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.
- Piano: return to playingCourse start date: Fri 9 May 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Gary PrestonDid you once play the piano? Are you thinking of returning to playing? This short course, taught in a friendly and supportive environment, will help you refresh your dormant skills and re-kindle your passion for playing.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £139.00 - Recorders: return to playingCourse start date: Mon 12 May 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Layil BarrDiscover the joy of this delightful instrument. Learn the basics of fingering and articulation to play melodies both in unison and in ensemble. Please bring your own descant and/or treble. Break week: 26 May 2025.Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £143.00 Concession £125.00 - Early music ensemble
Course start date: Mon 12 May 2025 (and 1 other date)Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Layil BarrAn ensemble for musicians interested in learning the skills of playing consort music in different instrumental combinations (broken consort). It will be a journey exploring the variety of sound combinations in 17th century repertoire. Break week: 26 May 2025.Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £160.00 - Ukulele 2Course start date: Mon 12 May 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Jake RodriguesIf you have already begun your ukulele career, come and learn new songs and tricks, chord theory, picking and split strokes, and apply these to popular and vintage tunes. Enjoy learning and playing in a group. Classes will include singing along!Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £104.00 - Ukulele 1 Course start date: Mon 12 May 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Martin WheatleyLearn the essentials of playing the ukulele on this introductory course. You’ll learn complete songs from the first week. Strumming patterns will be taught and applied to various popular songs. By the end of term you should be able to accompany your own singing or play along to recordings.Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £104.00 - Keyboard harmony and performance workshopCourse start date: Mon 12 May 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ricardo GosalboA practical workshop integrating keyboard harmony with piano performance skills. Taught in-person on a grand piano, this workshop is aimed at classical pianists with a music theory standard of grade 6+ and good sheet music reading skills. We shall deepen our understanding of musical works by studying the harmonic constructs that underpin them, tackle the technical challenges they present, and explore how harmonic analysis can inform our interpretative choices. NB: Break week 5 & 26 May 2025.Full fee £329.00 Senior fee £263.00 Concession £230.00 - Keyboard harmony 5DCourse start date: Mon 12 May 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ricardo GosalboA practical workshop for classical pianists who are new to studying harmony but have piano skills of grade 5 or higher. Broaden your understanding of piano repertoire by studying the underpinning harmonic constructs. It is recommended you have completed all other modules (A, B and C) in preparation for this class. NB: no classes on bank holiday Mondays (5 & 26 May 2025).Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £160.00 - Sing musical theatre: ensembleCourse start date: Wed 21 May 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Katherine StrohmaierLearn to sing and perform ensemble numbers from popular Broadway and West End shows, from standard classics to modern musicals. Gain confidence performing as a group, and enjoy singing solo within an ensemble.Full fee £249.00 Senior fee £249.00 Concession £174.00 - Introduction to music production Course start date: Tue 3 Mar 2026 (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 £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £199.00 - Performance anxiety workshop for singersCourse start date: Tue 3 Jun 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Katherine StrohmaierA workshop designed to help singers overcome barriers to performing thorugh a series of reflective and practical exercises. Learn how to manage your Music Performance Anxiety (MPA) and be on your way to becoming a more confident and assured performer!Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £90.00 - Beethoven: an introduction to his music Course start date: Tue 3 Jun 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Edward HendersonLudwig van Beethoven is one of the most important composers in the Western classical canon. Come and discover more about this most famous of Austro-German composers on a short introductory course.Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £149.00 - Afrocentric drummingCourse start date: Fri 10 Oct 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Paul ChiversExplore and indulge your enthusiasm for drumming with African rhythms and their variations. Enjoy improving your individual and group playing skills and learn how to apply a variety of percussive instruments to any musical style or setting.Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £149.00 - Improvisation in classical music Course start date: Fri 13 Jun 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Lindsey FillinghamSurvey the history of improvisation in Classical Music from Plainsong to Paganini on this short music history course. Break week: no lesson on 27th June.Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £69.00 - Mixing and music production techniques Course start date: Wed 18 Jun 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Max La VillaIdeal if you know the basics of music production but want your music to sound more polished and professional. Tips and tricks for mixing, using compressors, limiters, EQ, reverb and other devices.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £199.00 - Sampling, beat-making and synth programming Course start date: Tue 24 Jun 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Max La VillaLearn to create your own more original tracks by recording and manipulating samples, beats and synth sounds to individualise your sound.Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £179.00 Concession £179.00
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