Is academic musical study permissible or forbidden, given that the questioner is a professor at the academy and is about to complete his master's and doctorate degrees?

Music is forbidden, based on the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "There will be among my Ummah people who will consider unlawful sexual intercourse, silk, wine, and musical instruments as lawful." Teaching and studying it are not permissible, and one must avoid that and repent to Allah. Piety is a cause for provision, and whoever abandons something for the sake of Allah, He will replace it with something better.