Music History Courses in London and Online
City Lit offers an extensive programme of online music history and music appreciation courses with a focus on Western classical music, Folk, Jazz, Rock and Pop. There are new topics each year across a growing range of music styles and traditions.
To find out more about music history classes and to read our year-long selection of courses, please see the blog post Music history: your guide to our programme which lists our full programme of classes ordered by term, and by day of the week. You may then click on each title to read the full course outline.
Our staff are all professional musicians who teach, write, broadcast, lecture and perform widely. In recent years they have worked with BBC Radio 3, Gramophone magazine, Birkbeck (University of London), The Open University, Oxford and Cambridge University Press, Early Music, The Orchestra of the age of Enlightenment, The Wigmore Hall and the Aldeburgh Festival.
Many of our students learn for pleasure but some also come to enhance their careers: recent examples include board members of music charities, marketing and administration professionals from orchestras and gap-year students considering university entrance.
Feel free to browse our programme and do email us at music@citylit.ac.uk with any questions.
- Great works: Grieg's Piano ConcertoCourse start date: Tue 8 Aug 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Katy HamiltonGrieg was just 24 years old when he wrote this, one of his best-loved works. We explore its genesis, early performances, and why it has remained such a popular work within the vast repertoire of nineteenth-century piano concertos.Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £29.00 Concession £29.00 - Classical music: an introductionCourse start date: Tue 8 Aug 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Katy HamiltonAre 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.Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £29.00 Concession £19.00 - Exploring classical music: module 1
Course start date: Tue 19 Sep 2023 (and 1 other date)Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Karen BetleyDo you want to know more about classical music? Explore selected topics and key works in Medieval to (early) Baroque music on this highly informative 10 week course. Ideal for people with no specialist knowledge. Break week: 24 Oct 2023.Full fee £169.00 - Mozart and the piano concertoCourse start date: Tue 19 Sep 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Karen BetleyIn Mozart’s hands the concerto was converted into a dramatic genre fit for the Classical age. Come along and explore this musical transformation! No previous musical knowledge necessary. This course has a scheduled break week on 24 Oct 2024.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £175.00 Concession £142.00 - Exploring classical music: module 3Course start date: Tue 25 Apr 2023 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Neil LuckDo you want to know more about classical music history? Explore selected topics and key works in Romantic and modern music on this highly informative 10 week course. Ideal for people with no specialist knowledge. Please note this course has a mid-term break: 30 May 2023.Full fee £169.00 - The Sydney Opera House at 50: a musical historyCourse start date: Tue 12 Dec 2023
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Trish ShawThe Sydney Opera House is one of the architectural wonders of the modern world, with its dramatic white sails soaring above the sun-dappled waters of Sydney Harbour. 50 years after the Opera House's official opening in October 1973, come and learn how this magnificent structure came into existence, and what is means to musical culture in its own country and throughout the world.Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £29.00 Concession £29.00
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