English instrument-maker taken aback about first of musical tests (5)
I believe the answer is:
exams
'first of musical tests' is the definition.
'exams' can be an answer for 'tests' ('exam' can be a synonym of 'test'). I am not certain of the 'first of musical' bit.
'english instrument-maker taken aback' is the wordplay.
'english' becomes 'E' (abbreviation).
'instrument' becomes 'sax' (sax is a kind of instrument).
'maker' becomes 'm' (this could be a standard abbreviation which I don't know about).
'taken' indicates putting letters inside.
'aback' says the letters should be written backwards.
'sax' going around 'm' is 'smax'.
'smax' written backwards gives 'xams'.
'e'+'xams'='EXAMS'
'about' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for exams that I've seen before include "Set of exercises evaluating knowledge (abbr)" , "Tests for students" , "School tests" , "Tests, in short" , "Knowledge tests" .)