This paper elucidates students' experiences of music within and beyond classrooms, and interprets their experiences of musical participation and instrumental learning. Data are drawn from a questionnaire conducted in Hong Kong between November 2006 and December 2006 with 3,243 students who were attending grades four - ten in 22 primary and secondary schools. Music listening was found to be an important part of students' lives, but attending concerts was less popular. The range of musical activities among students was mainly limited to singing and recorder playing. Their musical influences were closely linked with school music teachers and instrumental tutors, whilst parents were only strongly influential for primary school students. With a view to realising and understanding the multidimensional character of musical participation, music learning should be considered in a much broader and wider context within and without formal institutional settings. Music education in schools cannot function effectively without an implicit consensus between stakeholders, such as teachers, parents, and instrumental tutors, about what it is for. (Contains 1 table, 4 figures, and 2 notes.)