Making Noise and getting loud with Dr Margaret Jones
What if the thing that doesn't technically keep you alive is actually the thing that makes life worth living?
This week, Siobhan sits down with Dr. Margaret "Marge" Jones to talk music, history, sexism, creativity, and why making art, even when it doesn't pay the bills, is still one of the most human things we can do.
Summary
This week Siobhan sits down with Dr. Margaret "Marge" Jones, classical guitarist, rock frontwoman, educator, and all-around music nerd, to pull back the curtain on what it really looks like to build a life around something most people call "just a hobby."
Marge shares her journey from Santa Cruz to Pennsylvania and back to California, where she earned her PhD in Music and built a career teaching, recording, and touring with M. Jones and the Melee. Along the way, she opens up about being the only woman in her classical guitar program, navigating sexism, finding her voice onstage, and why she stopped trying to make everything perfect.
Together, she and Siobhan wander through music history, from wax-cylinder recordings and one-take performances to modern digital editing, talk about why tiny mistakes often make music feel more human, and explore the Black artists whose contributions shaped rock and roll long before they were properly recognized.
They also dive into education, stage fright, songwriting, critical thinking, and why standing on stage can feel like borrowing a version of yourself that's been there all along.
Whether you're a musician, an artist, or someone who's wondering if chasing the thing you love is actually worth it, this conversation is a reminder that creativity isn't extra credit for life, it might be one of the reasons we're here in the first place.
Dr. Margaret "Marge" Jones
Dr. Margaret “Marge” Jones is a guitarist, songwriter, and educator with a PhD in music. Classically trained on guitar, she also fronts the rock band M Jones and the Melee, blending tight technique with raw, human, “messy on purpose” performances. Offstage, Marge teaches around 50 private students, from four-year-olds playing “Twinkle Twinkle” to teens learning rock riffs, using games, structure, and a lot of heart to help them build skills and confidence. Whether she’s on a minivan tour, running sound in a bar, or in the studio tracking guitars, Marge is committed to honoring music’s history while making space for new voices.
Resources & Mentions
Artists / Music & Media
Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Widely considered one of the pioneers of rock and roll, blending gospel, blues, and electric guitar decades before rock became mainstream.
Chuck Berry
Legendary guitarist and songwriter whose influence helped define rock and roll.
Tom Waits
Singer-songwriter referenced for the song "Misery Is the River of the World," which became a memorable father-daughter discovery for Marge.
Official: https://tomwaits.com/
Song: https://tomwaits.com/music/song/misery-is-the-river-of-the-world/
The Matches
California rock band mentioned during a discussion about band names, legal issues, and their documentary.
Official: https://thematchesmusic.com/
Documentary (Bleeding Audio): https://www.bleedingaudiodoc.com/
Pentatonix
Gammy-winning a cappella group discussed during Siobhan's experience in Saudi Arabia.
M. Jones and the Melee
Dr. Margaret Jones' rock band.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjonesandthemelee/
Radio & Music Discovery
KEXP
Independent public radio station known for discovering and supporting emerging artists.
WYEP Pittsburgh
Independent public radio station featuring eclectic music programming.
Films & Documentaries
Whiplash (2014)
Academy Award-winning film exploring perfectionism, ambition, and the darker side of music education.
Bleeding Audio
Documentary about The Matches, their rise, collapse, reunion, and the realities of the music industry.
Topics & Historical References
Music Recording History
Discussion of wax-cylinder recording technology, one-take performances, and the evolution into modern digital recording.
Learn more:
Library of Congress – National Recording Preservation Board
https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-recording-preservation-board/
Sonic Warfare
The use of sound and music as psychological influence or coercion, referenced during the conversation.
Learn more:
Sonic Warfare: Sound, Affect, and the Ecology of Fear by Steve Goodman
https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262517959/sonic-warfare/
Music at Guantánamo Bay
Referenced during discussion of loud music being used as an interrogation technique.
Learn more:
National Public Radio (NPR)
https://www.npr.org/2008/06/19/91630031/music-used-as-a-weapon-at-guantanamo
💡 Key Takeaways
Time beats “talent”: if you can move your fingers and commit the time, you can learn an instrument.
Fun is not a luxury in music—it’s the point. Burnout and hyper-competition in music school can kill the very joy that drew you there.
Music history is tangled: rock and metal are rooted in Black traditions and classical technique; we owe proper credit and context.
Being the only woman in the room is survivable—but costly. Confidence, boundaries, and community matter.
Performance and teaching are both acts of care: from structuring practice sessions to managing volume in venues, it’s all about making a better experience for people.
“Music doesn’t put food on the table. It doesn’t provide shelter… we just kind of do it because it’s fun.”
~ Dr. Jones