Bach was a strict music teacher

Bach was not only a composer and musician; he also served as a mentor and taught music to many different groups. Most of these organizations consisted of vocalists and choir members. Bach ran into difficulties numerous times while serving as the church's organist because he was dissatisfied with the choir singers. Bach did not get along with churchgoers because he often complained that they were of low caliber.

He kept referring to them as weenie bassoon players. One of the pupils attacked him, and he was forced to report him to the police. Never one to mince words, Bach became impatient with Johann Geyersbach, a bassoonist who made a lot of mistakes, and referred to him as a zippelfagottist, or "nanny-goat bassoonist." They were combative words. Gersbach attacked Bach with a walking stick a few days later. Bach produced a knife. The two had to be pulled apart as the rumble turned into a full-fledged scrum.

Bach was instructed to be patient with the choir members and students. He took a leave of absence, which he then prolonged to four months, angering his employer. Bach had traveled to Lubeck to see the composer and organist Dieterich Buxtehude. He walked this distance.