40 Under 40: Shane Mizicko, assistant professor of music

Shane Mizicko

AGE: 35

FAMILY: Wife Maria, son Logan, daughter Sydney

EMPLOYER: Southeast Missouri State University

POSITION: Director of percussion, assistant professor of music

COMMUNITY AND PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT: Cape Municipal Band every summer since I arrived in Cape in 2005; visit and coach percussion students from Jackson High School and Central High School; regular guest performer on Jackson High School's "Night of Percussion" concerts; collaborated with Jackson band director Chris Crawford to bring the Chicago-based percussion ensemble, Third Coast Percussion, to Jackson High School for a master class and a mini concert; organized and directed the first annual free Southeast Percussion Ensemble Family Holiday Concert in December 2008; percussion adjudicator for the Southeast Missouri all-district high school band and other Southeast Missouri high school music festivals since 2005.

HIS TYPICAL DAY:

After I finish the typical "dad" duties ... helping with breakfast, getting my son ready for preschool, and having early playtime with my daughter, I generally have an 8 a.m. "normal" class (i.e. lecture-type with about 40 students), followed by either my own individual practice time or individual student music lessons. Since the majority of my teaching schedule is made up of one-on-one lessons, my daily schedule varies each day of the week depending on the availability of my students. Throughout each week, I also spend many hours rehearsing the Southeast Percussion Ensemble preparing them for a public concert; they perform at least two full-length concerts each semester. Though many of my primary teaching duties end at about 3 p.m. each day during the spring and at 6 p.m. during the fall, I also have additional rehearsals and concerts once or twice a week that begin at around 7 p.m. During the fall semester I also instruct the Golden Eagles Marching Band Drum Line and attend all of their performances. However, as a performing artist my schedule is always changing depending on upcoming concerts and other performances. Of course, in the hours between classes, lessons, and rehearsals I also return for other "dad" duties like helping with lunch and/or dinner, taking my children to their music classes, and the wonderful and very important playtime throughout random hours in each day.

MOST SATISFYING PART OF HIS WORK:

The process of taking students through new and exciting musical journeys in preparation for a public performance. The satisfaction of seeing and hearing my students perform on a concert. Knowing and seeing that they are enjoying what they are doing and that all their hard work leading up to the performance has paid off. Hearing and seeing the audience respond... at the performance and in the days following.

HIS WORST HAIRCUT:

I don't think I ever let mine get too long, but I did have the typical 1980s mullet.

HIS FAVORITE SONG FROM THE '80s:

I listened to just about anything on the radio in the '80s; however, since I was leading toward a career in music, this was also the time that I was introduced and started listening to such "classical" composers as Alfred Reed and Gustav Holst.

HIS BIGGEST FIRST-DAY BLOOPER:

Underestimating the true magnitude of what needed to be done in my new position.