Faculty Agreement

The Global Conservatory

Effective as of May. 2025

1. Parties

This agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into by and between:

The Global Conservatory (“The Institution”), a digital institution for advanced music instruction,

and

[Faculty Name] (“Faculty Member”), an independent educator providing services through The Institution.

2. Independent Contractor Status

The Faculty Member is engaged as an independent contractor and not an employee.

They are solely responsible for:

• Their own tax filings and legal obligations
  
  

• Insurance, benefits, or other legal entitlements
  
  

• Compliance with local, state, or national regulations
  
  

This Agreement does not create an employment, partnership, or agency relationship.

3. Scope of Work

Faculty may offer the following instructional services:

• Private one-on-one lessons
  
  

• Masterclasses (live or recorded)
  
  

• Group workshops or seminars
  
  

• Curricular input or specialty coaching
  
  

All work must be scheduled, delivered, and recorded (if applicable) through the Institution’s designated platforms (e.g., Zoom, Shopify scheduling).

4. Scheduling & Platform Use

• Lessons must be scheduled and conducted through the official platform only.
  
  

• Faculty may set their own availability and base hourly rate.
  
  

• The Institution reserves the right to add a platform fee on top of the base rate.
  
  

• Faculty may not solicit or accept off-platform bookings from students met through the platform.
  
  

5. Payment, Taxes & Platform Fee Structure

Faculty Earnings:

• Faculty receives 75% of the student-paid lesson fee, minus payment processor fees (e.g., PayPal).
  
  

• Payouts are issued via PayPal, Stripe, or other approved methods within 7–10 business days of completed lessons.
  
  

Taxes:

• The Institution does not withhold taxes.
  
  

• Faculty is fully responsible for reporting income and fulfilling local tax obligations, including income tax, VAT, or self-employment taxes as applicable.
  
  

Currency & Processing:

• Payments are made in USD (or equivalent), and currency conversion or payment processing fees may apply depending on the provider.
  
  

Platform Fee Structure:

• Faculty sets their own base rate (e.g., $80).
  
  

• The Institution adds a 25% platform fee on top (e.g., $20), and the student pays the total price ($100).
  
  

• Faculty receives 100% of their base rate (minus payment processor fees).
  
  

• The 25% fee is retained by the Institution to cover administrative, marketing, and platform operations.
  
  

6. Cancellations, Missed Lessons & Disputes

Student No-Show or Late Cancellation:

• If a student cancels less than 24 hours in advance or fails to appear, the Faculty Member will receive full compensation.
  
  

Faculty No-Show or Cancellation:

• If a Faculty Member cancels or fails to appear without reasonable notice or justification, the lesson will be forfeited and unpaid.
  
  

• Repeated missed sessions or poor communication may result in removal from the platform.
  
  

Technical Failures:

• If a lesson is interrupted or fails due to technical issues caused by the Faculty Member, payment may be withheld.
  
  

• If failure is student-side, Faculty may still receive payment. All tech-related disputes will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
  
  

7. Technology & Instruction Standards

Faculty must:

• Maintain a reliable internet connection
  
  

• Use high-quality audio and video equipment
  
  

• Conduct lessons in a quiet, professional environment
  
  

Failure to maintain professional instructional standards may result in warnings, temporary suspension, or permanent removal from the platform.

8. Code of Conduct & Ethics

Faculty agrees to:

• Treat all students with professionalism and respect
  
  

• Avoid discriminatory, harassing, or inappropriate behavior
  
  

• Not deliver ideological, political, or religious instruction unless approved
  
  

• Maintain clear boundaries, especially with youth students
  
  

• Refrain from making defamatory or misleading statements about the Institution
  
  

The Institution reserves the right to remove faculty for any conduct it deems harmful to students, the platform, or its reputation.

9. Confidentiality & Data Privacy

Faculty agrees to maintain the confidentiality of all non-public information, including:

• Student data
  
  

• Internal communications
  
  

• Pricing structures
  
  

• Platform tools, systems, and infrastructure
  
  

Faculty will comply with all applicable data privacy laws (including GDPR, if relevant), and will not download, retain, or distribute personal data without explicit authorization.

10. Content Licensing & Promotional Use

Faculty grants the Institution:

• A royalty-free, perpetual, global license to record, archive, and publicly use lesson clips or masterclasses (when mutually agreed)
  
  

• Permission to use their name, biography, photo, and credentials on the website, in marketing materials, and in institutional documentation
  
  

Faculty will be notified before any extended promotional campaign.

11. Non-Solicitation & Platform Integrity

Faculty may not:

• Solicit students to book lessons outside the platform
  
  

• Promote competing services or platforms to students
  
  

• Use student contact lists for commercial or private purposes
  
  

This clause remains in effect for 12 months after the end of faculty service.

12. Teaching of Minors (Under 18)

Faculty may only teach students under 18 if:

• Parental consent has been obtained
  
  

• All communication is maintained through the platform
  
  

• Guidelines for child safety and online behavior are strictly followed
  
  

The Institution may request background checks or additional screening if required by local law.

13. Public Representation & Conduct

Faculty may not:

• Present themselves as an official representative or spokesperson of The Global Conservatory
  
  

• Enter into contracts, partnerships, or media engagements on behalf of the Institution
  
  

• Engage in public conduct that damages the Institution’s reputation
  
  

All formal inquiries must be referred to platform leadership.

14. Institutional Expansion & Sovereign Transfer

Faculty acknowledges and agrees that:

• The Global Conservatory may one day be licensed, acquired, or governed by a national institution, cultural ministry, or sovereign fund
  
  

• This Agreement remains valid under such a transition
  
  

• Faculty will not seek renegotiation or termination due to a change in ownership or public-private governance
  
  

15. Global Application & Localization

This Agreement applies to:

• All official global versions of the platform (e.g., Conservatory–EU, Conservatory–Asia, etc.)
  
  

• All affiliated subdomains, programs, and legally connected entities under the Institution’s control
  
  

16. Force Majeure

Neither party shall be held liable for failure to perform due to events outside reasonable control, including but not limited to:

• Natural disasters
  
  

• War or civil unrest
  
  

• Pandemic or health crisis
  
  

• Widespread technological failure
  
  

• Government restrictions or sanctions
  
  

17. Governing Law, Language, & Arbitration

• This Agreement is executed in English. In the case of discrepancies with translations, the English version prevails.
  
  

• The governing law shall be the laws of Hong Kong SAR, China
  
  

• Any disputes will be resolved by confidential binding arbitration under the rules of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
  
  

18. Termination

This Agreement may be terminated by either party with written notice.

The Institution may suspend or remove faculty immediately in cases of:

• Policy violations
  
  

• Unprofessional conduct
  
  

• System abuse or reputational risk
  
  

• Consistent poor student feedback or complaints
  
  

19. Entire Agreement & Execution

This document represents the full understanding between the Faculty Member and The Institution.

It supersedes all prior agreements or representations.

Electronic and digital signatures are legally binding.

Signature

Faculty Name: __________________________

Date: _________________________________

The Global Conservatory

Authorized Representative: __________________

Date: _________________________________

Let me know if you’d like this:

• Converted into a .docx and PDF version with signature fields
  
  

• Paired with a Faculty Onboarding Summary (1-pager)
  
  

• Translated or adapted for your home jurisdiction
  
  

This contract is now fully complete, professional, enforceable — and sovereign-ready.