DRMASTAFF.COM
FAQ's
What's the Wifi Password?
Network: DRMA Staff Wifi
Password: staffonly
How do I know when DRMA is closed?
Perform these steps before asking staff members:
- Check the bottom of drma.com
- Look at your schedule on the date(s) in question
- Look for the signs around DRMA (front door and TV)
How do I sign someone up for a Showcase?
I need a day off. What do I do?
Time Off RequestsFill out a Time Off Request. There's a video that shows you how!
What's the late cancel policy for students?
Here are our Cancellation Policies:
CANCELING A LESSON: To cancel lessons and receive Make-Up Lesson Credits, you must use your DRMA Opus1 account to cancel. The deadlines to cancel lessons and still receive credits are as follows:
Weekday Lessons: 12:00 PM
Saturday Lessons: 7:00 AM
This includes the day of the lesson. No Make-Up Lesson Credits will be issued for lessons canceled after the deadlines listed above.
USING A MAKE-UP CREDIT: When you wish to use your credit(s), you can self-book your make-up lessons. The available lesson times are first come, first served. Your regular instructor may or may not be available. You are welcome to, and are encouraged to schedule a lesson with any available instructor on staff. A make-up lesson cannot be canceled or rescheduled once it is booked.
NO CALL/NO SHOW: If you do not cancel your lesson using your account, and you do not show up for your lesson, you have forfeited the lesson and you will not receive a Make-Up Lesson Credit.
EXPIRATION: Make-up lesson credits are valid for 45 days after the initial cancellation. If not used within 45 days, the credits will automatically expire. ALL unused Make-up Lesson Credits expire 30 days after a membership ends.
CREDIT LIMIT: No more than three (3) Make-up Lesson Credits can be pending at a time per membership.
How does the payment structure work?
You are paid your contracted rate for all:
- Lessons you teach
- Late cancels/No shows
You will be paid an average week's pay for Summer and Winter Breaks
- Summer Break - The week surrounding July 4th
- Winter Break - The week book-ended by Christmas Eve (approx.) and New Year's Day.
You will have a review every 6 months with management where discussions may take place regarding raises and bonuses. See your contract for full details.
Are there paid sick days?
No. As a sub-contractor, your pay depends completely on your presence at the job.
Where are my tax documents and paystubs?
All of your paystubs, and your 1099 forms are stored in your Square account.
I need to change my bank account. Now what?
Please login to your Square account and change the details there. We have no access to that information and we can not change it for you.
I moved. Should I tell you that?
You can update that in Opus1 if you like, but you REALLY need to update it in Square. When 1099 Forms are sent at the end of the year, they will be sent to the address on file. AND, the IRS will also get their copy of the 1099. If the addresses don't match, it can cause problems.
Opus1 Help Videos
Saturday Showcase Sign Up Rules
- All performances must be under 3 minutes in length
- Parents/Students can no longer self-enroll, it is now the Instructor's choice and obligation to enroll
- All students will go on to a waitlist to perform, no performance spots are guaranteed
- Waitlists are open from the 1st to the 15th of every month (ex. June 1st-15th for July Showcase, etc.)
- Entries before the 1st and after the 15th will not be considered
- If your performer needs a Backing Track, the correct and final version is due at sign up (see form for more info)
- 15 Performers (per show) will be chosen and notified by DRMA Staff in advance.
DO NOT USE OPUS1 FOR SIGN UPS
Saturday Showcase Performer Entry Form
Saturday Showcase Performer Entry Form
Junior Showcase Performer Entry Form
Saturday Showcase Performer Entry Form
The DRMA Instructor's Guide Book
Learn, Create Perform
An Instructor’s Guidebook to: Learn the culture, Create positive experiences & Perform with excellence.
***IMPORTANT***
All student schedule changes MUST be handled through the front desk staff. If a student tells you they will not be in for one lesson, or if they need to take a break from lessons, please direct them to the front counter. This creates better clarity and enables us to notate the change and condense or rearrange your schedule when possible.
When you are taking time off, please DO NOT tell your students!
This is the job of the front desk staff. If you tell a student that you will not be in, the student is likely to not come in or they will cancel. This will not be beneficial to the student and it can create gaps in the substitute teachers schedule.
Retaining Students & Lesson Etiquette
Our biggest goal here is to have some fun while educating. We have found these bullet points below to be the best ways to retain a student for years.
- Always come out of your lesson room and greet the student and, if applicable, the parent.
- Ask the student how their week was and keep things light and fun.
- Be thoughtful in your teachings. We all know what it's like to learn an nstrument. It can be very challenging for some to learn a new concept. Be patient and encouraging, and as simple as this sounds, BE NICE!!
- Watch the time!! Please start and stop lessons on time!! If the student is late, please stop at the correct end time for the lesson. If you are late, try to go over just enough to keep the current student happy and the incoming student happy. This can be a bit of a balancing act.
- Always have the student leave with a book and/or some clear notes on what to work on for the week. If you use Opus1 properly, you can leave notes for the student after each lesson when you take attendance.
- When the lesson is finished, walk the student to their parent and let the parent know exactly how they did. Again, BE NICE this area can be tricky. If the student came in unprepared, let the parent know that the student needs to work a little harder on practicing more at home. Or let them know if the student did well and ALWAYS be encouraging and positive.
During lessons, we ask that you refrain from engaging in conversations regarding politics, religion or anything seemingly too personal to you or the student. Some things that might be said in a lesson room regarding these topics can be, and often are, misunderstood or taken out of context when repeated to a parent. Please do your best to avoid these topics.
Teacher Attendance Policy
As an instructor at DRMA, you are not technically an employee, you are an independent contractor. However, we feel that we are partners in this venture. Although, we hope that you will treat your job like you are running your own small business. In effect, you are! We don’t actually control your schedule, the lessons do. So, you’re basically working for your students. In that sense, maintaining your appearance, punctuality and professionalism are all important factors in running your business. Your success will depend on these things, so do your best to keep your standards high.
As for our partnership, there are some mutual expectations. We work very hard to keep your schedule as full as possible at all times. It requires a lot of effort and financial investment on our part, and we’re happy to do it. In return, we hope that you realize that the more consistently you are here, the easier it is for us to keep your schedule as full as possible, at all times.
Since you are not an employee of DRMA, you are welcome to take off as many days as you like. However, if too many days are missed, we’ve found that students become unhappy and may seek a different teacher or move to another lesson facility altogether. It is very important that we work together to maintain a consistent schedule as it benefits everyone.
- If you become sick, please let us know as soon as possible. The day before is best for us to be able to find a substitute, but we are aware that emergencies happen.
- Please be as consistent as possible. If you do need a day off, please fill out a “time off request” in your Opus1 account at least 7 days in advance.
- Please be on time!! We have many teachers who either share students or have siblings at the same time. If you are late, it can make a student late for their next lesson and put another teacher behind schedule.
- When you are done for the day check with the front staff and see if they have any questions for you or if they need something from you. They may have information about your next lesson day or a question about the day you just finished.
- If you need time off there is a “Time Off Request” form in your Opus1 account.
Keeping A Clean And Safe Environment
At the end of your teaching day, please check the lesson room for any trash, pencils, papers, or anything that is out of place. Please try to leave your room cleaner than when you entered it. This way the next teacher to enter the room does not have to start by cleaning before teaching.
Please use a Clorox wipe to wipe down any surface you feel may be dirty or has germs on it. Like the keyboard of the piano, door handles or any other surface you feel needs to be wiped down to protect you, the next student or the next incoming Instructor.
Showcases
We follow our motto; Learn, Create, Perform. We offer an open monthly Showcase for our students to perform. Once a month you or your student can go into the Opus1 software and enter their name on the Showcase. Please fill out all the fields. Make sure you communicate with the parent to confirm on their account that they will be attending the showcase. Your job is to ensure that your student is ready, that they understand proper recital etiquette, and to ask them to stay for the entire showcase if they are able. Also, please make sure they know how to get on one off the stage and they should be prepared to say their name and what song they are going to perform on the microphone before they play..
We run our shows very differently than most other facilities. We try to make the students as comfortable as possible while performing. We play music between performers, we walk the students on stage and make sure they are comfortable. And, we’ve even had students play their piece twice to ensure a good experience. We want them to walk off of the stage feeling proud of their performance.
We try to keep our Showcases to about 45 minutes long. This way parents are not sitting here all day to hear their child play for 2 minutes.
You are not required to attend Showcases, but it is encouraged.
**PLEASE do not try to treat a Showcase like your personal recital. Slot availability should be open to all students of all instructors. Please enroll NO MORE than 4 students in a Showcase**
Dress Code
Please dress professionally. Your first impression is very important. If you look clean and prepared the students and parents will notice.
- Instructors are expected to dress in casual, business casual.
- Instructors must always present a clean, professional appearance. Everyone is expected to be well-groomed and wear clean clothing free of holes, tears, or other signs of wear.
- Clothing with offensive or inappropriate designs or logos are not allowed.
- Must wear closed toed shoes. No flip flops or sandals please.
- Shorts are okay but long pants are preferred.
- Clothing should not be too revealing.
- Clothing and grooming styles dictated by religion or ethnicity are exempt.
Tax Help
To get a shared copy of the Tax Worksheet, email charge@drma.com
Independent Contractor Agreement for Music Instructor
1. Responsibilities of Desert Ridge Music Academy
DRMA will provide the location for the teaching of music lessons. DRMA will be responsible for attracting and scheduling student lessons and make-up lessons as well as setting and collecting lesson fees from the students.
2. Duties of the Instructor
The Instructor will provide 30 and 60 minute private lessons to students at DRMA located at 21039 N. Cave Creek Road Suite 3 Phoenix, AZ 85024 and/or online via a virtual platform to be chosen by DRMA (with account access provided to the Instructor at no cost) on days and times mutually agreed upon by both the Instructor and DRMA listed on page 4 of this document. Should DRMA offer Group Music Classes, the details (pay rate, class durations, syllabuses, etc.) shall be determined and agreed upon prior to commencement of the class. Both parties shall be made fully aware of such an agreement and sign any addendums necessary to furnish commencement.
3. Termination of the Agreement
Either the DRMA or the Instructor may terminate this Agreement at any time for any reason. If the Instructor wishes to terminate their contract with DRMA, it is requested that the Instructor issue a formal resignation with at least two (2) weeks’ notice. If the Instructor does not provide at least two (2) weeks’ notice, DRMA may withhold the Instructor’s last week’s pay indefinitely as a means of reimbursement of lost revenue due to insufficient time necessary to transition the Instructors former students to a new Instructor.
4. Instruments for Instruction
With exception to pianos, guitar amplifiers and drum kits, the Instructor shall furnish his/her own instrument(s) as well as other equipment necessary to teach students. DRMA may be able to provide some stringed instruments (such as violins, violas, cellos, and double basses). DRMA shall not be obligated to reimburse the Instructor for any expenses including, but not limited to, repair of instruments, re-stringing, etc.
5. Other Engagements
The Instructor shall be entitled to make the Instructor’s services available to the general public and to have other teaching engagements or employment during the term of the Agreement so long as such other services, employment, or engagement do not interfere or conflict with the Instructor’s performance or scheduling of teacher’s duties under this Agreement.
6. Compensation and Recording
FOR NEW HIRES: The Instructor agrees to a payment of $ XX.XX per 30 minutes taught to students. This rate is a probationary rate which will last for a minimum of six months from the hire date. If, after 6 months, the instructor is found to be in good standing with management and their student body, the pay rate shall increase to $ XX.XX per 30 minutes taught to students. All subsequent raises thereafter shall take place as a direct result of their standard partnership reviews.
FOR EXISTING INSTRUCTORS: All formerly signed contract compensation remains valid unless otherwise updated during your last partnership review. Updates are agreed upon verbally and subsequently recorded into Opus1 and Payroll Services.
DRMA cannot guarantee a minimum income, hours, or number of students scheduled for lessons with the Instructor. The Instructor shall not receive any payment for time gaps in his/her schedule. However, The Instructor will be paid for their time in the event that a student cancels their lesson outside of the cancellation window, known as a “late call.” The payment rate for a “late call” is the same pay rate listed above.
Services provided by the Instructor will be accounted for by the Instructor marking their daily lesson attendance. It shall be summarized in a DRMA scheduling software account and available to the Instructor. The Instructor shall be paid weekly via direct deposit. Any errors in payment may be reviewed by both parties. In the event of an error, upon mutual agreement, corrections shall be made accordingly. The direct deposit constitutes payment for services rendered by the Instructor based on services for the period.
7. Time off Requests, Partnership Reviews, Bonus Pay and Pay Raises
7.1 Time off Requests: The success of DRMA is subject to the consistency of its ability to provide services to its Students. Excessive time off is considered a detriment to both the income of the Instructor and DRMA. Should the Instructor require time off, they must submit a notice of request at a minimum of seven (7) calendar days prior to the requested date(s).
7.2 Partnership Reviews: DRMA shall conduct partnership reviews with the Instructor every six (6) months beginning approximately six (6) months after contract signing. In these reviews, DRMA hopes to maintain good standing with the Instructor by allowing the Instructor to address any issues or concerns related to DRMA and its practices and procedures. Instructors should expect that allowance to be reciprocal if applicable.
7.3 Bonus Pay: DRMA may award annual bonuses to its Instructors based on an Instructors final year-end Bonus Calculation Worksheet score. DRMA reserves the right to withhold or deny any bonus for any reason. Bonus pay is not guaranteed and is outside of the scope of normal independent contractor compensation. Changes to the Instructor’s pay shall result directly from the scoring results of the Instructor Bonus Calculation Worksheet provided and tabulated by DRMA based upon that Instructor's data derived solely from Opus1. The resulting score is a combination of both the Instructors’ submittals of Unpaid Time Off Requests (UTOR) and their Student Retention data percentages. DRMA shall ensure the Instructor understands the Worksheet calculations prior to their first teaching day.
It is the expectation that the Instructor understands that the success of DRMA relies on its ability to provide a high level of consistency in rendering its services. The following rules shall apply in regard to pay raises and bonus pay:
1. Paid Time Off: DRMA offers its instructors the opportunity to receive up to, but not more than two (2) Paid Time Off Bonuses (PTOB) per year. The amount of the PTOB shall be equal to one (1) average week of regular pay. The actual amount shall be derived using an average week of pay based on the immediate prior six (6) months of pay records. This average will include ALL pay records, including weeks where an Instructor had submitted time off and taken it. The available PTOB events shall be the week surrounding Independence Day, and the week from approximately Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day.
To qualify for a PTOB, Instructors MUST present a UTOR score over 85% for the six (6) month period leading up to the Partnership Review.
Should the Instructor’s UTOR score be less than 85% for the 6 month period leading up to a partnership review, the Instructor may not be eligible for any PTOB whatsoever. That decision will be at the discretion of DRMA.
2. Bonus Pay: DRMA may award bonus pay to Instructors whose Bonus Calculation Worksheet score is over 80% for the calendar year. The amount of bonus pay is structured into three (3) tiers, Tier A (90-100%), Tier B (80-89.9%) and Tier C (0% to 79.9%). Bonus pay shall depend on the Instructor’s score and how many days per week they teach for DRMA.
3. Pay Raises: If an Instructor presents excellent scores throughout the year, DRMA may consider raising the per-lesson pay for that instructor. The amount of which shall be determined by DRMA. Any and all Instructor pay raise discussions shall only take place in the end of year review. Any pay raise increase will take place starting the next calendar year.
4. Tardiness Monitoring: Punctuality is an important characteristic of an ideal DRMA Instructor. One is considered to be “on time” when arriving at DRMA at least 5-10 minutes prior to the first lesson of the day. Anything else is considered late and may be viewed as unprofessional by peers, clients and management. Our goal is to maintain professionalism from the first lesson of the day to the last. We may monitor and record instructor arrival times in order to help instructors become aware of any tardiness patterns they may be developing. This provides a safeguard to bolster relationships both with DRMA front desk staff, management and the clientele.
In summary, if the Instructor maintains a consistent schedule, their chances of a pay increase and bonuses are likely. Repeated failure of the Instructor to maintain a consistent schedule despite course correction requests by DRMA may result in a decrease in compensation ranging from $1.00 to $5.00 less per 30 minutes depending on the severity of inconsistency, or termination. DRMA reserves the right to decrease an Instructor’s compensation if a pattern of repeated inconsistency becomes prevalent and the Instructor chooses to make no correction in course.
8. Independent Contractor
DRMA and the Instructor mutually understand and agree that the Instructor is an independent contractor, and that Instructor shall not be deemed to be employees of DRMA. The parties further agree that the Instructor shall be and at all times shall act and perform as an independent contractor with authority and right to direct and control all details of the work and the scheduling of the work, with the DRMA being interested only in the results obtained. It is the understanding and intention of the parties hereto that no relationship of master and servant, or principal and agent, shall exist between DRMA and the Instructor, whether by “borrowed servant” or any other legal theory. There are no minimum required work hours for the Instructor, and both parties agree that the scheduling of the Instructor’s hours is based solely on the Instructor’s availability and subsequent student workload scheduled by DRMA. Agreement to complete the work is at the discretion of the Instructor. If the Instructor should choose not to do the work, DRMA is allowed to assign the work to other contractors as it sees fit.
9. Enrolled Students at Desert Ridge Music Academy
It is understood between the parties hereto that Students acquired and provided to the Instructor by DRMA’s marketing efforts are Valuable Assets. It is agreed by the parties that the Instructor will not solicit service of private instruction of DRMA’s enrolled students during the term of this Agreement and for a period of twelve (12) months after this Agreement is terminated. Doing so would cause financial hardship and said Instructor agrees to indemnify DRMA for any loss incurred as a result of a violation of this provision.
10. Tax Responsibility
DRMA shall issue to the Instructor an IRS Form 1099 (and not an IRS Form W-2) for amounts paid by DRMA. No joint venture, partnership, employment, agency, or other such relationship is intended, accomplished, or embodied by this Agreement. DRMA will not withhold FICA (Social Security and Medicare taxes) from your compensation or make FICA payments on the Instructor’s behalf. The Instructor will pay all taxes incurred while performing services under this Agreement.
11. Instructor Availability
The Instructor shall provide their initial schedule availability to DRMA using this form. DRMA understands that the Instructor may wish to change their schedule availability. The Instructor is permitted to do so by providing DRMA with written notice of changes at least two (2) weeks prior to the effective date of the changes.