Facilitating young children's social and emotional learning experience in Hong Kong Protestant churches: Perspectives of song leaders

Song leading sections for children are available on a weekly basis in religious settings in Hong Kong, yet there has been limited amount of research drawn over this learning platform on developing children's social and emotional competence. This study aims to investigate the extent to which Song Leading sections in Hong Kong Protestant churches may offer a potential non-formal music learning platform for facilitating two- to four-year-old children's social and emotional learning experience. The concept of social and emotional abilities had been considered via the lens of selfawareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship management and responsible decision-making. This study employed a qualitative research approach with thematic analysis, including non-participant observations and interviews with song leaders from three Protestant churches in Hong Kong. Findings identified the Song Leading section as a potential non-formal music learning platform for children by offering a process-oriented, interactive, autonomous and active participatory experience. Song Leading sections offer a potential platform for the facilitation of young children's social and emotional learning experience via music learning. Copyright © 2021 Australian Society for Music Education, Inc.