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1327 Webster Street, Alameda, CA 94501Tuesday to Friday: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. · Saturday: 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. · Sunday and Monday: ClosedTuesday to Friday: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.(510) 555-0107
Motif
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Family music classes · Alameda, California

Scarves, songs and
a grown-up beside you

Motif is a family music school for ages 0 to 6. Every class is singing, moving and playing small instruments together, with a grown-up on the rug beside each child.

Try a classSee the week
  • Ages 0 to 6
  • A grown-up in every class
  • Classes of 30 or 45 minutes
Toddlers and grown-ups sitting on a rug in a bright room, playing with rainbow scarves, with a baby laughing under a green scarf

Class series

One series for each age, ten weeks at a time

A series is a weekly class with the same group and the same teacher. Our figures are on the enrollment page, and we go over them when you try a class.

  • Babies and grown-ups

    Ten weeks

    Lap songs, rocking and soft scarves for babies from birth to 12 months, held close by a grown-up.

    • A 30-minute class once a week
    • The same group and teacher all series
    • Lullabies, lap songs and gentle movement
    • A missed class can be made up in another baby class
    Term:
    Fall, winter and spring series
    Cancellation:
    Tell us a week before the next series begins to stop at the end of this one.
    Refunds:
    What is left of a series in progress is set out in writing when you enroll.
    Try a class

  • Toddlers and grown-ups

    Ten weeks

    Dancing, shakers, hand drums and singing games for ages 1 to 3, with a grown-up on the rug beside each child.

    • A 45-minute class once a week
    • The same group and teacher all series
    • Scarves, shakers, bells and hand drums
    • A missed class can be made up in another toddler class
    Term:
    Fall, winter and spring series
    Cancellation:
    Tell us a week before the next series begins to stop at the end of this one.
    Refunds:
    What is left of a series in progress is set out in writing when you enroll.
    Try a class

  • Preschool singers

    Ten weeks

    Singing games, rhythm and small instruments for ages 3 to 6, with a grown-up close by.

    • A 45-minute class once a week
    • The same group and teacher all series
    • Songs, rhythm games and simple instruments
    • A missed class can be made up in another preschool class
    Term:
    Fall, winter and spring series
    Cancellation:
    Tell us a week before the next series begins to stop at the end of this one.
    Refunds:
    What is left of a series in progress is set out in writing when you enroll.
    Try a class

Classes by age

Which class, and when

Every class has a grown-up on the rug beside each child. Find your child's age, then a time that suits you.

Which class, and when
AgesClass sizeWeekday mornings9:30 to 11:15 a.m.Tuesday to FridayWeekday afternoons3:45 to 4:45 p.m.Tuesday to ThursdaySaturday9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.Saturday
Babies and grown-upsBirth to 12 monthsA 30-minute class8OfferedFriday is fullNot offeredOffered
Toddlers and grown-ups1 to 3 yearsA 45-minute class10OfferedOfferedWaitlist
Preschool singers3 to 6 yearsA 45-minute class12OfferedWaitlistWednesday has roomOffered

Fees and what each is for

Registration
Holds a place and sets up your family's file.
Take-home instruments
A set of shakers and bells for home, only if you would like one.
Read how tuition works

Sample programs.

In the room

What a class is like

Everyone sits on the rug, grown-ups and children together. The teacher plays a guitar or a hand drum, and the class sings, rocks, claps and moves. There is no stage and nobody watches: everyone joins in, at their own pace.

  • Scarves, shakers and hand drums

  • A hello song and a goodbye song

  • A quiet moment in the middle

Classes by age
A circle of babies, toddlers and grown-ups on a soft rug while a teacher plays a hand drum, with shakers and scarves in small hands

The week

The week, day by day

Babies come for 30 minutes, toddlers and preschoolers for 45. Pick an age to see the classes that fit.

Fall series

Showing 15 of 15

Tuesday

  • 9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

    Babies and grown-ups

    Chieko Imamura · Studio B

    Birth to 12 monthsOpenTry a class

  • 10:15 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

    Toddlers and grown-ups

    Shanika Battiste · Studio A

    1 to 3 yearsOpenTry a class

  • 3:45 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

    Preschool singers

    Manoj Warrier · Studio A

    3 to 6 yearsWaitlistTry a class

Wednesday

  • 9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

    Babies and grown-ups

    Shanika Battiste · Studio B

    Birth to 12 monthsOpenTry a class

  • 10:15 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

    Toddlers and grown-ups

    Jahir Cantera · Studio A

    1 to 3 yearsOpenTry a class

  • 4:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.

    Preschool singers

    Hanne Lindner · Studio A

    3 to 6 yearsOpenTry a class

Thursday

  • 9:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.

    Toddlers and grown-ups

    Chieko Imamura · Studio A

    1 to 3 yearsOpenTry a class

  • 10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

    Preschool singers

    Hanne Lindner · Studio A

    3 to 6 yearsOpenTry a class

  • 3:45 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

    Toddlers and grown-ups

    Jahir Cantera · Studio A

    1 to 3 yearsOpenTry a class

Friday

  • 9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

    Babies and grown-ups

    Shanika Battiste · Studio B

    Birth to 12 monthsFull

  • 10:15 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

    Toddlers and grown-ups

    Manoj Warrier · Studio A

    1 to 3 yearsOpenTry a class

Saturday

  • 9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

    Babies and grown-ups

    Chieko Imamura · Studio B

    Birth to 12 monthsOpenTry a class

  • 9:45 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

    Toddlers and grown-ups

    Shanika Battiste · Studio A

    1 to 3 yearsWaitlistTry a class

  • 10:45 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

    Preschool singers

    Manoj Warrier · Studio A

    3 to 6 yearsOpenTry a class

  • 11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

    Preschool singers

    Hanne Lindner · Studio A

    3 to 6 yearsOpenTry a class

Sample classes.

Times change a little from series to series.

Our teachers

Meet the five teachers

Five of us share two studios, and each of us has our own days.

All the teachers
  • Shanika Battiste, director and teacher of babies and toddlers, seated behind a pair of congas

    Shanika Battiste

    Director · Babies and toddlers · Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat

    Shanika started Motif so her neighbors would have a class where singing comes first. She teaches the baby and toddler classes and plays guitar and hand drum. She says every grown-up can sing, and she means it.

  • Chieko Imamura, teacher of babies and lullabies, seated at a piano

    Chieko Imamura

    Babies and lullabies · Tue, Thu, Sat

    Chieko teaches the baby classes and the quiet, rocking half of every toddler class. She plays piano and sings lullabies from many homes, including the ones families bring with them.

  • Manoj Warrier, teacher of hand percussion and movement, standing at a keyboard in a bright studio

    Manoj Warrier

    Hand percussion and movement · Tue, Fri, Sat

    Manoj teaches the toddler and preschool classes with hand drums, shakers and a good deal of marching. He plays hand percussion and keyboard, and he likes a class that ends a little out of breath.

  • Hanne Lindner, teacher of preschool singers, standing beside an upright piano

    Hanne Lindner

    Preschool singers · Wed, Thu, Sat

    Hanne teaches the preschool singers and leads the family sing-alongs. She plays piano and writes singing games for children who are just learning to wait for a turn.

  • Jahir Cantera, guitar and ukulele teacher, seated with a nylon-string guitar

    Jahir Cantera

    Guitar and ukulele · Wed, Thu

    Jahir plays guitar and ukulele in the toddler and preschool classes and teaches the singing games he learned as a boy. He keeps a spare ukulele by the door for small hands.

The year

Family sing-alongs and the year at Motif

Three times a year, every class and every family come together for a sing-along. In between, a new ten-week series begins each term.

This school year

  • Open class week

    Late August · Sit in on a class before the fall series begins.

  • Fall series begins

    Early September · Ten weeks, ending before Thanksgiving week.

  • Fall family sing-along

    Mid October · A Saturday morning for families of every age. Bring a grandparent.

  • Closed for Thanksgiving week

    Late November

  • Winter family sing-along

    Mid December · Winter songs, and a quiet one to finish.

  • Winter break

    Late December to early January · Classes start again in the middle of January.

  • Winter series begins

    Mid January · A new ten-week series for every age.

  • Spring series begins

    Early April · Ten weeks, finishing in June.

  • Spring family sing-along

    Late May · Out on the lawn if the weather is kind.

Sample dates.

Months can shift a little from series to series.

Questions from families

What age can my child start?

Babies can join from birth. Classes are for babies up to 12 months, toddlers from 1 to 3 years and preschool singers from 3 to 6. If your child is on the edge between two, try a class and we will suggest one.

Who comes to class with my child?

A grown-up stays on the rug for every class: a parent, a grandparent, a nanny or another caregiver. Ask us about brothers and sisters when you try a class.

Does my child need an instrument?

No. We bring scarves, shakers, bells and hand drums. At home, your voice is enough.

What if my child only watches?

Children join in at their own pace. Some watch for a few weeks before they pick up a shaker, and that is fine. Sit beside them and sing.

Come and sing a morning with us

Try a class and sit on the rug with your child. We will suggest the class that suits their age.

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