Piano/keyboards 4A

For pianists with around three years' experience. Work on grade 4 standard repertoire to improve your hand coordination, musical phrasing, reading and finger technique, and improve your confidence.

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: 20 Apr 2026
    End Date: 13 Jul 2026
    Mon (Evening): 18:00 - 19:30
    In Person
    Location: Keeley Street
    Duration: 11 sessions (over 13 weeks)
    Course Code: ME283A
    Tutors:  Jonathan Wilson
    Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £167.00
    Add to Wish List
  • Start Date: 14 Sep 2026
    End Date: 23 Nov 2026
    Mon (Evening): 19:45 - 21:15
    In Person
    Location: Keeley Street
    Duration: 11 sessions (over 11 weeks)
    Course Code: ME285A
    Tutors:  Jonathan Wilson
    Full fee £249.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £174.00
    Add to Wish List
  • Start Date: 17 Sep 2026
    End Date: 26 Nov 2026
    Thu (Evening): 18:00 - 19:30
    In Person
    Location: Keeley Street
    Duration: 11 sessions (over 11 weeks)
    Course Code: ME212A
    Tutors:  David Frankel
    Full fee £249.00 Senior fee £249.00 Concession £174.00
    Add to Wish List
  • Start Date: 18 Sep 2026
    End Date: 27 Nov 2026
    Fri (Daytime): 11:30 - 13:00
    In Person
    Location: Keeley Street
    Duration: 11 sessions (over 11 weeks)
    Course Code: ME213A
    Tutors:  Jonathan Wilson
    Full fee £249.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £174.00
    Add to Wish List

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
SKU
238344
Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £167.00

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 digital or acoustic piano for 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 4 course repertoire transitions from grade 3 towards an approx. grade 4 standard (over the course of the three modules)
  • Scales (over the course of Level 4 modules): B-flat, E-flat, A-flat, B and F-sharp majors and B, C, F and F-sharp minors (harmonic and melodic, 2 octaves, hands together).
  • Arpeggios in the same keys (2 octaves, hands together).

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 3C class or have equivalent experience as this course draws on material of an approximate Grade 3 - 4 standard. If you already have experience of playing piano and/or reading music, please visit the City Lit Piano Department Page to help you choose the right level. If you need any further advice, please email music@citylit.ac.uk. 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?

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 30-40 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). Please check the City Lit Piano Repertoire Books Page to make sure that you obtain the correct book for your class. If you are unsure, please contact the music department for further advice. 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 4A, B & C, you can continue with Piano/keyboards 5/intermediate, which will offer increased emphasis on playing in front of others whilst consolidating your new grade 4 standard skills, or you may wish to move directly to a Level 4 piano workshop. For workshop classes you need to be able to prepare your grade 4 standard pieces independently, in advance. Your tutor will advise you further. City Lit offers a wide range of piano classes from beginner to advanced levels. If you are new to City Lit piano classes, please take a moment to read our Piano Department page, which lists our full sequence of piano classes.


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.

Jonathan Wilson See more See less
David Frankel 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.