Emery Joe Yost is employed as a music instructor within the Department of Parks and Recreation at the Chicago Park District. He obtained his B.A. in music from Columbia College in Chicago, Illinois and his Master's Degree in Integrated Professional Studies at DePaul University. The focus area of his studies is managing, developing, assessing and presenting an inclusive music program. The pilot which began fourteen years ago at the Chicago Park District was used as a model for expansion of the program to new locations. Mr. Yost has taught music in the school, home, and recreational settings.

Currently Mr. Yost has designed and is implementing new assessment approaches to gain more insight on student learning. He is using video technology and other digital recording devices to allow students to learn about their learning. His goal is to expand the program to new locations, especially schools who would like to introduce an extracurricular program that uses music to engage students of all abilities in the arts.

The Special Music by Special People model was also showcased on October 26, 1998 as Mr. Yost presented his lecture and journal article Snapshot Of Diversity: Special Music By Special People: A Model of Inclusive Recreational Music Programming at the World Leisure and Recreation Association's Fifth World Congress on Leisure and Recreation in Sao Paulo Brazil.

Mr. Yost's paper entitled "It's Not Only Rock 'n' Roll: A Model of Inclusive Programming" was featured in the March 1999 issue of the National Recreation and Park Association's magazine, Parks & Recreation

Mr. Yost is producing a new television show pilot for the educational television market. Information on the show and the new program entitled House of Song can be accessed at www.houseofsong.org.

Joe has recorded and toured with Smash/Island recording artist Latour, Shirley King, The Voodoo Kings, The Squids and recently with The Twigs. He has recently composed and produced music with the Spanish Folk act Sol Azul. Joe has also written jingles for television and radio.

Mr. Yost can also be found in the 2003 edition of Marquis Who's Who in America.

Check out Joe Yost's mac.com home page for the latest Special Music by Special People updates.

You can email Mr. Yost at emeryyost (at) yahoo (dot) com.