Piano/keyboards 5C

Course Dates: 28/04/25 - 14/07/25
Time: 14:30 - 16:00
Location: Online
Tutors: 
For pianists with around four years' experience. Improve your finger technique, coordination, phrasing, music
reading, and your confidence. Break weeks: 6 May & 27 May 2024.
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
Download
Book your place
In stock
SKU
224880
Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £139.00
Choose a start date

Piano/keyboards 5C
  • Course Code: ME217C
  • Dates: 28/04/25 - 14/07/25
  • Time: 14:30 - 16:00
  • Taught: Mon, Daytime
  • Duration: 10 sessions (over 12 weeks)
  • Location: Online
  • Tutor: Simon Atkins

Course Code: ME217C

Choose a start date  

Mon, day, 28 Apr - 14 Jul '25

Duration: 10 sessions (over 12 weeks)

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.

What is the course about?

Consolidate your skills at a grade 4 standard and gain experience by playing in front of others. Achieve greater confidence in hand co-ordination, rhythmical work and a dynamic range. Improve your musicianship, keyboard harmony skills and aural awareness. You will also develop your theoretical knowledge in order to fully understand the pieces you are playing.
You need access to a full-sized keyboard or piano for lessons and practice.

This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone if you don't have a computer.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.

What will we cover?

- Developing dynamic range
- Increasing co-ordination skills in a variety of articulations
- Technique, style and performance skills will be discussed
- Developing a practice routine and strategies for effective practice.
- Course repertoire will be of a grade 4 standard, anticipating elements of the grade 5 syllabus as appropriate
- Scales: all major scales starting on white keys plus Bflat and Eflat majors and A, B, C, D, E, F and G minors (harmonic and melodic, three Octaves, hands together)
- Arpeggios in the same keys (two 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 3 major scales and 3 minor scales from the selection for this level
- Play using staccato in one hand and legato in the other
- Use 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 4 class or its equivalent as this course draws on material of Grade 4+ 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?

This course comprises of three terms spread across the academic year, after which you may continue to ‘Piano workshop 6’, or you may repeat the course to gain more experience at the same level.

Please note: we may 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 Atkins

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 edu0c.12ation, 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.