Music theory & musicianship

Music Theory & Musicianship Courses & Classes in London & Online

We teach a full range of Music Theory classes for Western staff notation, and Musicianship classes to enhance your practical music skills from composition to sight-singing.

Each course is a live, interactive class with presentations, discussions and study exercises lead by your teacher. Most courses run online (via Zoom) and will have an accompanying online ‘Google classroom’ with handouts and sound files to enhance your learning between sessions. To read more visit our blog: Musicianship & Music Theory courses at City Lit

Our staff are all professional musicians - performers, composers and music historians - many with a postgraduate music qualification. Please see individual course outlines for tutor biographies.

Many of our music theory students have used our courses as preparation for ABRSM music theory exams (external to city lit) and achieved excellent results. Students also learn out of curiosity and exams are not compulsory! The vast majority of our students are learning to support their instrumental or singing studies as they have decided they would like to read staff music notation with more confidence.

We have classes for complete beginners as well as advanced students so please email us at music@citylit.ac.uk if you would like help choosing the correct level course for your current need

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  1. Song writing workshop
    Evening
    Course start date:  Tue 7 May 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Polly Hewett
    Study creative techniques to structure your ideas into memorable melodies and catchy lyrics. Collaborate with other songwriters to inspire you to compose new songs and develop songs you have started. Live sessions on Zoom, this is module 3 of our journey and new students with experience and commitment are welcome.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £104.00
  2. Music theory: introduction to score reading
    Course start date:  Tue 9 Jul 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Trish Shaw
    Learn to navigate diferent types of classical music scores, analyse musical features, and identify style and period. Suitable for those with music theory knowledge at equivalent of ABRSM Grade 5 and upwards.
    Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £64.00
  3. Music theory: grade 7
    Evening
    Course start date:  Tue 17 Sep 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Selena Kay
    Learn more complex elements of music: figured bass, melodic and harmonic decoration, writing for instrument or voice with given accompaniment, and score analysis of both harmonic and phrase structure, style, performance and directions. Break weeks: 23 March, 1, 8 15 April 2024 and 27 May 2024.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £399.00 Senior fee £399.00 Concession £279.00
  4. Musicianship 1: listening and reading, pitch and rhythm
    Course start date:  Tue 17 Sep 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Cerys Hogg
    Learn to name and recognise what you hear, to organise music notation, write it and read it. These practical and academic sessions are suitable for absolute beginners, which may include students who play by ear and do not read yet. Break week: 29th October.
    Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £139.00
    Rating:
    80% of 100
  5. Writing song lyrics for popular music
    Evening
    Course start date:  Tue 17 Sep 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Polly Hewett
    Create original, catchy and memorable lyrics from scratch. Learn how to generate lyrics from your everyday experiences. Look at structure, creating a hook and finding your unique writing style. This short course of 6 classes will run online. It functions as a preparation for song writing studies to follow.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £104.00
  6. Writing song lyrics: create and combine with melody
    Evening
    Course start date:  Tue 5 Nov 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Polly Hewett
    Learn to create or improve catchy original lyrics and combine them with an existing or a new melody.Instrumentalists and vocalists are welcome to this collaborative course, as are lyricists who have completed Song lyric writing for popular music. Live sessions online.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £104.00
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