Performing Arts Courses & Classes in London and Online
City Lit offers performing arts courses in the heart of Covent Garden in Central London during the evening, daytime and at weekends. Explore our range of subjects including acting, (including accredited acting courses), dance, radio and screen, and voice, speech and communication as well as a full range of music courses, such as piano, singing, strings and wind instruments to jazz and pop, music technology, music theory and history
Our courses are labelled clearly for beginners or those with previous experience and you can speak to a specialist advisor to help you choose the right level. If you would you like some help or advice:
For music courses email music@citylit.ac.uk. You can also view our music auditions and advice page.
For drama, dance and speech courses email drama@citylit.ac.uk
- Ballet at the barre: online
Course start date: Mon 12 May 2025 (and 1 other date)Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Alexander SimpkinsAn online barre class from the comfort of your own home. The work you do at the ballet barre is the foundation for all the other work you do as a dancer. Improve your strength, balance and coordination. Not suitable for complete beginners.Full fee £119.00 Senior fee £95.00 Concession £83.00 - Radio and podcast presenting: advanced (online)Course start date: Mon 2 Jun 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Allis MossThis is an opportunity to take your love of radio to the next level. The course supports you with a tutor-editor to craft a pre-recorded radio programme or extended feature on a subject of your choice, mixing interview clips, music and sound effects into your own production. This course will be delivered online and is supported by a media technician.Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £179.00 Concession £125.00 - 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 - Piano/keyboards 1D Course start date: Mon 28 Apr 2025 (and 7 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sarha MooreThis is the second year of our beginners piano programme and repertoire will be of a pre-grade 1 standard. Improve your eye/hand coordination, your reading and technique. Break weeks: 5th & 26th May 2025.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £139.00 - Exploring classical music 1Course start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Edward BreenDo you want to know more about Western classical music? Explore selected topics and key works in Medieval to (early) Baroque music on this informative 10-week course. Ideal for people with no specialist knowledge. NB: Break week: 27 Oct 2025.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £175.00 Concession £153.00 - Piano/keyboards 2C Course start date: Mon 28 Apr 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 £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £139.00 - Piano/keyboards 1A Course start date: Mon 28 Apr 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 £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £139.00 - Music theory: grades 1 and 2Course start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Selena KayLearn 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 27th October 2025.Full fee £249.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £174.00 - Piano/keyboards 1C Course start date: Mon 28 Apr 2025 (and 8 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Lucia Sanchez de HaroThis is the third term in our beginners piano programme. If you have completed ‘Piano/keyboards 1B’ or have existing keyboard and music reading skills, this course will further develop your technique and musicianship.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £139.00 - Lieder: music and poetryCourse start date: Wed 17 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Katy HamiltonFrom the late-eighteenth to the mid-twentieth centuries, the German Lied developed and blossomed as a musical genre for amateurs, professionals, homes and concert halls. We trace its history through some of its most important composers.
This course has a scheduled break week on 29 Oct 2025. - Exploring classical music 2Course start date: Thu 25 Sep 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Neil LuckDo you want to know more about classical music history? Explore selected topics and key works in Baroque, Classical and early Romantic music on this highly informative 10-week course. Ideal for people with no specialist knowledge. Break week: 30 Oct 2025.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £175.00 Concession £153.00 - Exploring classical music 4Course start date: Thu 23 Apr 2026 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Neil LuckThis course explores key ideas in art music during the twentieth century. Each week’s topic is introduced through study of a seminal musical work. **Break week: 28th May 2026.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £175.00 Concession £153.00 - Introduction to chamber musicCourse start date: Fri 26 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Pauline GreeneWhat is chamber music, and how is it different from a Symphony or an opera? What sort of musicians would play chamber music and which periods of music history does it come? - Storytelling for business and pleasure 1Course start date: Tue 29 Apr 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Ariella EshedAll cultures respect the world of Story. The ability to tell Stories, in a variety of settings, is a skill that has seen a strong resurgence both in the workplace and in contemporary performance. Gain greater confidence in your communication skills and apply this to your wider experience. This course will be delivered in the college.Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £229.00 Concession £160.00 - Radio and podcast presenting: beginners (online)Course start date: Mon 27 Oct 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Allis MossWhat makes a good radio presenter? From ad-libbing to reading scripts (including your own if you want) to interviewing and reading the news. This course will help you develop a skillset for presenting, whether it’s radio broadcasting or online podcasting. The course is supported by a media technician who willl edit student recordings from each session. It is suitable for anyone wanting to kick-start a podcast or radio career, enhance presenting or performance skills or if you’re just looking to improve general confidence at the mic.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £139.00
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