Music Courses & Classes in London and Online
We offer a wide range of piano, singing and instrumental workshops from complete beginners to advanced standard, daytime, evening or weekend. We also offer music production, music theory, history, singing and choirs, orchestra and jazz ensembles.
Choosing your course
Based in the heart of Covent Garden, we have a Yamaha CFIIIS and Steinway D concert grand pianos, Yamaha acoustic pianos and two suites of digital pianos. Music students have access to practice rooms for the duration of their course and we use the latest versions of Sibelius, Logic and Max/MSP for our music technology courses.
Some of our courses are delivered online. For more information about our live online courses, please see our guide to online learning.
Expert tutors
Our classes are taught by professional performers and practitioners, many of whom also teach at leading London universities and music conservatoires. We also offer advanced piano masterclasses with visiting performers and professors each year. Please refer to individual course outlines for individual staff biographies.
Studying at City Lit
City Lit students have a proud history of learning an instrument or singing from scratch as well as studying more advanced courses such as music theory exams, and preparing for advanced piano diplomas. Many of our jazz students form ensembles together and we frequently organise concerts and recitals in and around Central London.
Find a course
Browse our range of music courses in London and online below to choose your perfect option: both complete beginners and returning students are equally welcome at City Lit.
- Jazz vocal samba and bossa novaCourse start date: Sat 24 May 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Clare FosterFor vocalists with a sound technique and experience of singing jazz standards who have an interest in Brazilian music.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £79.00 - Introduction to music productionCourse 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 - 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 - Jazz repertoireCourse start date: Sat 19 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Cerys Hogg, Della RhodesEnjoy playing and improvising on familiar and new jazz repertoire in a mixed ensemble. For players with substantial experience of jazz playing, ear training techniques and harmony study. Tunes will be announced and charts sent out two weeks in advance of the course. Rhythm section places are available for guitar, piano, bass and drums. - Pentatonics and beyond: improvising in popular musicCourse start date: Sat 19 Jul 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: David HarrisonStudy how to improvise in popular music. These two 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 £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £79.00 - Folk and pop guitar tasterCourse start date: Sat 26 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Tony RowdenLearn the essential chords that will begin your guitar career, and develop the motor skill to strum pop songs. Please bring an acoustic guitar.Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £29.00 Concession £29.00 - Classical guitar tasterCourse start date: Sat 26 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Tony RowdenEnjoy this introduction to playing classical guitar. Please bring a nylon-strung guitar.Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £29.00 Concession £29.00 - Drum kit tasterCourse start date: Sat 26 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Mark HuggettSpend time with our drumming tutor, meet the drum kit, sticks and practice pads supplied. Come and play. - Sing jazzCourse start date: Sat 26 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Laura ZakianLearn essential tools to sing jazz, including what to listen for in the piano accompaniment and the importance of pulse, groove and vocal technique. This day is for singers with musical experience who are new to the jazz idiom. - Saxophone tasterCourse start date: Sat 26 Jul 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: David HarrisonDiscover how a saxophone class works, and learn about embouchure, breathing, and fingering. Bring your tenor or alto saxophone to this session.Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £29.00 Concession £29.00 - String ensembleCourse start date: Sat 3 May 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Robert PuzeyCome and play string repertoire in a friendly group, and develop your confidence in ensemble playing. Suitable for those who have been playing violin, viola, cello or double bass for at least two years, playing at Grade 3 standard or above. Please click the 'start interview' button to apply. This is to make sure we have a balanced array of instruments for our ensemble. Break week: 24 May 2025.Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £179.00 Concession £125.00 - Piano/keyboards 3ACourse start date: Sat 20 Sep 2025 (and 4 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Jonathan WilsonFull fee £239.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £167.00 - Piano/keyboards 1BCourse start date: Sat 3 May 2025 (and 6 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Cheslav SinghA near-beginners’ course for pianists. If you have completed Piano/keyboards 1A or and have basic keyboard and music reading skills in C position, this course will introduce you to more notes.Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £229.00 Concession £160.00 - Piano/keyboards 2CCourse start date: Sat 3 May 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Simon AtkinsMove beyond grade 1 piano repertoire and develop your technique and fluency. The repertoire in this module will encompass more complex rhythm patterns and scales from the grade 2 syllabus.Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £229.00 Concession £160.00 - Piano/keyboards 1ACourse start date: Sat 3 May 2025 (and 8 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Jonathan WilsonThis is the beginning of our piano programme, designed for absolute beginners to both piano and music-reading. This classic course is the perfect way to start your piano playing.Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £229.00 Concession £160.00
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