I had a dream where magic was linked to music, to songs without lyrics. The more powerful the spell, the more complicated the song (like a mix between Gardians of the Galaxy's whistleweapon and Shinkyoku Soukai Polyphonica without the instruments). A master could improvise in the midst of a duel, but beginner would have to learn from listening to their betters and study minor spell's scores.
There was something about the harmony of two spells in a duel, but I've forgotten.
Funny thing is, the songs I heard in my dream were most definitely some that exist IRL, but as I was learning the spells in the dream, I only heard them as beautiful and new.