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
- The essential history of jazz in 20 cutsCourse start date: Mon 12 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Albi GravenerThrough a selection of 20 iconic albums, we will study the key figures, the innovators and the star soloists of 20th century jazz, as well as some important artists you might be less familiar with. Break week: 16 Feb 2026.Full fee £269.00 Senior fee £215.00 Concession £188.00 - Michael Tippett: an introduction to his musicCourse start date: Tue 13 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Katy HamiltonMichael Tippett was a British composer like no other, with interests in everything from Purcell and Beethoven to rock music and American spirituals. Come and discover the life and works of this unusual, brilliant, witty and beautiful musician.
Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £119.00 Concession £104.00 - Listening to the 20th century 2Course start date: Tue 13 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Edward HendersonUsing Alex Ross’s The Rest is Noise as a guide this course investigates art music in the second half of the twentieth century. This module covers the music of the Cold War culture wars, American experimental music, Minimalism and the use of technology. Break week: 17th February 2026.Full fee £269.00 Senior fee £215.00 Concession £188.00 - Symphonies in productionCourse start date: Wed 14 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Pauline GreeneStudy symphonies coming up in the 2026–27 season, we will discuss their composition, context and style, and then hear a selection ofmusical examples. NB Break week: 30 May 2027.Full fee £269.00 Senior fee £215.00 Concession £188.00 - Beethoven's ViennaCourse start date: Wed 14 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Katy HamiltonLudwig van Beethoven’s music has come to stand for the greatest and best-known aspects of the Western classical tradition. But who was he? And what exactly did he do? Come and discover more about this most famous Viennese composer.
Full fee £269.00 Senior fee £215.00 Concession £188.00 - Use your voice assertively (online)Course start date: Sat 17 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Allis MossDo you want to sound more confident, grounded, self-assured and assertive? Improve your vocal skills through a series of exercises that will support you to become more vocally confident, expressive and dynamic without appearing arrogant. This course will be delivered online.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £139.00 - Improve your speaking voice: tasterCourse start date: Thu 29 Jan 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Giles AbbottA taster class to introduce you to how you can improve the quality of your voice and standard of speech through relaxation, breath technique and articulation. This taster class will take place in one of our studios.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £19.00 - Florence Price: an introduction to her musicCourse start date: Tue 24 Feb 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Katy HamiltonFlorence Price is one of the most important African-American composers of the early twentieth century. Come and explore the extraordinary life and musical legacy of this brilliant musician whose works are only just being ‘rediscovered’, 70 years after her death.
Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £119.00 Concession £104.00 - Great works: Arvo Pärt's PassioCourse start date: Mon 30 Mar 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Edward BreenEstonian composer Arvo Pärt (b.1935) is one of the most frequently performed classical composers of our times. Explore his setting of St John’s passion and learn about his compositional techniques.Full fee £29.00 Senior fee £29.00 Concession £29.00 - Music history bookclub: Viva Violetta and VerdiCourse start date: Fri 17 Apr 2026
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Edward BreenThe music history book club meets towards the end of each term to discuss novels and biographies with musical themes and references relevant to the music history programme.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £19.00 - Music in the Weimar republicCourse start date: Tue 21 Apr 2026
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Katy HomdenDiscover the colourful landscape of music in Germany between the wars. Break week: 26 May 26.Full fee £269.00 Senior fee £215.00 Concession £188.00 - Speak Shakespeare monologues and scenes: comediesCourse start date: Wed 7 May 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Vernon ThompsonDo you enjoy speaking Shakespeare or would you like to enjoy it? Whether you are preparing a Shakespearean monologue for audition or simply have an interest in their structure, rhythm and poetry, this course enables you to work on and speak monologues from the Comedies with confidence as well as rehearse duologues/ scene work from As You Like It and All's Well That Ends Well specifically. The course is held at the college, and includes a trip to the Box Office Studio in Shoreditch, site of the original Theatre where the Lord Chamberlain's Men performed.
Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £104.00 - Music in the 21st century: the first 25 years
Course start date: Tue 29 Apr 2025Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Edward HendersonWe are now 25 years into the 21st century. This course is a guide to concert music and new composition of the century so far.Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £99.00
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