Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Teachers Forum Do you guarantee you'll show up sober when you teach?

I heard something that I thought was outrageous on tv news this morning: Are you ready?

"In Australia, a firemen's union is campaigning for higher wages to guarantee showing up sober at work." That's what was said.

Does this little bit of news do anything for teachers who are thinking about raising their rates?

What reasons do we consider valid for rates or tuition fee increases?

I expect chunderous applause for this topic.

Well that would be a first.
I suspect it says more about your TV news than it does about our fire service.

As usual, the headlines, including this one, overstate the case - what headlines are made to do, I suppose - *sigh* :

Melbourne firefighters union

Cathy

I always teach sober, but I sure as heck need a glass of wine after my long day of teaching 9 students!

Cheers!

I have one particular student, and some days I feel like I need 9 glasses of wine after teaching just him!

LOL!! Does that mean you're not posting on PM sober?

Sober is one thing. Hungover ... now that's another.

I may or may not have a similar student!

I teach (but not music) and this evening I had a drink to congratulate myself for managing to not get bitten by my student. I had a much better day than the other teacher did on Friday...

Don't we all feel that way sometimes?

I don't know what the pay scales for firefighters are in Australia, but here in the U.S. they're pathetically low, especially in light of the risks and physical demands of the job. More power to the Aussies if their negotiating approach results in better pay for a terribly dangerous yet completely essential job.

Oh dear...now I'm wondering if MY teacher posts here!

At one of my students house that I travel to, she always offers me a drink, Chardonnay, wine cooler. It's tempting, but I have to remind her that I'm at work and I don't drink on the job! Piano lessons is a bit more lax than say, air traffic controller or firefighter, but I still wouldn't go there. After lessons, no problem. I love red wine and they say it keeps you young..so long as you stick with only two glasses and not the whole bottle!

Unless you're a 6 year old boy from New Jersey who likes to stand on tables, I'm not referring to you!

I don't drink but there have been some students where I have been wondering if it might be something to take up.

That word "chunderous" was the most appropriate new word I've heard in a long time. I had to look it up and was soon very sorry I had looked it up - so many similar definitions applying to different vile situations. The "Aussie's" coined that did they? I will be sure not to use this word, I promise. And, it looked so innocent, similar to thunderous, you know.

You are fast in clever responses, Piano*Dad!

Betty

Why thank you. Anytime I hear 'Australia' and 'sober' (or its opposite) in the same sentence I'm reminded of the old 1982 song 'Down Under.'

ha you're too funny piano*dad