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
- Pentatonics and beyond: improvising in popular musicCourse start date: Sat 19 Jul 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: David HarrisonStudy how to improvise in popular music. These two practical sessions are for players of any instrument. Get to grips with improvisation in this exploration of common scales and approaches to improv in pop, rock, blues, folk and jazz. We’ll look at blues scales, pentatonics, extension notes and more to help you get the most out of your improvisation.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £79.00 - String ensemble
Course 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: Sat 20 Sep 2025 (and 4 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Jonathan WilsonFull fee £239.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £167.00 - Piano/keyboards 1B Course start date: Sat 3 May 2025 (and 6 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 £229.00 Senior fee £229.00 Concession £160.00 - Piano/keyboards 2C Course start date: Sat 3 May 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 £229.00 Senior fee £229.00 Concession £160.00 - Piano/keyboards 1A Course start date: Sat 3 May 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 £229.00 Senior fee £229.00 Concession £160.00 - Piano/keyboards 2ACourse start date: Sat 20 Sep 2025 (and 4 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Cheslav SinghThis third year of our piano programme begins with repertoire of a grade 1 standard. Improve your technique, fluency of reading and playing, and exploring more complex rhythm patterns.Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £167.00 - Piano/keyboards 1C Course start date: Sat 20 Sep 2025 (and 8 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Lucia Sanchez de HaroFull fee £249.00 Senior fee £249.00 Concession £174.00 - Saxophone 5Course start date: Sat 3 May 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: David HarrisonMaintain and extend your playing skills and musicianship in our advanced course. Repertoire is pop, jazz, and world music, and you will rehearse sax ensemble arrangements.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £139.00 - 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 1A Course start date: Sat 3 May 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Paul ChiversCome and learn the practical skills you need to play drum kit in contemporary music, including 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 £249.00 Senior fee £249.00 Concession £249.00 - Folk and pop guitar: advanced Course 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 - City Lit Big BandCourse start date: Sat 20 Sep 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Simon HenryAn ensemble for proficient jazz players to improve and maintain sight reading and section work, playing music from the classic era of Big Bands plus contemporary and original arrangements. Break week 1st November.Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £229.00 Concession £160.00 - Jazz piano 4Course start date: Sat 20 Sep 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Della RhodesA continuation course for graduates of jazz piano 3. Learning standard and unusual repertoire, you will develop 'comping' strategies and your ability to improvise in jazz styles.Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £229.00 Concession £160.00
Can't see a course you want?
Add this category to your waiting list to set up alerts and we will update you when new courses are released online.
Add me to waiting list