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
- Sing jazz 1Course start date: Sat 20 Sep 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Laura ZakianLearn some standard repertoire and jazz protocols. Explore style, develop good timing and phrasing, breath control, and extend your vocal range. Not suitable for beginner singers but ideal for singers who are new to the jazz idiom.Full fee £279.00 Senior fee £279.00 Concession £195.00 - Saxophone 1ACourse start date: Sat 20 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sarha MooreIdeal if you are a beginner or have recently begun to study the saxophone. Any other musical experience will be of advantage and you will need a tenor or alto saxophone for class. You will learn to play and to read music. Repertoire will comprise popular sounds, jazz and world music. - Saxophone 3ACourse start date: Sat 20 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: David HarrisonIdeal if you are at intermediate level playing your saxophone, can read and improvise, have some understanding of harmony, and experience of performing. Our repertoire will be pop, jazz and World music. Technical work on the instrument will be combined with solo playing, learning tunes, improvisation and musicianship training.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £219.00 Concession £153.00 - Solo swing and jive: generalCourse start date: Sat 20 Sep 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Rosaria SativaDo you enjoy vintage social dancing events but don't have a partner? Looking to nail those moves and increase your freestyle confidence? Then this is the course for you! We will work on foot-work sequences and steps of authentic jazz dancing and Rhythm & Blues Strolls, progressing to faster pace flick kicks and turns for jive and Rock ’n' Roll dances. No partner required! This is a general level course suitable for beginners and improvers.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £90.00 - Saxophone 4Course start date: Sat 20 Sep 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Sarha MooreIf you're an experienced saxophone player, come and extend your technique, musicianship and performance skills. The emphasis will be on playing pop, jazz, world music, developing your musicianship, and improvisation.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £219.00 Concession £153.00 - Drumming 1ACourse start date: Sat 20 Sep 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Paul ChiversCome and learn the practical skills you need to play drumkit in contemporary music: stick technique, four-way coordination, listening and music reading. You will play acoustic and practice kits in class. Please bring your own sticks.Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £259.00 Concession £259.00 - Folk and pop guitar: advancedCourse start date: Sat 3 May 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: David HarrisonExperienced and able players may join our advanced level class for contemporary guitar study. Live sessions on Zoom.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £139.00 - Folk and pop guitar 1ACourse start date: Sat 20 Sep 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Tony RowdenLearn about tuning your instrument, strumming and picking, simple chords for pop songs, scales and chord symbols on this starter course. Use any acoustic guitar for this introductory course in playing pop, rock, blues and folk styles.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £219.00 Concession £153.00 - Drumming 1BCourse start date: Sat 20 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Paul ChiversFor graduates of drumming 1A and drum students with equivalent (10-12 lessons) experience. We will play and analyse classic grooves, and work to improve our co-ordinated independence in application of rudiments to the drum kit.Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £259.00 Concession £259.00 - The holistic voiceCourse start date: Sat 20 Sep 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Kate MontagueYour voice should be an extension of your character. This Saturday workshop offers accessible and empowering mind-body techniques to deepen your awareness and connection to your voice so that the message you give out is true to your intention.Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £69.00 - Jazz harmony and ear training 1ACourse start date: Sat 20 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Cerys HoggWe will study time, form, root movement and harmonic progression, chord types, intervals, scales and modes. Learn transcribed solos and participate in playing sessions. For players with a working knowledge of harmony and instrumental proficiency beyond grade 5. Please contact music@citylit.ac.uk to arrange to be assessed for entry to this course. Break week: 1st November. - Drumming 4ACourse start date: Sat 20 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Mark HuggettOur advanced class is a great chance to practise all the essential popular grooves. Enhance and maintain your technique, listening, reading and stamina. Break week: 1st November.Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £259.00 Concession £259.00 - Jazz piano 2Course start date: Sat 20 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: David FrankelTry more difficult tunes and conventions with more practice at 'comping' and improvising. You will need a working knowledge of jazz harmony in order to develop your playing on this course. Ideal for graduates of jazz piano 1.Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £229.00 Concession £160.00 - Drumming 2ACourse start date: Sat 20 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Mark HuggettWelcome to the second year of drum class: work to improve your coordinated independence and application of rudiments to the kit. Includes reading drum notation. Break week: 1st November.Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £259.00 Concession £259.00 - Jazz harmony and ear training 3ACourse start date: Sat 20 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Della RhodesIn this advanced course you will develop your aural, harmonic and rhythmic sense through the study of jazz standards, improvisation and transcription. Most sessions will involve playing as an ensemble, guided by aural skill and academic knowledge.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £219.00 Concession £153.00
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