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. Music theory: grade 4
    Course start date:  Thu 25 Apr 2024 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Sarha Moore
    Study 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: 30th May 2024.
    Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £229.00 Concession £149.00
    Rating:
    100% of 100
  2. Music theory: grade 3
    Course start date:  Thu 25 Apr 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Selena Kay
    Develop 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. Break week: 30 May 2024.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £229.00 Concession £149.00
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  3. 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
  4. Musicianship for singers 3
    Course start date:  Fri 17 May 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Ruth Beckmann
    Futher develop and apply your understanding of theory and musicianship in relation to singing. This course is for any singer who has basic knowledge of music theory and would like to improve the application of theory to their singing.
    Full fee £139.00 Senior fee £111.00 Concession £90.00
  5. Learn to read music
    Evening
    Course start date:  Mon 1 Jul 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Cerys Hogg
    Begin 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.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £89.00 Senior fee £89.00 Concession £62.00
    Rating:
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  6. Musicianship for singers: introduction
    Course start date:  Fri 12 Jul 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Ruth Beckmann
    Improve your understanding of theory and musicianship in relation to the singing. This introductory course is for any singer who would like more understanding about the music they sing.
    Full fee £89.00 Senior fee £89.00 Concession £62.00
  7. Music theory: grade 5 (intensive)
    Course start date:  Mon 22 Jul 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Selena Kay
    Learn about irregular metre, tenor clef, major and minor keys to six flats/sharps, primary triads, cadences, and



    standard expression signs. Essential for anyone taking higher grade practical exams. Break week: 26 May 2024.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £139.00 Senior fee £139.00 Concession £90.00
  8. 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
  9. Music theory: Bach chorales
    Evening
    Course start date:  Wed 18 Sep 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Oliver Chandler
    Learn to name chords, cadences and recognise basic chord progressions in Bach’s 4-part chorale textures. Break week 28th October 2024.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £139.00
  10. Music theory: grades 1 and 2
    Course start date:  Wed 18 Sep 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Sarha Moore
    Learn the basic principles of musical language and notation: rhythmic values, time signatures, pitch on treble and bass clefs, simple major scales, intervals and key signatures, and the most common musical terms and signs. Break week 28th October 2024.
    Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £160.00
    Rating:
    100% of 100
  11. 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
  12. Aural training (solfa) intermediate 3
    Course start date:  Mon 22 Apr 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Selena Kay
    This practical course focuses on sight-singing, putting the musical experience at the heart of learning. Gain a better understanding of musical concepts and develop your musicianship. Based on the famous Kodály method. Break week 6 & 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 £179.00 Senior fee £143.00 Concession £116.00
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