Hello — I'm Heidi
I'm absolutely passionate about music, about teaching people to play, and about instruments — and that's why I started cajonbox.com. I once dreamed of a page dedicated to the cajon: a place to learn with free lessons and courses, to read, to ask questions, to belong.
Today that dream is real. Cajonbox is home to the Modern Method for Cajon — my step-by-step curriculum — and to the largest online community of cajon players in the world. And all over this site you can leave comments and questions: please don't be shy, I'd love to hear from you!
A few beats in my pocket
I started with a vision, a dream and a few beats in my pocket — nothing more. Playing on the streets, I needed lessons myself and couldn't find a cajon teacher anywhere. So I had no choice: I developed my own playing. This was how I made my living.
I began sharing what I was learning and teaching myself — even translating ideas from the drum kit onto the cajon — in video lessons on YouTube. To my surprise, they got a lot of views. I realised there was a real need for a cajon community and platform, so I started Cajonbox: regular blogs, videos and lessons, in step with my YouTube channel and with my real life.
Handcrafted, not factory-made
I also saw there weren't many great cajons out in the music stores. As the cajon grew popular, factory-made boxes started popping up in commercial shops all over the West — so I went the other way: original flamenco cajons, handcrafted in Spain by an artisan. That's how Cruz Cajon was born.
Cruz Cajon carried a bigger dream too: to help fund future communities, and to train children in underprivileged countries in music — giving them hope, and a future in it.
More than random lessons
My YouTube channel was the first step — but through all those years I knew I needed to create more than random lessons: a real step-by-step curriculum, so that anyone who wants to go deeper into the cajon can. I had long dreamed of creating the world's first internationally recognised curriculum for the cajon, and in 2021 I finally launched the first parts of my Modern Method for Cajon.
I'm so proud to have released Discover Cajon, Progress on Cajon, Master Cajon, and now the full Modern Method for Cajon Book. And I'm not done: I'm developing new courses specialising in particular genres, in singing while playing cajon, Cajon Workout, cajon add-ons — and a ton more exciting things.
The journey has just begun — be part of it
Join my newsletter to find out when new courses come out, and be the first to know when a big cajon workshop, festival or tour is happening. And one milestone I can't wait for: the Cajon Society and Cajon Camp 2027 — celebrating 20+ years of the cajon in modern music, and of the Queen of Cajon.
Plus 10% off in the webshop — and my personal community and journey, straight to your inbox.
Leave a comment
54 comments
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Greetings from Finland!
Thanks for the great online lessons.
I was wondering about if playing the cajon with a ring in my middlefinger will ruin the playing surface. It already has some dents and the lack is broken from some places.
I was wondering, is that ok, or am I ruining my cajon by this?
-KB -
Hello,
Your videos are great! Couple years ago I decided to learn a new instrument every year. This year I went with the cajon. Picked one up a couple weeks ago and am hooked. I have very little percussion experience and truly appreciate the effort you put into your instructions. All day I sit at my crappy desk job practicing the patterns on my legs until I can get home and wail away. Thank you.
Peace and love,
Andrew -
Hi, I just bought a cajon today for some variation to my gigs. This is a great site so thank you.
If I put stickers on the sides of my cajon do you think it would affect the sound? 🙂-
Hey Pete
No it shouldn’t affect your sound unless you are sticking MOTHERLY HUGE AND THICK stickers on your cajon that is as thick as paint… I don’t think you need to worry about it, unless the wood that you are sticking the stickers on is extremely thin.
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Hey Heidi
I subscribe to cajonbox and love the resources you have made available. Can’t wait for the DVD.
I’ve been making my own cajons for use with my scottish ceilidh band and have linked to cajon box for anyone interested in discovering more about the cajon, or who wants to buy an instrument.
The link is on this page:
http://www.shimmygrand.co.uk/gerrys-latest-hand-made-cajon/
Hope you don’t mind my linking to your site – I will continue to direct our readers to your site if you are happy for me to do so – if not, let me know and I’ll remove the link.
Best wishes
Gerry -
Todos os fabricantes querem divulgar seus cajons, querem popularizar este instrumento, mas quando tem aulas eles querem cobrar por estas aulas, sabemos que o cajon é um instrumento muito simples e versátil que pode ser confeccionado ou fabrica por qualquer pessoas, sendo assim as aulas sendo gratuitas muitas pessoas passam a aprender e querer comprar um, mas tendo dinheiro é obvio que é melhor comprar um que seja de um ótimo fabricante que um de fundo de quintal, por este motivo defendo que sejam colocadas essas aulas gratuitas. Aqui na minha região no meu país BRASIL, os músicos não acreditam muito nesse instrumento, mas como eu não tenho condições econômicas para comprar um não posso difundir o ótimo som e a versatilidade deste maravilhoso instrumento.
Se alguém puder me doar um ficarei grato.
entrem em contato comigo através do E-mail:
ed**********@*******om.br
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Aguardo pelo seu contato! -
Todos os fabricantes querem divulgar seus cajons, querem popularizar este instrumento, mas quando tem aulas eles querem cobrar por estas aulas, sabemos que o cajon é um instrumento muito simples e versátil que pode ser confeccionado ou fabrica por qualquer pessoas, sendo assim as aulas sendo gratuitas muitas pessoas passam a aprender e querer comprar um, mas tendo dinheiro é obvio que é melhor comprar um que seja de um ótimo fabricante que um de fundo de quintal, por este motivo defendo que sejam colocadas essas aulas gratuitas. Aqui na minha região no meu país BRASIL, os músicos não acreditam muito nesse instrumento, mas como eu não tenho condições econômicas para comprar um não posso difundir o ótimo som e a versatilidade deste maravilhoso instrumento.
Se alguém puder me doar um ficarei grato.
entrem em contato comigo através do E-mail:
ed**********@*******om.br -
Hi Heidi
Great web site.
New to the cajon and I can’t seem to keep my wedding ring on left hand from clicking on the cajon when I play.
Is there a trick to keeping it out of the way and not hitting the surface?
I can’t get it off my finger, so that is not an option.
Thanks for all the help on your site.-
Hey Rick!
Haha this is a funny one, and I laughed a bit reading your comment! This is because I barely wear my wedding ring due to the cajon, I have to keep taking it off to play so I end up just leaving it at home as it’s really easy to lose if you keep taking it off…. and to your question I do not have an answer, except perhaps you should try to cover the ring with a thick plaster when you play to stop the clicking sound? Thats all I can think of!-
End of Feb 2014! It;s taking a bit longer than expected but it will also be much cooler than expected!
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Band aid, pad down (striking side.) Then athletic tape on top. Works like a charm!
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Heidi: when will the instructional DVD be available? Thanks for all you do.
I have just found you after the Frankfurters tube video went viral! I have shown both my kids the video of you playing and would love to get my 11 year old a Cajon as she has really natural rhythm. Your videos are going to be fantastic for her, thanks so much for making these!
She is quite a tall kid, around 5ft 3…is there a Cajon you could recommend for children or would be be ok with a normal one? I’m just thinking of posture etc.
Thanks again, I can’t stop watching the videos now and shouting the kids over for a look. They sit very quietly when they’re watching them, total awe!
Best wishes
Lucy