THE CAJON, THE DRUM KITS LITTLE BROTHER
AND WHY IT IS PERFECT FOR CHILDREN
The fact that early musical education is beneficial for children's brain development has already been explained in the blog article "Children and musical instruments? Of course!". At this point, we would like to talk about the Cajon, which, besides the drum set, is the most versatile rhythm instrument available and can be used in literally every musical genre. It is one of the most accessible percussion instruments. This makes it ideal for introducing children to rhythm in a playful way.
Playfully mastering the entry into the world of percussion and drums
The special thing about Cajons is that the fine motor skills for drumming don't have to be perfectly developed yet, but at the same time it playfully promotes a child's motor skills and sense of rhythm. This, and other points that you will learn in this blog article, make the Cajon a perfect instrument for the entry into the world of musical instruments. The motivation to be able to play professionally on the Cajon does not always have to be behind it right from the start, the Cajon can also serve merely to occupy and pass the time of the little ones. Not to forget, of course, the fun factor that every child feels when playing on the Cajon.
Sit on it and start drumming
Playing on the Cajon is intuitive. The ability to read notes is not absolutely necessary. Often it is enough to listen to a song and then drum its beats, according to the motto: First listen, then play. In this way, playing the Cajon not only trains your sense of rhythm, but also your ear. There are no limits to a child's creativity when it comes to the sequence of beats. Whether one-handed or two-handed, on the front or side panel, with special Cajon mallets, beaters or without – on the Cajon you can always discover new grooves and beating techniques.
However, you should know a few basics. The classic Cajon can essentially reproduce two pitches. By hitting the cajon with your palm towards the middle of the front plate will produce a low end tone. Slapping the cajon on the side or near the top will produce a high pitched tone, which is similar to playing on the snare drum of a classical drum kit. For a comfortable back posture and wrist position, it is advisable to tilt the Cajon slightly backwards.
With a little concentration, even children can learn beats, beat patterns and rhythms in no time at all, so that after just a few minutes they can create their own sounds. Success experiences are achieved quickly and that naturally encourages children to continue. And if the little ones don't feel like drumming themselves, parents can accompany various children's songs while the little ones listen attentively.
Drumming together with other children in so-called drum circles is even more fun. In such an environment, children are carried away by the rhythms they create together. At the same time, however, they have to show a certain amount of concentration in order to keep the beat of the group, because the drum circle is a team effort. A positive side effect is that friendships are quickly formed because creating rhythms together by drumming and clapping brings people together.
More plus points for the Cajon
However, the Cajon is not only an instrument, but is also suitable as a seat or small table when not in use. Due to its cuboid shape, it can be stored in a space-saving way and simply fits perfectly into every child's room. But fun with the Cajon is not only guaranteed indoors, but also outdoors. The Cajons from NINO Percussion can be taken anywhere. The resilient material guarantees long-lasting fun. The best thing for parents: Cajons are relatively inexpensive to buy and particularly easy-care ;-)
Cajons from NINO Percussion, the little comrades of Meinl Percussion Cajons
NINO Percussion offers children's Cajons for every age group from 3 years on. Cajons especially for children are characterized by a lower construction height starting at around 12″, while Cajons for adults measure 20″ and more. Also, materially and optically one adapts to the needs of children. Thus, the Cajons from NINO Percussion are made of robust Baltic Birch (Betula) and come in many cheerful colors.
NINO Percussion offers an outstanding collection of musical instruments designed specifically for children. These more than meet the requirements of early childhood music education and are ideal for kindergarten and school programs, music therapy or making music together at home.
Starting this in early childhood nurtures many things including perception, motor skills and the ability to learn and retain information. Making music also promotes personal confidence and social skills. These are all beneficial well beyond one's childhood years.
It is important to know that NINO Percussion instruments are not toys. These are the real thing, designed for safety, optimum sound, durability, and pure joy of playing. Excellent quality, easy handling and an attractive design are standard for all NINO Percussion instruments. In fact, the only difference between NINO Percussion instruments are those created for adults is their size and colour. Whether alone or in group, NINO Percussion is the perfect choice for young musicians, as well as teachers and parents.
The NINO Artisan Edition Cajon stands out among all the Cajons from NINO Percussion. It is made in Spain by renowned Cajon builder José Pepote Díaz and has no snare wires, but eight pre-tuned guitar strings for a sensitive snare effect. Visually, it can be identified by the diamond-shaped mark in the center of the playing surface. The front panel is made of American White Oak, while the rest of the body is made of Baltic Birch. It has a height of 14 ¾”.
NINO Percussion also has the suitable Cajon in its range for children aged 10 and over. The simplest model for this age group is the Cajon 17 3/4" nature in neutral finish.
Our NINO Percussion Cajon Kits offer an experience for children aged 5 and up. These are assembled by the children themselves using the instructions provided and a little help from their parents. There is a choice of two Make your own Cajons Kits: The Make Your Own Chalkboard Cajon and the conventional Make your own Cajon. The former has a chalk paintable board as playing surface. The latter is made entirely of natural, Baltic Birch wood, but after assembly it can also be designed according to personal ideas or with the help of the painting stencils found on the underside of the cardboard. Both models measure 15” in height when finished.
Playing on a classical Cajon can also be started at the age of 4. NINO Percussion Cajons measure 13″ in height and are equipped with snare wires. This provides the familiar popping and snarly Cajon sound, just like the big ones from Meinl Percussion.
Similar to the Bongo Cajons is the T-shaped Slaptop Cajon. It can be placed comfortably on the lap and is played with the hands from above. The middle section produces the bass, the two outer sides produce high notes, while the two openings at the front ensure optimal sound development.
For the youngest from 3 years the NINO Percussion Bongo Cajons are suitable. As the name suggests, this is a mixture of bongo and cajon, i.e., it sounds like a Cajon, but is played like a classic Bongo. To play, the small body of the Bongo Cajon is typically clamped between the knees, placed on the thighs or on the floor. Just like the Cajon, the Bongo Cajons have a two-part playing surface, one with a high pitch and one with a low pitch.
For those who do not want to screw, glue, sand first, the NINO Percussion Chalkboard Cajon can also be purchased as an already assembled instrument. The chalks needed for painting are included in seven different colors.
THE CAJON, THE DRUM KITS LITTLE BROTHER
AND WHY IT IS PERFECT FOR CHILDREN
The fact that early musical education is beneficial for children's brain development has already been explained in the blog article "Children and musical instruments? Of course!". At this point, we would like to talk about the Cajon, which, besides the drum set, is the most versatile rhythm instrument available and can be used in literally every musical genre. It is one of the most accessible percussion instruments. This makes it ideal for introducing children to rhythm in a playful way.
Playfully mastering the entry into the world of percussion and drums
The special thing about Cajons is that the fine motor skills for drumming don't have to be perfectly developed yet, but at the same time it playfully promotes a child's motor skills and sense of rhythm. This, and other points that you will learn in this blog article, make the Cajon a perfect instrument for the entry into the world of musical instruments. The motivation to be able to play professionally on the Cajon does not always have to be behind it right from the start, the Cajon can also serve merely to occupy and pass the time of the little ones. Not to forget, of course, the fun factor that every child feels when playing on the Cajon.
Sit on it and start drumming
Playing on the Cajon is intuitive. The ability to read notes is not absolutely necessary. Often it is enough to listen to a song and then drum its beats, according to the motto: First listen, then play. In this way, playing the Cajon not only trains your sense of rhythm, but also your ear. There are no limits to a child's creativity when it comes to the sequence of beats. Whether one-handed or two-handed, on the front or side panel, with special Cajon mallets, beaters or without – on the Cajon you can always discover new grooves and beating techniques.
However, you should know a few basics. The classic Cajon can essentially reproduce two pitches. By hitting the cajon with your palm towards the middle of the front plate will produce a low end tone. Slapping the cajon on the side or near the top will produce a high pitched tone, which is similar to playing on the snare drum of a classical drum kit. For a comfortable back posture and wrist position, it is advisable to tilt the Cajon slightly backwards.
With a little concentration, even children can learn beats, beat patterns and rhythms in no time at all, so that after just a few minutes they can create their own sounds. Success experiences are achieved quickly and that naturally encourages children to continue. And if the little ones don't feel like drumming themselves, parents can accompany various children's songs while the little ones listen attentively.
Drumming together with other children in so-called drum circles is even more fun. In such an environment, children are carried away by the rhythms they create together. At the same time, however, they have to show a certain amount of concentration in order to keep the beat of the group, because the drum circle is a team effort. A positive side effect is that friendships are quickly formed because creating rhythms together by drumming and clapping brings people together.
More plus points for the Cajon
However, the Cajon is not only an instrument, but is also suitable as a seat or small table when not in use. Due to its cuboid shape, it can be stored in a space-saving way and simply fits perfectly into every child's room. But fun with the Cajon is not only guaranteed indoors, but also outdoors. The Cajons from NINO Percussion can be taken anywhere. The resilient material guarantees long-lasting fun. The best thing for parents: Cajons are relatively inexpensive to buy and particularly easy-care ;-)
Cajons from NINO Percussion, the little comrades of Meinl Percussion Cajons
NINO Percussion offers children's Cajons for every age group from 3 years on. Cajons especially for children are characterized by a lower construction height starting at around 12″, while Cajons for adults measure 20″ and more. Also, materially and optically one adapts to the needs of children. Thus, the Cajons from NINO Percussion are made of robust Baltic Birch (Betula) and come in many cheerful colors.
NINO Percussion offers an outstanding collection of musical instruments designed specifically for children. These more than meet the requirements of early childhood music education and are ideal for kindergarten and school programs, music therapy or making music together at home.
Starting this in early childhood nurtures many things including perception, motor skills and the ability to learn and retain information. Making music also promotes personal confidence and social skills. These are all beneficial well beyond one's childhood years.
It is important to know that NINO Percussion instruments are not toys. These are the real thing, designed for safety, optimum sound, durability, and pure joy of playing. Excellent quality, easy handling and an attractive design are standard for all NINO Percussion instruments. In fact, the only difference between NINO Percussion instruments are those created for adults is their size and colour. Whether alone or in group, NINO Percussion is the perfect choice for young musicians, as well as teachers and parents.
The NINO Artisan Edition Cajon stands out among all the Cajons from NINO Percussion. It is made in Spain by renowned Cajon builder José Pepote Díaz and has no snare wires, but eight pre-tuned guitar strings for a sensitive snare effect. Visually, it can be identified by the diamond-shaped mark in the center of the playing surface. The front panel is made of American White Oak, while the rest of the body is made of Baltic Birch. It has a height of 14 ¾”.
NINO Percussion also has the suitable Cajon in its range for children aged 10 and over. The simplest model for this age group is the Cajon 17 3/4" nature in neutral finish.
Our NINO Percussion Cajon Kits offer an experience for children aged 5 and up. These are assembled by the children themselves using the instructions provided and a little help from their parents. There is a choice of two Make your own Cajons Kits: The Make Your Own Chalkboard Cajon and the conventional Make your own Cajon. The former has a chalk paintable board as playing surface. The latter is made entirely of natural, Baltic Birch wood, but after assembly it can also be designed according to personal ideas or with the help of the painting stencils found on the underside of the cardboard. Both models measure 15” in height when finished.
Playing on a classical Cajon can also be started at the age of 4. NINO Percussion Cajons measure 13″ in height and are equipped with snare wires. This provides the familiar popping and snarly Cajon sound, just like the big ones from Meinl Percussion.
Similar to the Bongo Cajons is the T-shaped Slaptop Cajon. It can be placed comfortably on the lap and is played with the hands from above. The middle section produces the bass, the two outer sides produce high notes, while the two openings at the front ensure optimal sound development.
For the youngest from 3 years, the NINO Percussion Bongo Cajons are suitable. As the name suggests, this is a mixture of bongo and cajon, i.e., it sounds like a Cajon, but is played like a classic Bongo. To play, the small body of the Bongo Cajon is typically clamped between the knees, placed on the thighs or on the floor. Just like the Cajon, the Bongo Cajons have a two-part playing surface, one with a high pitch and one with a low pitch.
For those who do not want to screw, glue, sand first, the NINO Percussion Chalkboard Cajon can also be purchased as an already assembled instrument. The chalks needed for painting are included in seven different colors.
