The musical aspects shouldn't be hard to grasp, they're mostly namesakes. I understand music but I wouldn't say it's a requirement of participation, since it's effectively just magic. 
The toughest it gets is that the word 'Hero' in this universe is substituted for the term 'Virtuoso', which effectively is the title of the highest knight errant. Otherwise it's all pretty straightforwards. 

Hey Titch, glad to hear you're settling into Uni nicely. I got Freshers Flu too but there's no rest for the wicked.