WEA music courses - music to your ears!

If you’ve ever wondered about the origins of music, how it came to be, where it came from and how it's shaped different cultures, then why not immerse yourself in one of our music courses.  

Skip to courses

Depending on the music course you choose, you could be learning a new set of skills, uncovering a new genre that you never knew about before, or simply gaining a greater appreciation for the work and the artist who created it. The possibilities are endless with a WEA course.

You'll travel through different musical eras, discovering the different genres, composers and historic backgrounds that helped shape music as we know it today. By broadening your musical horizons you’ll learn how to interpret music, improving your critical thinking and analytical skills.  

Enrol on a music course near you  

Whether you prefer online learning from the comfort of your own home, or you want to attend an in-person class in your local community, we have a huge amount of flexibility to suit how you learn best. This means that you can pick the environment that’s right for you, giving you that piece of mind that you can learn in a place that you feel comfortable with. 

The support you’ll receive on our music courses 

Our online and in-person courses are taught by talented tutors who are experienced in all things music and will help support you to learn about all aspects of music history. They'll help you develop an understanding that goes beyond just what's on the surface. Whether you want to learn to sing, play an instrument or be immersed in the music of different cultures, we've got the course for you. 

Our learning experience is one of the things that sets us apart, with many of our learners going on to achieve incredible things. You’ll learn at a pace that’s comfortable for you too, with a friendly supportive tutor on hand to answer any questions you might have. 

Please enter your postcode

In order for us to give you accurate results for your courses, please click on the Search options and enter your postcode and the mile radius for your search.

Refine search

How you'll learn

Your location

Please enter your postcode or town for your search in the boxes below.

We have defaulted the search to ten miles, but you can change this number in the box as you wish.

Sort by start date

Choose to sort the course start date in ascending order (furthest away dates first) or descending (most recent dates first)

Results per page

Days

Other Filters

Part of day
Level of study
Availability
Search for the branch name/location, without adding branch e.g. Barnet

Music Making: African Drumming for All

African Drumming Workshop A great way to end the working week! Whether you are a seasoned drummer or just curious to have a go, this practical workshop in African drumming will inspire you with music and culture. Our experienced tutor will guide the group to play the Djembe drums to create simple beats and harmonies. Let go of stress and end the week on a high note!

Course Information

Dates:
Fri 26/07/2024 -
Fri 26/07/2024
Times:
1:00pm - 3:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
City Hall, Sunderland
Plater Way
Sunderland
SR3 2GJ
Tutor:
Mark Barfoot
Course code:
Q00015399
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee:
Free

This course is available for WEA members only until 10 am on Wednesday 3rd July.

Singing:

If you enjoy music, then this course is for you! No experience is needed to take part in this course. This is a class for people with a learning disability. Join us as we listen and move to the rhythm of the music; or maybe you'd even like to sing along! We will enjoy some old favourites and also enjoy something new. The Reaching Out Programme classes are open to people living in the community that can have their needs met by the class.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 16/09/2024 -
Mon 30/06/2025
Times:
4:00pm - 5:30pm
Duration:
34 sessions
Location:
Hammonds (Bognor Regis)
210 Hawthorn Road
Bognor Regis
PO21 2UP
Tutor:
Josephine Allum
Course code:
Q00010902
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £189.00

This course is available for WEA members only until 10 am on Wednesday 3rd July.

Singing:

If you enjoy music, then this course is for you! We will be doing some listening and moving to music. You may like to follow some of the rhythms in the music and play or sing along. There will be some old favourites for you to enjoy and maybe even remember the words. We may learn something new, just to give ourselves a bit of a challenge! We may even compose our own songs! But don’t worry, there will be plenty of help to make this easy! No experience is needed to take part in this course. Taking part will lift your spirits and make your heart sing! The Reaching Out Programme classes are open to people living in the community that can have their needs met by the class. This is a class for people with a learning disability.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 18/09/2024 -
Wed 02/07/2025
Times:
10:30am - 12:00pm
Duration:
40 sessions
Location:
Chestnuts (Bognor Regis)
London Road
Bognor Regis
PO21 1AZ
Tutor:
Josephine Allum
Course code:
Q00010876
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £189.00

This course is available for WEA members only until 10 am on Wednesday 3rd July.

Music:

The course aims to encourage you to attend art exhibitions and/or musical events with a greater background knowledge in order to enhance appreciation. If actual attendance is not possible, to undertake independent research and hence, enjoy a more active and cultural lifestyle. The class also offers an opportunity for you to interact socially with like-minded people in intellectual pursuits. It also encourages you to acquire critical and analytical skills through debate and discussion. The course covers all styles and periods from the Renaissance to the present day. It is multi media to accommodate diverse learning styles and preferences. It is suitable for beginners and connoisseurs alike.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 19/09/2024 -
Thu 28/11/2024
Times:
1:30pm - 3:30pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Wanstead House (London)
21 The Green
Wanstead
London
E11 2NT
Tutor:
Andrew Rothwell
Course code:
Q00017607
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £100.00

WEA Membership

For just £15 a year, you can:

  • Join our popular, award-winning weekly lecture series,
  • Access an archive of over 100 past lectures,
  • Get priority online and phone booking for autumn courses (England only),
  • Receive our Highway magazine and access back issues,
  • Attend our members’ annual conference.

Just add us to your basket to sign up today!

Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
WEA Membership

This course is available for WEA members only until 10 am on Wednesday 3rd July.

Music Appreciation: The Music of the Parisian Belle Epoque: The Innovations of the French Composers

Paris between 1870 and 1925, in the period known as La Belle Epoque, saw an outburst of artistic creativity in which music played a major role. Composers such as Bizet, Debussy, Ravel and Satie produced innovations which advanced western musical development by overturning Wagner and re-writing the rule book on harmony and form. After a lull since its Romantic hey-day in the 1830s, Paris was once again the centre of the musical world. The city was now a melting pot for artistic endeavour, transforming influences from Russia, Spain, the Far East and the USA into music which became uniquely and elegantly French. In this course, we trace a period, book-ended by two devastating wars, through its achievements in verismo opera, “total art” ballet, impressionism, avant-garde and jazz.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 07/01/2025 -
Tue 11/02/2025
Times:
10:30am - 12:30pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
Storton Lodge (Goring)
Icknield Road
Goring-on-Thames
Goring
RG8 0DL
Tutor:
Christopher Carter
Course code:
Q00017603
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £60.00

This course is available for WEA members only until 10 am on Wednesday 3rd July.

Music:

The course aims to encourage learners to attend art exhibitions and/or musical events with a greater background knowledge in order to enhance appreciation. If actual attendance is not possible, to undertake independent research and hence, enjoy a more active and cultural lifestyle. The class also offers an opportunity for learners to interact socially with like- minded people in intellectual pursuits. It also encourages learners to acquire critical and analytical skills through debate and discussion. The course covers all styles and periods from the Renaissance to the present day. It is multi media to accommodate diverse learning styles and preferences. It is suitable for beginners and connoisseurs alike.

Course Information

Dates:
Wed 08/01/2025 -
Wed 19/03/2025
Times:
1:30pm - 3:30pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Wanstead House (London)
21 The Green
Wanstead
London
E11 2NT
Tutor:
Andrew Rothwell
Course code:
Q00017609
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £100.00

This course is available for WEA members only until 10 am on Wednesday 3rd July.

Music Appreciation: Shakespeare and Verdi

Verdi dominated Italian opera in the 19C with a series of highly dramatic works. He was an avid reader of literature and the great playwrights; most of his operas are derived from their works. His favourite writer was Shakespeare and he took great pride in his operatic settings of Macbeth, Othello and Falstaff. If you are a lover of Shakespeare, then you will learn how an operatic setting with its dramatic music and singing can provide an enhanced experience of these great dramas.

Course Information

Dates:
Sat 10/05/2025 -
Sat 10/05/2025
Times:
10:00am - 4:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
The Cornerstone (Wokingham)
Norreys Avenue
Wokingham
RG40 1UE
Tutor:
Robin John
Course code:
Q00017430
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £25.20