse start date: Mon 21 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Richard Hartley-WilsonSinging with others is great fun, and has been proven to be good for your health. Join us for this short course and get started over the summer to see how it can benefit you. Suitable for all levels, no audition required. - Classical music: an introductionCourse start date: Mon 21 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Pauline GreeneAre you interested in finding out more about classical music but not sure where to start? This taster course will introduce you to the history of music through a careful choice of works. - Singing for absolute beginnersCourse start date: Tue 22 Jul 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Katherine StrohmaierStart your journey as a singer this summer with this short, enjoyable course. Take your first important steps towards a healthy vocal technique and confidence in your singing.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £48.00 - Great composers: Louise Farrenc Course start date: Thu 24 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Trish ShawDiscover the musical life and work of Louise Farrenc (1804–1875), the celebrated French pianist, composer, teacher and scholar. Learn about her delightful chamber music, her important piano etudes, and her impact on French music and culture in the 19th century.Full fee £39.00 Senior fee £39.00 Concession £39.00 - Opera appreciation: an introductionCourse start date: Thu 24 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Pauline GreeneWhat is opera? And how do you approach watching and listening to it? Explore the ostentatious, sometimes overwhelming, world of opera through study of two major works and styles.Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £69.00
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