Music listening is a significant part of university students’ everyday lives, shaping their emotions, perceptions, and responses to their surroundings. Yet its potential as an informal medium for affective learning, particularly for cultivating empathy- and creativity-related dispositions, is frequently disregarded. Although previous studies have linked music listening to emotion regulation, empathy, and creativity, these domains have typically been examined separately and largely within formal music contexts. This study explores how university students engage with everyday music, including popular music, traditional music, game soundtracks, and short-video soundtracks, as a form of informal affective learning. Twelve Chinese students completed 190 listening journal reflections over three weeks and then participated in individual semi-structured interviews. Using reflexive thematic analysis, the study generated four themes: affective and embodied regulation; memory and imagined scenes; perspective-taking and everyday empathy; and curiosity-driven exploration with renewed motivation. The findings suggest that everyday music listening can serve as an informal affective learning space that supports emotional regulation, empathy, and motivation beyond formal educational settings.

Authors:
NingLu He, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
Jae-Eun Oh, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong

About the Presenter(s)
Ninglu He is an education researcher, pianist, and consultant interested in music, empathy, creativity, and arts education. His current project explores how everyday music listening supports empathy and creativity among university students.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Tuesday Schedule

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