Combining practice and analysis, the instrumentalists give one or more presentations, as well as a commentary on works, playing according to their instrumental practice, as well as a rhetorical analysis of a work from the repertoire of their instrument.

Each course is divided into three parts: theory - practice on the instrument or singing - written exercises to help memorise the essential material. The subjects covered are as follows: Theoretical and musical sources (works) - research methods, ancient publishing techniques and their limitations, notation and its evolution, terminology, basso continuo and its notations, prosody, the foundation of the French vocal and instrumental style, inequalities, their birth, evolution and disappearance, the various early solfeggios and their development, basso continuo notation and its development, aggregmentation and its development from 1600 to 1800 (all the agréments are studied, one by one), the art of the double and of variation, the forms of the instrumental suite, the forms of lyric theatre and, finally, articulations and vibratos. For each subject, students are given a documentation booklet.

Resolutely open to the world, the Conservatoire de Paris has a large number of international students and teachers. An English course is offered to deepen knowledge and practice. In order to broaden horizons, a cultural approach is added to the linguistic fundamentals (lexical fields, grammar) (thematic courses, study of articles and literary works, general culture, poetry, painting).