Between crafting cozy crocheted hats for her students and leading the WCCHS marching band, band director Marissa Janiszewski—better known as Miss J.—channels her love for music and teaching into every aspect of her role. From private lessons to full band leadership, Janiszewski’s journey reflects her dedication to helping students grow and thrive through music.
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Janiszewski’s path to becoming a band director started with private lessons at her own studio, where she taught students instruments like the bassoon, clarinet, and flute.
“So, I taught a couple of lessons,” Janiszewski said.
Her summers as a nanny also helped her develop a natural ability to connect with younger students. Eventually, she realized her true calling was working with high school musicians.
“So being able to kind of go outside my comfort zone a little bit and branch out to things a little bit bigger—that was a big career kind of accomplishment for me,” Janiszewski said.
Her biggest professional milestone came when she became the band director at WCCHS, which she described as “a really big career goal.”
Her students appreciate her dedication and ability to inspire. Senior Michaela Miller, drumline captain, praised Janiszewski for her unique teaching style and approachability.
“Of course, she is very kind, which makes her easy to talk to, especially when it comes to problem-solving, but I would say her patience is unmatched,” Miller said. “Imagine putting up with a hundred students holding things that make loud noises every day, yet we all receive individual assistance and advice.”
Miller also noted how interactive Janiszewski is when teaching. “She doesn’t just say ‘do this,’ she shows us how to do things, which makes the learning way more fun and easy to understand,” Miller said. “I have really enjoyed her as a teacher and a musical mentor.”
Janiszewski’s favorite part of teaching is the opportunity to see her students grow over time.
“One of the most rewarding parts of my job is to see you guys kind of grow and progress over the years,” Janiszewski said.
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Her impact is evident in the experiences of her students. “There are lots of good memories to choose from, but my favorite would definitely be the time I led the band out onto the field as center Drum Major for halftime. That’s a hard feeling to beat,” former student Owen Thompson said.
“One hundred percent, yes. My middle school teacher laid down the foundations for music, and Miss J. has only built strongly on top of that. Every concert cycle presents me with new, challenging pieces to work on every day,” Thompson said.
Outside of music, Janiszewski finds joy in crocheting and spending time with her cat, Beings. Her creativity extends to handmade projects, including crocheted hats she made for every senior in the marching band.
“I love crocheting,” Janiszewski said.
Her connection to music extends beyond teaching—it also brought her and her husband together. The two met as freshmen at Elmhurst College (now Elmhurst University) during their orientation group.
“Just from luck of a draw,” Janiszewski said, explaining how their shared interests as music majors quickly helped them bond.
Whether guiding students, creating heartfelt gifts, or pursuing her own creative outlets, Miss J. is a teacher who inspires those around her to find their passion and embrace it fully.
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Correction
Updated on Jan. 7, 2025 at 3:02 p.m.
A previous version of this article incorrectly titled Michaela Miller as a drum major, when in fact, she is the drumline captain.