Regarding the SoundOff about the size of the Potsdam Central music program, (“Music Department Still Big,” Mar. 16-22), the writer is playing a numbers game, not looking at what has been accomplished with adequate staffing. Cutting will cause the quality and student opportunities to decrease. Potsdam has a proud tradition of arts education, which attracts new residents.  In 2009, Potsdam was named one of the “100 Best Communities for Music Education” by the National Association of Music Merchants. This recognized our excellent student participation, achievement, course offerings, faculty size, extracurricular musical involvement and financial support. PCS ensembles regularly attend evaluation festivals – the voluntary “standardized tests” of a musical ensemble. Most area schools do not regularly participate. PCS’s high school vocal and band programs regularly receive highest honors performing Level 6 music, the highest difficulty. We are in a fiscal bind; tough choices must be made.  Cutting another music position (the second in two years) at PCS is not an acceptable choice.