Maslanka received his Bachelor of Music from the Oberlin Conservatory (1961–1965) and went on to earn a Master of Music and Doctor of Philosophy from Michigan State University (1965–71). During his undergraduate work, Maslanka also spent one year studying abroad at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria (1963–64). While attending Michigan State University, Maslanka studied composition with H. Owen Reed (Maslanka 2004). He served over 20 years on the faculty at Kingsborough Community College of the City University of New York and has also served on the faculty at Sarah Lawrence College, New York University (Maslanka 2005)[full citation needed]. Dr. Maslanka is a freelance composer and has worked solely on commission since 1990. He currently lives in Missoula, Montana.