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!
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Leave a comment
57 comments
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Brent! Great video, I love your playing! Perhaps one day we will play some music together! Thanks for your comment!
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Hello Heidi,
I started playing cajon around the time you started making videos and have followed you all along. I mostly play for my church worship band and everybody loves the weeks when I play cajon! I finally wore out my first cajon after all these years ( walked off stage last week wearing some of the front plate on my sleeve) and its time to replace. Its time to buy one of your beautiful cajons I’ve been wanting for years. I’m thinking the pro elite toro and padded bag. I play live worship sets usually mic’ed with a full band, although sometimes we go acoustic as well. Do you think this is the right choice for me? Best wishes in all your endeavors and God Bless!-
Hello Josh
It is so pleasant to read your comment today, almost at the end of this year. 🙂 What a blessing! I love that you played your cajon literally to bits, not many people can say they have done that, so well done, I am proud of you! And Worshipping at that, how cool! 🙂 I am planning to add up a few more worship covers on my youtube channel this year, so your comment just confirmed it to me as a priority for 2021. Thanks! As per the Pro Elite Toro, it is the best model I have, and my personal Favourite! You will LOVE it, it sounds great mic-ed up and acoustic, and it just looks really awesome to compliment its awesome sound! I would most definitely suggest you get that one… and the back front board with the natural wood logo is so beautiful! Let me know if you need any help with placing your order. And keep rocking on for Jesus. It inspires me as well, not to mention the people you bless at your church. All my love from your Sister in Christ, Heidi
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Hey Heidi I’m a Cajon player and told my friends about you.!! I’m glad to see you surfacing. I’ve played my Cajon with my left foot. Kicked through manybutnowhave a sturdy gun boss el toro.we are threewheeler blessings for new year !!!
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Yay Kathy! Happy new year!! May it be BOOMING! xxx
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Hello Heidi
Please don’t stop doing what sets your beautiful Soul on fire! You are a spark to many creatives like me (accidental painter for lack of better words) to just be and have fun doing what we love thru music or arts for nothing and nobody can stop it from its beautiful unfolding. You are an inspiring Energy!
Thank you for sharing your beautiful Soul and Essence.
Namaste -
Hey Heidi, couldn’t help but notice your surname being Joubert. Does your family have any roots in the Seychelles be any chance? Our closing family friends were Joubert when I was living there.
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Hi Heidi. Would you please
Tell me what language you are singing in your cover of Sway? Thanks. It’s so beautiful.
Pam-
Hello Pam! I sing Sway in English but I do have an improvised part I do on the song at times, and the language I use is simply made up, almost like the concept of scatting but using more of a concept of real ‘language’ which I find helps me to improvise and express myself better. I consider it a Spiritual language! 🙂 Crazy I know, but then again, all language was made up by people at some stage in our history so not so crazy after all. Hope this answers it! I actually do this quite often in many of my songs, I find it gives me the ultimate freedom as an artist.
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Heidi, I love what you’re doing…sharing the music, spotlighting the cajon box.
Your videos are hypnotizing… you are very pretty … beautiful voice.. drums are bangin…I dig it -
You’re a great teacher, musician, person, and a true inspiration. Thank you for everything 🙂
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I’ve busked all over the world since age 9. Love what you do 🙂
I’m the market for a cajon and would love to try your brand! Do you by any chance have any in San Francisco Bay Area? 😀
Blessings,
Francois -
Hey Heidi,
I accidentally stumbled upon Cajon link and was so mesmerized to see the performances with the instrument. I am a Guitar beginner but always had desire for Drums. The only background i have is trying to play every song drum on any table 🙂
So with no drum background and @40, I hope its its not too late for me to learn Cajon. But considering you as my e-mentor, i am now now plunging into the Cajon magic.
I just wish to say thanks to you for all the in videos and tutorials you have posted. Wish me luck !-
a Cajon is basically an amplified table with snare wires so that’s perfect. Its never to late to learn percussion, its a very fun and useful tool and will help you in every aspect of your musical career. good luck to you.
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Hi there Heidi, I would like to buy a Cajon for my mother in law. She is absolutely in love with your music. She used to be a singer and now wants to try the Cajon. What do you think would be a good one for me to get for her as a beginner!? And do you guys ship to Canada? Thanks
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Hello Samantha!
We ship out worldwide! 🙂 It;s a great gift idea for your mom in law! 🙂
Let me know if you need help with your order and all the best with being a super awesome daughter in law!
Heidi
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Dear Heidi
Just found you on u tube a few weeks ago. I. Am interested in buying a Cajan. , but seen them from
50 To. 500 pounds is it worth starting out with a 50 pound one please ?
All the best in Cuba
God Bless
Phil -
Hey Heidi,
I saw you on Markus Lanz’s show yesterday and realized that I had seen you live in Cambridge when I still lived there. I had not heard about your S-Bahn video yet. I just found it cool to see you on that show. I love your music.
Mel -
Hi Heidi!
Just saw a video with you and your friend playing Prince ‘Kiss’ on a subway on Facebook, and just wanted to say I absolutely adore you. Rock on!
Lots of love from Sweden
/Anna -
Fantastic performance of ‘Kiss’ in the S-Bahn!
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Talented, sexy, and adorable.
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thank you so much for the good service and quick delivery of my present to myself:-))
The fun has started!! And a very nice CD came along with it, thank you.
I will spread the cajon sound all over The Netherlands. -
Hi,
I am from India,currently in Bangalore. I would like to know if you ship the cajon to India. And I dont know much about the instrument so you will have to recommend one for me. My musical background: I am a tabla player and a little drum(which is self taught).
And please include all the price.
Thank you,-
Hello! Good to hear from you!
We have all details of our drums on our webshop, you should check it out!
I would go with the Pro Plus model, a great model for an existing player with a drum technique already.
Hope this helps!
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Hi Heidi!
I stumbled onto your videos and am LOVING everything you’re teaching 🙂 Thank you so much for being such an incredible resource. I recently moved back to the States from France with my Soul Hip Hop duo and we recently decided to break away from our full band and really give this hybrid acoustic duo the wings it deserves. I’m new to the Cajon, but your videos are really helping me fine tune my playing and production skills. Would love to see you with your band sometime!
Love & Gratitude,
Ms. Mauikai -
Finally, a good teacher, will follow with interest. Alan, New Zealand
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Finally, a good teacher. i will follow with interest. Alan, New Zealand
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Hi Heidi.
So do you have a US Outlet for Cruz Cajon so I can avoid international shipping rates? Also, really looking forward to the lesson video.
Thanks
Jack-
Hey Jack!
At present we don’t have any Cruz’s stocked in USA yet but we are working on it! Hopefully soooooon!
Heidi -
I am also very much interested in your cajons, and I will be following your lessons. Very well organized, and your technique is low-effort and clean it inspires to get better as a beginner player. I am adding cajon, moving from djembe as a performer and teacher. Thanks for organizing these lessons.
Now get those cajons here in the US! lol-
Hello Robert!
Apologies for the ages it took to reply, somehow I missed your comment!
Thanks for your very nice words on my lessons! I am releasing a DVD soon too so keep an eye out!
Did you know that most of ouyr Cruz Cajon sales go to US? We ship directly to you, it;s fast, safe and secure! Check out our range on our webshop! We just received our new stock and they are simply magnificent!
Heidi
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Olá, sou do Brasil e assisti o seus vídeos no Youtube.
Parabéns pela musicalidade. Você faz um som muito bom! -
Hey, Heidi, the e-mail from faraway China, I am your fans.
Please forgive my English is really bad, this message is translated by GOOGLE it.
I ask you which city in which country? Me and my friends are Chinese street performers.
I’m going to be able to raise enough funds to pleasure of seeing you.
Meet my idol.
You
I would love to play music with you! https://youtu.be/aTpXOk3ZDp0