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This 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.
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
This is the first step in our beginners' piano programme. It offers an introduction to the keyboard layout and basic keyboard skills music reading and your listening skills. You need access to a full-sized keyboard or piano for practice (and lessons if choosing the online option). This course continues to Piano/keyboards 1B.
What will we cover?
- keyboard geography
- posture and hand shape
- basic fingering patterns for melodies and chords in ‘C position’
- reading music from note-names A to G
- music notation: pitch on treble and bass clefs, simple time signatures and rhythmic patterns
- reading by shape, interval and pattern
- aural awareness of pitch (high/low, intervals).
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
- understand the geography of the keyboard and be able to find and name specific keys
- read and play simple tunes (in C position) in bass or treble clef
- recognise and play at least two simple chords
- understand basic rhythmic symbols and realise simple rhythmic patterns.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
- This course is for absolute beginners: no previous musical experience of any kind is needed.
- If you already have experience of playing piano and/or reading music, please read our blog Choosing a piano class at City Lit to help you choose the right level.
- You need to be able to follow written and verbal instructions in English and engage in class discussions.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Please check carefully whether you are booking an online or an in-person course. Online runs via Zoom; in-person uses the digital piano classroom. All courses use Google Classroom to share materials and messages, including any homework tasks.
You will learn through:
- tutor explanation and demonstration
- group playing and individual demonstration tasks
To make good progress a regular practice routine is essential. We recommend a minimum of 20 minutes, 4-5 times per week.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Jonathan Wilson BMus MMus studied Piano Performance and Electroacoustic Composition at Goldsmiths College, University of London under the tutelage of internationally acclaimed musicians such as John Tilbury, Alexander Ivashkin, and Colin Lawson (currently director, Royal College of Music). During this period he won 1st place at the Blackheath Music Festival in the Piano category, and has had his pieces performed at the Saatchi Gallery, London. Jonathan is a multi-instrumentalist and is equally proficient in playing electric guitar and drums; as a regular live performer and accomplished session musician he has toured with major label recording artists and performed at prestigious venues such as Glastonbury Festival, Isle of Wight Festival, Reading and Leeds Festivals, Latitude Festival and the Royal Festival Hall. He is currently an in-demand tutor who teaches both privately and at a number of educational establishments across London.
Ana Claudia MagalhaesSee moreSee less
Ana Claudia Magalhaes is from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She has a degree in Music (main instrument Piano) at the School of Music of Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. She also attended for many years, the piano class of Gloria Maria da Fonseca Costa, a former pupil of Alexander Siloti. Gloria Maria was a major influence and inspiration in Ana's piano studies. Ana came to London in 1996, where she took the Post Graduate and MA degree in Music Teaching at the Professional Practice at the University of Reading. She has a passion for teaching, individually and in groups, from beginners to advanced, children and adults and she enjoys adapting her teaching according to the main needs of her students/classes. Although her main Musical Education was Classical, Ana has also developed the ability to improvise and play by ear since her teens when playing in bands with her youth friends and she thinks this freedom was very important for her formation as a musician. Ana plays solo but she also enjoys mainly playing chamber music, accompanied by other people. She has combined teaching and performing since she lived in Brazil.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
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reading, and your confidence.0000-Available|2025-09-16 00:00:00virtual1183084Piano/keyboards 1A249249https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/1/_/1_1_6_88.jpgInStockDaytimeWedKeeley StreetAvailable courses11 weeks or longerWeekday2025-09-17T00:00:00+00:00BeginnersSep 2025Performing artsME207A249249Piano/keyboards 1A199174249Ana Claudia Magalhaespiano-keyboards-1a/me207a-2526This 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.0000-Available|2025-09-17 00:00:00virtual1183105Piano/keyboards 1A249249https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/1/_/1_1_6_89.jpgInStockDaytimeThuOnlineAvailable courses11 weeks or longerWeekday2025-09-18T00:00:00+00:00BeginnersSep 2025Performing artsME209A249249Piano/keyboards 1A249174249piano-keyboards-1a/me209a-2526This 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.0000-Available|2025-09-18 00:00:00virtual1183204Piano/keyboards 1A249249https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/1/_/1_1_6_85.jpgInStockEveningMonKeeley StreetAvailable courses11 weeks or longerWeekday2025-09-15T00:00:00+00:00BeginnersSep 2025Performing artsME223A249249Piano/keyboards 1A249174249Jonathan Wilsonpiano-keyboards-1a/me223a-2526This 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.0000-Available|2025-09-15 00:00:00virtual249,199249174ME201A,ME202A,ME207A,ME209A,ME223ANONETue,Wed,Thu,Mon15/09/25 - 24/11/2518:00 - 19:3018:0019:3011 sessions (over 11 weeks)1111 weeks or longerWeekdayKSKeeley Street,OnlineBeginnersAvailable courses2025-09-16T00:00:00+00:00,2025-09-17T00:00:00+00:00,2025-09-18T00:00:00+00:00,2025-09-15T00:00:00+00:00Evening,DaytimeSep 2025Performing arts249249Piano/keyboards 1Apiano-keyboards-1a/me201a-2526,piano-keyboards-1a/me202a-2526,piano-keyboards-1a/me207a-2526,piano-keyboards-1a/me209a-2526,piano-keyboards-1a/me223a-2526This 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.,For pianists with around four years' experience. Improve your finger technique, coordination, phrasing, music
reading, and your confidence.0000-Available|2025-09-15 00:00:00configurable
