Students who study music performance learn about a variety of instruments and performance techniques. Courses may include ear training, musical organization, musicology, music theory, vocal performance, string performance, piano performance, jazz studies, accompaniment skills and rhythm playing.

The PhD is a doctoral degree, specifically called a "doctor of philosophy" degree. This is misleading because PhD holders are not necessarily philosophers (unless they earned their degree in philosophy!). That said, PhD recipients are able to engage in thought experiments, reason about problems, and solve problems in sophisticated ways.

Part-time learning allows one to obtain a degree or qualification even if one cannot attend school on a full-time basis. One can learn at one's own pace, gradually accumulating credits that count towards a final qualification.