Who's Who in Pinole: Marie-Lousie Fiatarone

Name: Marie-Lousie Fiatarone

Occupation: Owner and director of  school of music

How long have you lived in Pinole? Forty-two years, and the store has been here since 1970.

What do you like about Pinole? I like the fact that Pinole people are culturally minded and love music.

What would you change about Pinole? Nothing, really. I like its proximity to all of the cultural things in the Bay Area but yet it's special area all its own.

What are your favorite places in Pinole? I like all of the stores in the Pinole Valley Shopping Center, the , , the , , and .

How does music enrich your students' lives? The ones who take music seem to excel in school and other outside activities. I would say that it keeps them away from electronics like texting and video games. Music can stay with them later in life. I have had some famous students that came here, like Billy Joe Armstrong of Green Day, Kristy Cates, who played Elphaba in Wicked, and Larry LaLonde of Primus. Right now I have students who range in age from 4 and a half years old to 78 years old.