W2 Transition Resources for Faculty
Your comprehensive guide to employment policies, teaching standards, and workplace expectations at Community Music Space.
View HandbookUnderstanding your transition from 1099 to W2, including tax implications, benefits, and practical advice.
View Tax GuideWelcome to the Community Music Space Team
As Community Music Space has grown, we're excited to transition from a contractor-based model to a W2 employee structure—a change that reflects both our expansion and our commitment to compliance with employment regulations.
As a W2 employee of Community Music Space, you are part of a dedicated team providing exceptional music education in an inclusive, inspiring environment. Our goal is to create a workplace where working musicians can build stable, sustainable careers that support both their livelihood and their continued artistic practice. This handbook outlines the policies, benefits, and resources available to you as we continue our mission together.
Thank you for being an essential part of our community and for the passion you bring to music education every day.
You are classified as an hourly, non-exempt W2 employee of Community Music Space. This means:
Your employment with Community Music Space is "at-will," meaning either you or CMS may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice.
You have two pay rates:
You only need to track your teaching hours in Opus1!
Your teaching hours are automatically tracked through Opus1 when you:
Administrative time is automatically calculated at 20% of your teaching hours to cover:
Example: If you teach 20 hours in a week:
Response Times:
Marking attendance in Opus1 ensures you're properly paid for all your work!
When a student cancels: Create a Lessonmate online lesson during their regular time slot (you'll be paid for this time)
Lessonmate is ONLY required when a client cancels a lesson.
See Section 7 for detailed Lessonmate instructions and features.
When you need to cancel a lesson, follow these steps IN ORDER:
If you still need to cancel:
For ALL cancellations (yours or the student's):
Need help? We're here for you!
Community Music Space observes the following holidays:
You are covered by workers' compensation insurance for work-related injuries or illnesses. Report any workplace injury immediately, no matter how minor.
As a W2 employee, you are eligible for unemployment insurance if you lose your job through no fault of your own.
Information about Paid Family Leave benefits will be provided separately. You may be eligible for partial wage replacement for:
As part of our commitment to supporting our faculty's artistic growth, Community Music Space offers:
Interested? Reach out to administration to discuss opportunities for accessing these resources. We're here to support your creative journey!
We believe that active, creative musicians make the best teachers. By providing these resources, we're investing in your artistic journey alongside your teaching career. Your growth as an artist directly enriches the experience you bring to our students.
As CMS grows, we will evaluate additional benefits. Your input is always welcome.
We are committed to creating a sustainable, healthy, and creative work environment for our faculty. Our goal is to create a professional space where we all grow together. We encourage your input and are committed to our teachers growing with the business.
Opus1 is essential for getting paid and managing your teaching responsibilities.
Use Opus1 for:
Lessonmate is our platform for creating online makeup lessons when students cancel.
When to Use:
How It Works:
Equipment & Support:
Here's what's really happening: You're not paying more taxes - you're just paying them differently. In fact, you'll likely pay LESS in total taxes as a W2 employee because CMS will cover half of your Social Security and Medicare taxes!
As a W2 employee, CMS is actually paying an extra 7.65% on your behalf that you used to pay yourself! This nearly offsets the taxes you see coming out of your check.
Your paycheck will show these automatic deductions:
| Deduction Type | Rate | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Income Tax | 10-12% (typical) | Based on your W-4, can be adjusted |
| NY State Tax | 4-6% (typical) | Based on your IT-2104, can be adjusted |
| Social Security | 6.2% (fixed) | CMS pays another 6.2% for you! |
| Medicare | 1.45% (fixed) | CMS pays another 1.45% for you! |
Many teachers don't realize that being a W2 employee at CMS doesn't prevent you from having other self-employment income. You can keep your private studio and gigs!
You can still deduct expenses for:
Before, you paid self-employment tax (15.3%) on ALL your income. Now you only pay it on your non-CMS income!
| Aspect | 1099 (Before) | W2 (Now) |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Pay | $30,000 | $30,000 |
| Social Security/Medicare | You pay 15.3% ($4,590) | You pay 7.65% ($2,295) |
| Employer Contribution | $0 | CMS pays $2,295 |
| Quarterly Taxes | Required (but let's be honest...) | Not needed |
| Tax Complexity | High | Low |
| Unemployment Insurance | No | Yes |
| Workers' Comp | No | Yes |
| April Tax Bill | Usually owe ($3,000-8,000) | Usually refund |
A: Your paycheck will be smaller, but remember - you were supposed to be saving 25-30% for taxes as a 1099. Most teachers find their actual spending money is similar or even better.
A: Absolutely! You just separate them:
This is actually BETTER because you only pay self-employment tax on your non-CMS income!
A: Yes, if you have any music income outside of CMS! You'll file:
A: Not for your CMS income! If you have significant other self-employment income, you might still need to make quarterly payments for that portion.
A: We recommend waiting 1-2 pay periods to see how the standard withholding works for you, then adjust if needed.
The transition from 1099 to W2 brings these benefits:
The taxes coming out of your check were always owed - you're just paying them differently now. And with CMS covering the employer portion, you're actually coming out ahead!
Consider consulting a tax professional if you:
This guide provides general information. For specific tax advice, please consult a qualified tax professional.
Last Updated: For September 2025 W2 Transition