Val Mindel

Val Mindel is a versatile teacher, singer and instrumentalist with a focus on Appalachian and gospel music. She emphasizes the mechanics of creating harmonies and arrangements as well as singing in small groups, using early American country and traditional repertory. Val is also an expert in old-time and bluegrass vocals, especially the styles of harmony greats such as the Carters, the Louvins and the Stanleys. She works closely with students to develop their listening abilities, performance styles and singing techniques.

Val is an engaging teacher who entices and inspires her students. Participants in her workshops and classes have been known to sing into the wee hours of the morning, relishing the finer points of her instruction. She is a long-time teacher for Village Harmony, Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music, and the Augusta Heritage Center.

Val now lives in New York City and Vermont and leads adult harmony workshops around the US and abroad. She has performed and led workshops in Hong Kong, Canada, Scotland and England. Val is a founding member of the San Francisco Bay Area string band Any Old Time, and currently works with a New York-based old-time band, the Brooklyn Corn Dodgers.