My undergrad piano teacher was tough. Picture Maggie Smith with a southern accent. She often reduced students to tears but she didn't yell and she most certainly didn't throw anything. She did once record me playing and played it back so I could hear what it sounded like to teach someone who rather obviously wasn't practicing enough (which was true). She was respected and feared at our school. But I wouldn't say she was abusive.
I'm sorry but why do we tolerate people in the arts who clearly just need to grow the eff up. Talent schmalent. It's just immaturity. I know we all get angry and frustrated sometimes. But I didn't pull that crap as a teacher. And even as a child I quickly lost respect for teachers (and I had them) who threw temper tantrums rather than behave like grown=ups are expected to.
This really is a baseline expectation and it shouldn't be that hard to meet. Have your tantrum someplace else on your own time but it's not acceptable to treat students or coworkers that way. It's just not.
Houndentenor
"Get the trash off the street and back on the stage where it belongs." -- Bette Midler
