This fourth year of our piano programme begins with repertoire of a grade 2 standard. Improve your hand co-ordination, musical phrasing, reading and technique, and improve your confidence.
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.
Working with grade 2 standard repertoire at first, you will achieve greater confidence in co-ordination of hands, rhythmical work and a range of dynamics. Improve your musicianship, keyboard harmony skills and aural awareness. You will extend your theoretical knowledge in order to fully understand the pieces you are playing and as the course progresses you will begin to encounter some elements of the grade 3 syllabus. You need access to a full-sized acoustic or digital piano for lessons and practice.
What will we cover?
Developing dynamic range
Developing co-ordination skills in variety of articulations i.e. play one hand legato and one staccato
Technical problems, style and performance skills will be discussed
Develop practice strategies.
Repertoire will work from grade 2 towards an approximate grade 3 standard (over the course of the whole year)
Scales (over the whole year): C, G, F, D and A majors and A, E, D and B minors (harmonic and melodic, 2 octaves, hands together).
Arpeggios in the same keys (2 octaves, hands separately).
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Perform at least 3 pieces on the piano from the class repertoire
Be able to use gradual dynamics
Perform 4 major scales and 3 minor scales suitable for the level
Play using staccato in one hand and legato in the other
Develop technical exercises to deal with a number of technical problems.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
Students should have completed City Lit Piano/keyboards 2 or have equivalent experience as this course draws on material of an approximate Grade 2/3 standard. You need to be able to follow written and verbal instructions in English and engage in class discussions.
If you need any further advice please visit the Piano Department Pagewhich lists our full sequence of piano classes and you can always contact the music department directly - music@citylit.ac.uk
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
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 20-30 minutes, 4-5 times per week.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Students should have access to a keyboard or piano for practice between classes plus material, usually one or two printed books (approx. cost £10 each). To see the repertoire and any required music books you will need to bring to this course please refer to our list as follows: City lit piano repertoire books [external website] A notebook and pencil is also useful. Students should have access to a keyboard or piano for practice between classes plus material, usually one or two printed books (approx. cost £10 each). A notebook and pencil are also useful.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
This course leads to ‘Piano/keyboards 3B’. Please note: we have multiple courses at different times throughout the week.
You may wish to support your learning through a focus on reading, writing and hearing music and musical patterns. For more details about musicianship and music theory please visit our blog: Musicianship and music theory at City lit which lists our full sequence of musicianship and music theory classes.
Simon has been working as a musician for nearly forty years, initially solely as a performer with occasional composition, and then more latterly in education. After a mainly classical music training, he studied music at Goldsmiths College. His first job was at the Laban Dance School as an accompanist for contemporary dance, which required extensive improvisation, an experience that proved very useful training for his subsequent work as a keyboard session player in live performance and recording studios. In 2000, Simon became involved with adult education, and started working at City Lit teaching jazz, pop and classical piano and theory, and also as a community musician and workshop leader for Trinity College of Music, working with all ages. He has taught on Jazz Summer Schools for the Workers Music Association and Music for People, worked as accompanist and workshop leader for Mbawula, a South African Township choral project, and set up a weekly Jazz club in Hackney. Simon runs a successful private teaching practice in addition to his City Lit classes.
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
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/piano-keyboards-3b-online3038836Piano/keyboards 3B onlinehttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/1.jpg239239GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Performing arts/Courses/Performing arts/Music/Courses/Performing arts/Music/Piano/keyboards classes/Courses/Online courses228513141351136017311228513141351<p>This fourth year of our piano programme begins with repertoire of a grade 2 standard. Improve your hand co-ordination, musical phrasing, reading and technique, and improve your confidence.</p>002982746Piano/keyboards 3B online239239https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/1.jpgInStockDaytimeMonOnlineAvailable courses11 weeks or longerWeekday2026-04-20T00:00:00+00:00Some experienceApr 2026Performing artsME275B239239Piano/keyboards 3B online191167239Simon Atkinspiano-keyboards-3b-online/me275b-2526<p>This fourth year of our piano programme begins with repertoire of a grade 2 standard. Improve your hand co-ordination, musical phrasing, reading and technique, and improve your confidence.</p>0000-Available|2026-04-20 00:00:00<p>Working with grade 2 standard repertoire at first, you will achieve greater confidence in co-ordination of hands, rhythmical work and a range of dynamics. Improve your musicianship, keyboard harmony skills and aural awareness. You will extend your theoretical knowledge in order to fully understand the pieces you are playing and as the course progresses you will begin to encounter some elements of the grade 3 syllabus. You need access to a full-sized acoustic or digital piano for lessons and practice.<br/> </p><p>This fourth year of our piano programme begins with repertoire of a grade 2 standard. Improve your hand co-ordination, musical phrasing, reading and technique, and improve your confidence.</p><ul><li>Developing dynamic range</li><li>Developing co-ordination skills in variety of articulations i.e. play one hand legato and one staccato</li><li>Technical problems, style and performance skills will be discussed</li><li>Develop practice strategies.</li><li>Repertoire will work from grade 2 towards an approximate grade 3 standard (over the course of the whole year)</li><li>Scales (over the whole year): C, G, F, D and A majors and A, E, D and B minors (harmonic and melodic, 2 octaves, hands together).</li><li>Arpeggios in the same keys (2 octaves, hands separately).</li></ul><ul><li>Perform at least 3 pieces on the piano from the class repertoire</li><li>Be able to use gradual dynamics</li><li>Perform 4 major scales and 3 minor scales suitable for the level</li><li>Play using staccato in one hand and legato in the other</li><li>Develop technical exercises to deal with a number of technical problems.</li></ul><p>Students should have completed City Lit Piano/keyboards 2 or have equivalent experience as this course draws on material of an approximate Grade 2/3 standard. You need to be able to follow written and verbal instructions in English and engage in class discussions.<br/><br/>If you need any further advice please visit the <strong><a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/blog/choosing-piano-class-city-lit" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Piano Department Page</a> </strong>which lists our full sequence of piano classes and you can always contact the music department directly - music@citylit.ac.uk</p><p>All courses use Google Classroom to share materials and messages, including any homework tasks.<br/>You will learn through:</p><ul><li>tutor explanation and demonstration</li><li>group playing and individual demonstration tasks</li></ul><p>To make good progress a regular practice routine is essential. We recommend a minimum of 20-30 minutes, 4-5 times per week.</p>Students should have access to a keyboard or piano for practice between classes plus material, usually one or two printed books (approx. cost £10 each). <br/>To see the repertoire and any required music books you will need to bring to this course please refer to our list as follows: <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1a0zAXTERFh-iDm-UaX50OdGAXx3FbwyKHwx8vK2PPSg/edit?usp=sharingtarget=_blankrel=noopener" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">City lit piano repertoire books</a> [external website]<br/>A notebook and pencil is also useful. Students should have access to a keyboard or piano for practice between classes plus material, usually one or two printed books (approx. cost £10 each). A notebook and pencil are also useful.<p>This course leads to ‘Piano/keyboards 3B’.<br/>Please note: we have multiple courses at different times throughout the week.</p><p>You may wish to support your learning through a focus on reading, writing and hearing music and musical patterns. For more details about musicianship and music theory please visit our blog: <a href="http://www.citylit.ac.uk/blog/musicianship-music-theory-courses-city-lit" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Musicianship and music theory at City lit </a> which lists our full sequence of musicianship and music theory classes.</p>MusicPiano/keyboards classesvirtual191239167ME275BNONEMon20/04/26 - 13/07/2616:15 - 17:4516:1517:4511 sessions (over 13 weeks)1111 weeks or longerDaytimeWeekdayOnlineOnlineSimon AtkinsSome experienceAvailable courses2026-04-20T00:00:00+00:00Apr 2026Performing arts239239Piano/keyboards 3B onlinepiano-keyboards-3b-online/me275b-2526<p>This fourth year of our piano programme begins with repertoire of a grade 2 standard. Improve your hand co-ordination, musical phrasing, reading and technique, and improve your confidence.</p>0000-Available|2026-04-20 00:00:00<p>Working with grade 2 standard repertoire at first, you will achieve greater confidence in co-ordination of hands, rhythmical work and a range of dynamics. Improve your musicianship, keyboard harmony skills and aural awareness. You will extend your theoretical knowledge in order to fully understand the pieces you are playing and as the course progresses you will begin to encounter some elements of the grade 3 syllabus. You need access to a full-sized acoustic or digital piano for lessons and practice.<br/> </p><p>This fourth year of our piano programme begins with repertoire of a grade 2 standard. Improve your hand co-ordination, musical phrasing, reading and technique, and improve your confidence.</p><ul><li>Developing dynamic range</li><li>Developing co-ordination skills in variety of articulations i.e. play one hand legato and one staccato</li><li>Technical problems, style and performance skills will be discussed</li><li>Develop practice strategies.</li><li>Repertoire will work from grade 2 towards an approximate grade 3 standard (over the course of the whole year)</li><li>Scales (over the whole year): C, G, F, D and A majors and A, E, D and B minors (harmonic and melodic, 2 octaves, hands together).</li><li>Arpeggios in the same keys (2 octaves, hands separately).</li></ul><ul><li>Perform at least 3 pieces on the piano from the class repertoire</li><li>Be able to use gradual dynamics</li><li>Perform 4 major scales and 3 minor scales suitable for the level</li><li>Play using staccato in one hand and legato in the other</li><li>Develop technical exercises to deal with a number of technical problems.</li></ul><p>Students should have completed City Lit Piano/keyboards 2 or have equivalent experience as this course draws on material of an approximate Grade 2/3 standard. You need to be able to follow written and verbal instructions in English and engage in class discussions.<br/><br/>If you need any further advice please visit the <strong><a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/blog/choosing-piano-class-city-lit" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Piano Department Page</a> </strong>which lists our full sequence of piano classes and you can always contact the music department directly - music@citylit.ac.uk</p><p>All courses use Google Classroom to share materials and messages, including any homework tasks.<br/>You will learn through:</p><ul><li>tutor explanation and demonstration</li><li>group playing and individual demonstration tasks</li></ul><p>To make good progress a regular practice routine is essential. We recommend a minimum of 20-30 minutes, 4-5 times per week.</p>Students should have access to a keyboard or piano for practice between classes plus material, usually one or two printed books (approx. cost £10 each). <br/>To see the repertoire and any required music books you will need to bring to this course please refer to our list as follows: <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1a0zAXTERFh-iDm-UaX50OdGAXx3FbwyKHwx8vK2PPSg/edit?usp=sharingtarget=_blankrel=noopener" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">City lit piano repertoire books</a> [external website]<br/>A notebook and pencil is also useful. Students should have access to a keyboard or piano for practice between classes plus material, usually one or two printed books (approx. cost £10 each). A notebook and pencil are also useful.<p>This course leads to ‘Piano/keyboards 3B’.<br/>Please note: we have multiple courses at different times throughout the week.</p><p>You may wish to support your learning through a focus on reading, writing and hearing music and musical patterns. For more details about musicianship and music theory please visit our blog: <a href="http://www.citylit.ac.uk/blog/musicianship-music-theory-courses-city-lit" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Musicianship and music theory at City lit </a> which lists our full sequence of musicianship and music theory classes.</p>MusicPiano/keyboards classesconfigurable
