Born into rhythm
Heidi Joubert was born in Pretoria, South Africa, into a house where music never stopped: a pianist mother practising classical pieces in the background, and her brothers had a grunge rock band & a rehearsal space in the garage where Heidi played her first beat on the drum kit at age four — to a Nirvana song.
Classical piano lessons at six, drums and saxophone as a teenager — but singing was Heidi's first love. She doesn't remember a time she didn't sing or write her own songs. She completed a three-year music matric diploma in two years, graduating as the top drummer, singer, composer and pianist of her class.
Her parents were often involved in the church, and Heidi attended many Gospel meetings where her mum played piano. Making music together as a community — singing, playing, dancing — was part of Heidi's life from the very beginning. A week before her 18th birthday, her family moved to London & a wild adventure began.
The best university: the streets
Music school wasn't an option — so the streets became one. Heidi started busking on the South Bank in London, met a flamenco guitarist and formed Fernando's Kitchen with him, their own original band: ten years of busking across London, Cambridge, the UK and Europe — a flamenco, latin and jazz fusion of original music, with albums, concerts and finally a New York tour.
It was on those streets that she met the cajon — and taught herself to play it through countless hours of busking.
Roland, NAMM & a jam with Stevie Wonder
In 2016 Roland made Heidi its international percussion artist and the face of the ElCajon range, helping develop the world's first hybrid cajons — the EC-10 and EC-10M, acoustic cajons with built-in electronic layered sounds. She launched the EC-10 onstage at the NAMM show in California, and her demo won the Best Show in NAMM 2016 award. She even wrote and directed the promo video herself.
During one of her live demos, Stevie Wonder came to watch — and loved it so much he got onstage and played the EC-10 himself, with Heidi at his side guiding him through the instrument, sharing laughs and jokes. She also gave Sheila E. a private demo at the same show.
Teaching the world to play
Heidi first uploaded cajon lessons to YouTube for people like her younger self — no teacher, no material, just a box and curiosity. Those videos quickly grew into the largest cajon YouTube channel in the world and still remain so to this day, more than a decade later.
Heidi started the London Cajon School before the cajon even became popular or available in music stores. She started touring the world doing masterclasses with various organisations and charities.
Through all of this teaching experience, as well as playing on stages, she was also developing and refining a Modern Method for Cajon, the world's first internationally recognised curriculum for the cajon.
Break the Box
Invited to speak as a person of inspiration, Heidi took the TEDx stage in Cesena, Italy, with "Break the Box" — the story of the cajon, her own journey, and what breaking out of the box has taught her in life and in music.
Cruz Cajon: her own instrument
Knowing exactly what a cajon should feel and sound like, Heidi created Cruz Cajon — her own brand of artisan cajons, designed and developed by her and handmade in Andalusia, Spain, by a small family-run workshop. Exclusively available from the Cajonbox webshop, shipping worldwide.
A Cruz Cajon is more than a high-quality artisan instrument. Refined over the years alongside Heidi's own playing and her Modern Method for Cajon, it is built to be ergonomic and healthy — encouraging great posture, supporting the method's hand placement and technique, and bringing out the best in your sound. An instrument designed by the Queen of Cajon, so you can get the best out of your playing and out of music itself.
Chaos + Peace
Through every chapter — the stages, the streets, and a deeply personal period of rest and rebuilding — singing and songwriting remained Heidi's greatest passion. Her debut solo album, Chaos + Peace, brings her own songs, voice and production together with her live band project.
Catch her live on stage: both album launch shows sold out, in Germany and in New York City. She continues to develop the live show — a blend of different art forms, genres and styles that is deeply personal and unmistakably Heidi.
The Modern Method for Cajon
Before it was a course, it was survival: the method Heidi developed to train herself on the streets, with no teacher and no material. Refined over two decades of playing and teaching, it became the Modern Method for Cajon — her complete, step-by-step system, and the heart of the Cajonbox platform, where millions of people have learned with it.
The entire curriculum is now also released in print: the Modern Method for Cajon Book, with the full method in notation, exercises and bonus material — the same path Heidi walked, from first beat to mastery.
The story isn't over — join my journey
If my story moved you, be part of what comes next. Sign up to my newsletter and you'll always know when I play a show or give a workshop in your town — come and say hello!
Plus 10% off in the webshop — and my personal community and journey, straight to your inbox.
Leave a comment
57 comments
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Not yet but I hope to visit Brazil soon!!!! Big hugs
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Hope all is well! I’ll be featuring my Cruz cajon on upcoming dates. Best wishes always…
J -
Hello Heidi,
I’m a friend from China who was just searching for some information about Cajon drums and came across your video. I really admire your singing, your rhythm, and the nimbleness you exhibit while playing, like a graceful fish. I deeply appreciate how well you handle musical instruments, especially the Cajon drum. If you ever have the chance to come to China, you must visit our factory. We specialize in producing Cajon drums, and my boss is also a devoted Cajon enthusiast.-
Hello There!!! Thank you for the lovely comment! Big hugs from Europe to you guys!
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So happy for you my friend!!!
When you get to the States please let me know!!
Looking forward to New York show dates.Blessings John F
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Heidi,
I have a song that I would like to change the electronic cajon. Would you be upto recording a track for it?
Thank you
Ron
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Hello Ron!
Yes it is possible, I saw your email and will have a listen and get back to you very soon! Thanks for visiting my website!
Heidi
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Hi, I truly wanted to express my gratitude to you, I’ve bought a dual cajon in 2020 during the pandemic for a personal project that we have with my cousin, in those hard times, I was looking for some tutorials to learn how to play my cajon and watching your videos gave me the skills I have right now, they were the best thing that has happened to me, since then I subscribed to your channel and follow you, you are an amazing artist and teacher. I hope your career keeps going great and even more bc you deserve all the best. I wish I can take a real class with you some day. My best wishes to you!
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You are most welcome Matt! Thank you for your lovely words, means a lot! Also check out my Modern Method step-by-step video course if you want to go deeper into learning, getting a fantastic technique and becoming a excellent cajon player! Big hugs, Heidi
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Hi! We live in the NL’s. Your music rocks. We enjoy your videos and would love to come and watch you play. Are you performing live? Do you have a concert schedule? Thanks! Ian
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Hello Ian! So good to hear from you! And thank you for your lovely words and compliments! I am indeed performing live and am currently sorting out my schedule! I am planning to Tour in the summer to many places after I have recorded my album, which I am just about to record!
Best thing to do is to sign up to my newsletter to stay updated on my performances and tours and news, I would love it if you came to see me live!!!
Sign up on my homepage cajonbox.com
I send blessings and LOVE and look forward to sharing my journey with you!
Heidi
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Hello Heidi.
Been watching your videos on and off the past couple of years. Purchased modern cajon method as an Xmas gift to myself. Getting stuck into it and really enjoying it.
Thanks a million and happy new year to you
Caroline
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Hi Caroline! Thank you for your beautiful words, it is awesome to hear you are really getting into the Cajon Method and I hope you will learn so so much! I actually would LOVE it if you added this same comment as a review on my shop page, it would totally make my day!
Part 2 is due to be released in 2022 so there is more to keep learning. I send you much love and blessings for 2022 and your journey with the cajon!
Big hug
Heidi
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Hello Heidi,
Thank you for sharing your music with us. I was just introduced to the cajon last weekend by a musician in North Carolina. I immediately fell in love with it and started to dance spontaneously. I am in the process of buying a cajon and looking forward to jamming with my new friend. Thank you! You bring joy to people. Cathy M. -
Hello.I always enjoy your instagram and many lesson movies.
I craft many cajons with hobby.
I want that you use my travel cajon.-
Hello! It is great to hear from you! You created a travel Cajon? Where can I try it?
Heidi
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Thank you for your grate message!!
I craft many Cajons with hobby at Japan.
If you can try my travel Cajon I can ship it to your studio!!Wao!!!
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Best to send me an email to he***************@***il.com and we talk 🙂
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Thank you!
I sent you an email.
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Hello Heidi from Newport Rhode Island.
My name is Frankie.I’m a bass player singer percussionist. I’ve become a fan of yours enjoy hearing and seeing your videos. I’ll be on the lookout for more. Thank you for what you do. ✌️😎-
Hello! So good to hear from another musician and singer and percussionist! I have a ton of new videos about to be launched, I really hope they will be useful to you! 🙂
Hugs
Heidi
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Olá Heidi! Acompanho seu conteúdo e me ajuda muito! Sou muito fã!! Me diga, tem alguma previsão de shows pelo Brasil?