Drozdowski was born in Kraków. He was the son of Stanisław Magdzicki, who took part in the Kraków uprising and founded one of the first piano factories in Poland under the name "Jan Drozdowski" in Kraków. Jan received a thorough musical education. From 1876 to 1880 he studied piano with Josef Dachs and music theory with Anton Bruckner at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. After returning to Poland, he continued his studies with Aleksander Michałowski. From December 1, 1889, he led the piano class at the Academy of Music in Kraków until his death on .