The purpose of this study was to explore perceptions of music education pre-service teachers with respect to providing musical experiences for young children as part of a pre-kindergarten music service learning practicum. The research question was: What are the perceptions of university music education pre-service teachers regarding teaching music to young children as part of a service learning field practicum in selected community child care centers? Many expressed that they became more comfortable working with preschool students and gained a better understanding of how young children learn. Pre-service teachers also noted numerous challenges such as: getting children to participate, memory blocks, selecting instruments, and constantly monitoring student behavior. Implications for teaching and research are discussed.