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This study explored perceptions of four undergraduate instrumental music students. The purpose of this study was to describe social and emotional challenges of college instrumental music students and to explore the music connection with these challenges. Questions guiding this inquiry were as follows: (a) What social and emotional challenges do instrumental music students encounter at the college level and how does music relate to these? and (b) What is the role of music in the participants' lives? Findings suggest undergraduate music students encounter a variety of challenges, and that music had a profound connection to these challenges either as a catalyst or as relief. The most common challenge was struggling with time management and overcommitting. Participants articulated differences between performing and listening to music in relation to their social and emotional challenges. Further findings suggest that for these participants there has been a music culture shift away from communal, ensemble-based music making to a more individual activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]