Music perhaps — one’s attempt with skill and imagination (8)
I believe the answer is:
artistry
'imagination' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to thinking as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'music perhaps one's attempt with skill' is the wordplay.
'music perhaps' becomes 'art' (music is a kind of art).
'one' becomes 'i' (Roman numeral).
'attempt' becomes 'try' (synonyms).
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'skill' becomes 's' (this might be a standard abbreviation of which I'm unaware).
'try' put after 's' is 'stry'.
'art'+'i'+'stry'='ARTISTRY'
'and' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for artistry that I've seen before include "Skilled workmanship" , "great skill" , "The skill to create works of art" , "Virtuosity - craftsmanship" , "poetic skill" .)