A passion for woodworking!
Majid was born in 1959 in an ordinary family in Tehran. He developped a deep passion for woodworking.
At 13, he crafted a wooden chess set and a Santour (an iranian musical instrument) from wooden crates.
In 1979, at the age of 19, the Iranian Revolution occured.
Having just graduated high school with a focus on mathematics, Majid intended to study chemistry or metallurgy at university.However, universities were closed for three years (1980–1983) to align the educational system with the revolution’s ideals.
After reopening, thousands of students and lecturers opposing the new government were purged from higher education.
His first carpentry workshop
Unable to attend university, Majid embarked on a self-taught carpentery career. He established a carpentry workshop with three friends. Initially, they struggled to distinguish between different types of wood, chipboard, MDF, and veneer. However, after six months of continuous work, they gained significant experience. Majid then decided to work independently and opened his own carpentry workshop.
Becoming a Professional Musical instrument maker
A year later, Majid began learning woodturning on his own, with only his friend, Mr. Habib, a master in woodturning, to advise him. He soon crafted his first musical instrument, a Kamancheh (an Iranian bowed string instrument), followed by a Tombak (an Iranian percussion instrument), made from 146 pieces. Positive feedback from Iranian music masters encouraged him me to continue. In 1984, renowed musician Mr. Mohammad Reza Lotfi founded the Chavosh music instrument workshop, where Majid learned from masters like Mr. Mahmoud Farahmand and Mr. Amir Ataei. Despite a ban on public performances and carrying instruments, Majid continued making Tombaks in his basement and learned from masters to play Tombak under Mr. Djamshid Mohebbi’s guidance.
Immigration to Germany
In 1986, Majid visited relatives and friends in Germany. Anticipating difficulties, he shipped mountable tombaks disguised as lampshades, as exporting instruments was forbidden. His Iranian friends in Germany encouraged him to try to stay there.
Unwilling to depend financially on the German Government, Majid took proactive steps to secure his independence. He began working in the basement of his friend’s home, where he set up a makeshift workshop. Over the course several months, Majid tirelessly crafted numerous musical instruments, honing his skills and refining his techniques. This period of intense focus and creativity not only allowed him to produce a significant body ofwork but alsolaid the foundation for his future success as a professional instrument maker. His dedication and hard work during this time were pivotal in establishing his reputation and securing his independence.
However, in order to obtain his residency permit, Majid needed to work officially for a company in Germany. Fortunately, his friend’s father owned a cassette recording & distribution company, providing an opportunity for Majid to work there for eight months. Initially, the authorities refused to grant him a work permit, citing the policy that German jobseekers should be given priority. His friend’s father, however, successfully persuaded them highlighting several key reasons why he wanted Majid to work for him. Ultimately, these arguments convinced the authorities,and Majid was granted the necessary work permit, enabling him to contribute officially to the company while contributing to build his skills and reputation.
In 1989, he earned his master’s certificate from German Chamber of Commerce and Industry and further, by 1995, he received his master’s certificate in woodturning without passing any exam, based on his long years of experience. Then he continued to make exclusively Iranian instruments in my atelier. In 2000, he and his friends David and Roman in Berlin invented an air tuning system.
Life goes on …
In April 2003, Majid immigrated to Spain, conducting research on international percussions and creating wooden art objects. He holds twelve patents for instruments he invented such as the Cajatom, Hamgam, Cajadrum, Multidrum, Bonga, Kaskarita, Cajon 4 in 1 (4 percussions in a single instrument), Darbuka with natural skin and tuning system, round Cajon, percussion stand. His website “Majiddrums” showcases these inventions.
In November 2014, Majid returned to Germany to better attend festivals and exhibitions, gaining worldwide recognitionas a percussion maker.
His future plans include producing videos detailing the construction process of his instruments to share his expertise with the nest generation of instrument makers.
Majid’s recent activities
Since 2010, Majid has dedicated himself to crafting Riqqs, driven by his deep fascination with this unique instrument. Recognizing that there are very few percussionists who specialize in the Riqq, he knew that creating these instruments required not only technical ability but also mastery of specific construction techniques. To improve his craft, he sought feedback from renowned players, focusing on the crucial aspects of the Riqq construction, such as the precise hammering of jingles and their correct tuning. His work was greatly enhanced by the contributions and guidance of esteemed masters such as Zohar Fresco, Glen Velez, Murat Coskun, Firas Hasan, Salim Beltitane, and especially Berkant Cakici, whose advice and expertise played a crucial role in refining his craft and achieving exceptional results with the Riqq.