Our Mini Music Instructors

Ali Mann

Ali Mann, a credentialed school teacher, was certified in 2006 to teach interactive music classes to infants and toddlers and has taught well over a thousand families since then. Prior to starting her business, Mini Music, Ali taught private music lessons at the Sonoma Academy of Dance and Art in Sonoma, CA. During that time she received many requests to teach private music classes to groups of parents and children in family living rooms. It was then that she decided to start her own music program and thus Mini Music was born with its first official class in the fall of 2009. Since its inception, Mini Music has grown from one class with twelve mamas and their children in a living room in Mill Valley to twenty classes a week in three counties with five locations and over three hundred families currently enrolled in the spring of 2017. In addition to teaching Mini Music classes, Ali performs Mini Music kids' concerts with her partner, Warren Mann. She also performs original grown-up music around the Bay Area in her duo, The Honeymann Band, with husband, Warren Mann, who can also be heard singing, playing guitar, mandolin and banjo on Mini Music recordings.

Warren Mann

Warren Mann loves music, plain and simple. Growing up in a house surrounded by musical parents, siblings and housemates, the joy shared around music was ever-present. This joy has continued to influence Warren's life to this day. Warren is certified to teach interactive music classes to infants and toddlers and also graduated from UCLA with a degree in Cultural Anthropology. He is particularly fascinated by the many different ways in which people learn and interact. At home within a musical setting, Warren thrives on seeing the reaction of young children when they hear and are exposed to music. Their expressions, intrigue, curiosity, excitement and joy continue to inspire him to write, share and promote the music that he has grown to love. Warren plays guitar, mandolin, banjo and whatever else he can get his hands on. You can hear Warren playing and singing on all of the Mini Music recordings, find him performing around Sonoma and Marin Counties with various bands and with his duo, The Honeymann Band with Ali Weiss.

Jalena Mays

I used to fall asleep under our family piano as my parents played jazz standards with their friends. My grandparents sang with the Sweet Adelines and Barbershop throughout their entire lives, and would harmonize sweet lullabies to me as a child. My dad played many different instruments, namely the piano and guitar, and my mom loved to sing with a tambourine in her hand.

My first instrument was the flute. My brother played clarinet. And we’d play duets together, which enhanced my love for harmony. I joined a six-piece flute choir and played for senior care facilities and other small venues. I also played piano, a little guitar, and tried many other instruments along the way. My strongest instrument became my voice. I sang in our synagogue choir and my high school A Cappella choir. After earning my BA, I joined the talented and creative Occidental Community Choir. I later traveled with the California Redwood Chorale and performed in gothic cathedrals and other stunning locations in Austria and Hungary.

When my son Simon was born, I needed a way to bring music back into my life and wanted to help him develop a love for music. I walked through Ives park one morning, carrying my four-month-old baby, and came upon Warren and Ali. They were laying out blankets, baskets full of colorful scarves, and instruments. I learned they were setting up for Mini Music. I signed up for the next session and we’ve been attending Mini Music ever since. The class stimulated Simon and gave me invaluable tools as a parent. Learning ways to sing together has enlivened our home, and created joy, relaxation, and deep bonding through music. Singing Mini Music lullabies at bedtime has especially been healing and comforting.

I am passionate about, and believe in the magic of Mini Music, and I look forward to sharing my love for music with you. Let's create music and have fun together!