Make notes on this and get degrees before too long (7)
I believe the answer is:
bassoon
'make notes on this' is the definition.
(bassoon is a kind of musical instrument)
'get degrees before too long' is the wordplay.
'get' says to put letters next to each other.
'degrees' becomes 'BAs' (BA is an example).
'before too long' becomes 'soon' (I've seen this in another clue).
'bas' next to 'soon' is 'BASSOON'.
'and' is the link.
(Other definitions for bassoon that I've seen before include "So-so ban on the instruments" , "No, a boss would be a musical instrument" , "wind player" , "Tenor of the oboe family" , "Hollow instrument" .)