Piano/keyboards 3C

Work on grade 3 standard repertoire to improve your hand coordination, musical phrasing, reading and technique, and improve your confidence. NB: no lessons on bank holiday Mondays 6 & 27 May 2024.
Choose a starting date

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.

  • Start Date: 29 Apr 2025
    End Date: 08 Jul 2025
    Last Spaces Left
    Tue (Daytime): 15:45 - 17:15
    In Person
    Location: Keeley Street
    Duration: 11 sessions (over -11 weeks)
    Course Code: ME257C
    Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £160.00
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  • Start Date: 02 May 2025
    End Date: 11 Jul 2025
    Fri (Daytime): 11:30 - 13:00
    In Person
    Location: Keeley Street
    Duration: 11 sessions (over -11 weeks)
    Course Code: ME287C
    Tutors:  Jonathan Wilson
    Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £160.00
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Any questions? music@citylit.ac.uk or call 020 4582 0412

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.

Book your place
In stock
Only 5 left
SKU
226747
Full fee £229.00 Senior fee £183.00 Concession £160.00

What is the course about?

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 being studied. You need access to a full-sized keyboard or 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
- Level 3 course repertoire transitions from grade 2 towards an approx grade 3 standard (over the course of the three modules)
- Scales (over the course of Level 3 modules): C, G, F, D, 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 a City Lit piano/keyboard 3 class or have equivalent experience as this course draws on material of an approximate Grade 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 take a moment to read our blog: Choosing a piano class at City lit which 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?

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 20-30 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?

Depending on your experience, after completing Piano/keyboards 3C, you can continue with Piano/keyboards 4, which will offer increased emphasis on playing in front of others whilst consolidating your new grade 3 standard skills, or you may wish to move directly to a Level 3 piano workshop. For workshop classes you need to be able to prepare your grade 3 standard pieces independently, in advance. Your tutor will advise you further.
You may also like to support your piano playing with one of our musicianship courses to boost your music-reading and listening skills. For more details please visit our blog: Musicianship and music theory at City lit which lists our full sequence of musicianship and music theory classes.

Edward Henderson See more See less
Jonathan Wilson See more See less

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.