Are you a musician who enjoys playing the flute? John Stillwell is a craftsman of Native American style flutes, who continues to improve on his skill through a process of experimentation, dedication, and an innate respect for the source of his inspiration. The Native Americans play in a flute circle, which represents the circle of life and is a place for meeting, sharing, and playing together. Even if you have never played the flute before, it is a simple instrument that is easy to learn and is sure to enrich your life with its musical and spiritual power. Everyone has an inner music and the flute is just one of the beautiful ways in which this music can be expressed. If you would like to learn more about to play or take care of a flute, please feel free to visit www.atflutes.com for more information.

The flute has been a part of cultures throughout history, with evidence of an early three-hole flute made from mammoth tusk dating back to nearly 37,000 years ago. Two flutes made from swan bones have recently been excavated from a cave in the German Swabian Alb, dating back to around 36,000 years ago. Other materials flutes were made out of include shin bones, wing bones, and even femurs. Sound is produced when a stream of air directed across a hole in the instrument is bounced in and out, creating a siphon effect. The player is able to change the pitch of the sound by blocking or opening certain holes in the body of the instrument, which effectively changes the effect of the resonator and its corresponding resonant feature. Also, the larger the holes, the louder the volume of the sound produced. Learning to play and care for your flute will certainly be a most rewarding experience.

There are various categories of flute, from the Western concert form, which has a complex array of keys and holes, to the Indian Bamboo flute, the Dvoyanka or double flute made out of wood, and the Pinkillo, found in Peru and Bolivia. The Native American style flute is perhaps the easiest of all flutes to play so just about anyone can master the art. The flutes are made out of wood and the pieces are chosen for their unique qualities of pattern, color, and density. It is important that you take good care of your flute, particularly because it is such a fine instrument that has taken hours to create. Each piece of wood is cut in a certain way so that the expression of the grain and its color are shown to maximum effect.

Most Native American style flutes have a somewhat bland finish, but those created by John Stillwell have something a little different. They are shaped and sculpted by hand which results in subtle angles and asymmetrical curves that create an attractive and complex form that is pleasing to the eye. Just as the shape and the craftsmanship has evolved and improved over time, so has the quality of sound. Instead of cutting into the bird, the air focusing channel is cut directly into the body of the flute itself and works to improve the consistency of the air flow. Each flute is tuned and voiced using a modern electronic tuning device, ensuring that your flute sounds absolutely perfect. To help with flute care, a polyurethane varnish is added to protect the wood surface. So, if you are interested in purchasing one of these exquisite pieces of craftsmanship, you can contact us online at www.atflutes.com.