Teacher Orientation

Welcome to the Cincinnati School of Music team! We’re so glad to have you join our community of passionate and dedicated music educators. This page is designed to help you get started, stay organized, and feel confident in your teaching experience at CSM. Please read through each section carefully so you can make the most of your time with us.


Using Opus1 – Our Scheduling Software

At CSM, we use Opus1 for all lesson scheduling, teacher communication, and payroll visibility. This platform allows you to view your daily and weekly schedule, communicate safely with students and parents, and track your upcoming paychecks.

You’ll receive an invitation to access your Opus1 account. Once received, please log in and review your profile information for accuracy. If you haven’t received the invite, contact our office so we can resend it right away.

Checking Your Schedule and Pay

  1. Go to Opus1.io and log in.

  2. Navigate to your staff profile.

  3. On the left menu, click the dollar bill icon (“Go to payroll”).

  4. Use the grey date range box to select your desired period (for example, 1/1/25–1/15/25).

  5. Click outside the box to update your results.

  6. “Paid Out” (top right purple box) shows your gross income—the total before taxes.

  7. Scroll down to see a detailed list of all lessons taught.

Opus1 automatically updates you if a change occurs in your schedule, but we recommend checking your schedule before every teaching day to stay informed of any new students, makeup lessons, or cancellations.

Student Cancellations & Teacher Absences

Student Cancellations

  • Early Cancel (24+ hours notice): The lesson is removed from the schedule and the student can make it up later. The vacated time is unpaid.

  • Late Cancel (same-day): You will still be paid for the lesson. We may occasionally fill that time slot with a makeup lesson from another student.

Teacher Absences

If you need time off, please submit your request through Opus1 at least two weeks in advance so we can arrange a substitute if possible. When an absence occurs:

  • We first try to find an internal sub.

  • If none are available, we reschedule or credit affected students.

  • The office handles all student communication and scheduling changes.

Please note that teachers are not required to come in on non-teaching days for makeup lessons, and you will not be paid for days the school is officially closed.

Scheduling Policies

All scheduling must go through our office team to ensure accuracy and prevent double bookings.
If a student asks about missing a week, rescheduling, or changing lesson times, kindly direct them to contact the office. Our staff maintains the master schedule that tracks all rooms, instruments, and teacher assignments.

Only students officially enrolled through the office appear in teacher schedules.
For any pay-related questions, please email director@cincinnatischoolofmusic.com (Anna and Joe Backer).

Communicating with Students and Parents

Opus1 includes a Client Comments section where teachers, students, and parents can send messages securely.
You can use this feature to:

  • Send lesson notes, assignments, or helpful resources

  • Share links to sheet music, lesson books, or practice videos

  • Provide follow-up notes for missed lessons (LessonMate)

Important: If a student uses this feature to request schedule changes, please inform the office immediately so they can assist.

To learn more about Opus1 messaging and LessonMate, you can also watch our brief instructional video:
🎥 Watch on Vimeo

Holiday Schedule

Below is the 2026 Holiday Schedule for all CSM locations.
The school is closed for lessons on these dates.

If you need additional time off outside these holidays, please submit a time-off request in Opus1 at least two weeks in advance.
This allows us time to process the request and secure a substitute if needed.

Please note:

  • Teachers are not paid for days the school is closed or for approved personal time off.

  • Be sure to check your Opus1 calendar for any updates or reminders from the office.

For questions, contact Angela Rodgers, Assistant Director (angela@cincinnatischoolofmusic.com)

Inclement Weather & Emergency Closures

Safety is our top priority at CSM. In cases of severe weather, power outages, or other hazardous conditions, we may close early, open late, or cancel lessons for the day.

When this happens:

  • We will send an email announcement as early as possible.

  • The office will contact affected students to issue makeup credits for missed lessons.

  • We do not offer Zoom or virtual lessons during weather closures due to power and connectivity risks, as well as client preference for in-person learning.

Please note:

  • Lessons canceled due to inclement weather or power outages are not paid, but you will be compensated for any makeup lessons you teach later.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we work to keep everyone safe and informed.

If you have any questions about any of the information above, please feel free to email Angela Rodgers (angela@cincinnatischoolofmusic.com) or Anna & Joe Backer (director@cincinnatischoolomusic.com)