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
- Acting: beginnersCourse start date: Tue 8 Jul 2025 (and 5 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Lawrence LambertExplore the fundamentals of acting on this practical course, designed for people with little or no experience of acting. Increase your confidence and discover your potential in a safe and supportive environment.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £139.00 - String ensembleCourse start date: Tue 29 Apr 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 27 May 2025.Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £179.00 Concession £125.00 - Piano/keyboards 3ACourse start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Jonathan WilsonThis fourth year of our piano programme begins with repertoire of a grade 2 standard. Improve your hand co-ordination, musical phrasing, reading and finger technique, and improve your confidence.Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £167.00 - Piano/keyboards 1ACourse start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025 (and 4 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 £249.00 Senior fee £249.00 Concession £174.00 - Piano/keyboards 1BCourse start date: Mon 15 Sep 2025 (and 2 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 £249.00 Senior fee £249.00 Concession £174.00 - Storytelling: tell your personal storyCourse start date: Tue 16 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: John EastmanTell your own personal story to others, and in so doing gain some perspective on how past events have shaped your life and how they will affect your future, while at the same time inspiring and informing others about life choices. The course will take place in a safe environment in the college. - Charleston: general levelCourse start date: Sat 14 Jun 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Rosaria SativaThe Charleston is a fun, easy and uplifting dance and this solo dancing course will have you moving with speed, vitality, and expression. With toe tapping Jazz music from the 1920s and beyond you will learn original Charleston dance steps and moves, improve your musicality and improvisation. A great way to get fit whilst learning a unique and impressive new skill.Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £69.00 - Piano/keyboards 1CCourse start date: Tue 16 Sep 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
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.
Break weeks: 3rd May and 31st May 2021.Full fee £249.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £174.00 - Saxophone 5Course start date: Tue 16 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: David HarrisonMaintain and extend your playing skills and musicianship in our advanced course. Repertoire is jazz and popular music and you will occasionally rehearse sax ensemble arrangements.Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £219.00 Concession £153.00 - Saxophone 4Course start date: Sat 20 Sep 2025
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 - Folk and pop guitar 1ACourse start date: Sat 20 Sep 2025
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. - Sing jazz: advancedCourse start date: Sat 20 Sep 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Laura ZakianFor jazz vocalists with a sound technique and experience of jazz and Latin styles. Develop your solo performance and expand your repertoire in this further edition of our advanced class. Some repertoire and vocalese will be taught, and you will be invited to perform repertoire of your choice.Full fee £279.00 Senior fee £279.00 Concession £195.00 - English pronunciation: stage 1Course start date: Tue 23 Sep 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: David John GwillimAre you a non-native fluent speaker who wants to improve your pronunciation of English and to speak the language more clearly and confidently? Work on clear formation of vowel and consonant sounds including the English neutral vowel and the distinction between voiced and unvoiced sounds. This term the course will be taught online.Full fee £279.00 Senior fee £279.00 Concession £195.00 - English pronunciation: stage 2Course start date: Fri 26 Sep 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: David John GwillimThe aim of the course is to further improve your ability to communicate confidently and clearly in spoken English. Designed for people who have completed ‘English Pronunciation: stage 1’ although new students with sufficient skills can join. Develop confidence and clarity, explore diphthongs and triphthongs, inflection and the rhythms of Standard English. This term the course will be taught online.Full fee £279.00 Senior fee £279.00 Concession £195.00
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