Crash And Burn Offenses

Most reasonable people would never consider doing the things I list on this page. For them, the warning is unnecessary. Unreasonable people, however, need to be told.

It takes a lot to tick me off so badly I fire you and tell you never to show up again. But here's a list of ways it can be done. I reserve the right to add to this list.

1. Show up for a lesson drunk or on drugs... or, in the case of a mobile lesson, have alcohol or drug use going on in the place you expect me to conduct a lesson

2. Use foul language, shout at me, or threaten physical violence during a lesson

3. No-show more than one lesson, particularly if it's twice in a row

4. Fail to practice for more than a month, to the point where the only time you touch a guitar is in a lesson with me

5. Refuse to practice what I tell you to practice, the way I tell you to practice it. This applies to both repertoire and exercises. If you're paying for my advice and then not taking it, you're wasting my time and your money, so sayonara

6. Persist in playing material or exercises that are so far beyond your skill level as to damage your technique or cause you to risk physical injury, after I explicitly tell you to stop

Most of these issues boil down to safety, respect, ethics, and basic understanding of what it means to hire a teacher. I've never fired a student for being late once, for asking me to explain something, for not understanding or being unable to follow instructions, for spacing out on a lesson time once in a blue moon, or for disagreeing with me about politics.

I can afford to have standards because I'm successful. I don't need anyone's lesson fee so badly that I am willing to compromise on safety, respect, ethics, or the best interests of the student. Sometimes this means I lose students, but I'm OK with it. They free up room for others.

If you prefer to hire a teacher who is willing to put money ahead of your best interests, or who is willing to take your money while pretending to teach, you can probably find one. Simply look for someone with lower standards than me.

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