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
    Rating:
    100% of 100
  3. 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
  4. Pentatonics and beyond: improvising in popular music
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sat 6 Jul 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  David Harrison
    Study how to improvise in popular music. These practical sessions are for players of any instrument. Get to grips with improvisation in this exploration of common scales and approaches to improv in pop, rock, blues, folk and jazz. We’ll look at blues scales, pentatonics, extension notes and more to help you get the most out of your improvisation.
    Full fee £109.00 Senior fee £109.00 Concession £76.00
  5. 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
  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. Ear training
    Evening
    Course start date:  Wed 17 Jul 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Della Rhodes
    Enhance your aural awareness of the mechanics of music and improve your recognition of, and response to, music in practice. Sing intervals, scales and harmonies on this short practical course.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £49.00 Senior fee £49.00 Concession £49.00
  8. 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
  9. Musicianship: Kodály workshop
    Course start date:  Mon 29 Jul 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Selena Kay
    An introductory course for all musicians to improve their aural skills, sight-singing and general musicianship using this renowned teaching method with an experienced and qualified tutor.
    Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £64.00
  10. 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
  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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