It was no coincidence that Ilmari Krohn found himself in the world of academia. His father, Julius Krohn, was one of the most notable folk poetry researchers of his time, as well as a connoisseur of culture. The Krohn family originated from Germany, but Julius admired J.V. Snellman's works and strove to Fennicise his family. To this end, his children, including Ilmari, were schooled in Finnish. However, in addition to Finnish, Ilmari also studied German and French, as well as Swedish, his mother’s first language. Speaking several languages proved especially beneficial for Krohn's later studies and career.

Ilmari Krohn was the first Professor of Musicology in Finland. At that time it was a supernumerary professorship, but it acted as a stepping-stone for the burgeoning attention the discipline was being given. It was still largely untried in the academic world in Finland at the turn of the 20th century, even though the University organised plenty of musical activities. In Germany and the United Kingdom, it was already a recognised field of its own, which explains why Krohn travelled frequently to the Continent.