When students make merry music (7)
I believe the answer is:
ragtime
'music' is the definition.
(I know that ragtime is a type of dance music)
I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ragtime that I've seen before include "Syncopated music form" , "Scott Joplin music style" , "Form of jazz with a two-four rhythm" , "musical genre" , "Syncopated piano music - migrate (anag)" .)