1. A musical instrument comprising: a persistent memory; a persistent clock, a user input device; a device connection interface; a controller, coupled to the persistent memory, persistent clock, user input device and device connection interface, with the controller configured to: receive practice scheduling information, where practice scheduling information includes scheduled times for beginning practice sessions; receive practice goal information including a target quality metric value for a selected performance characteristic; compare an achieved performance quality metric value, achieved during a practice session on the musical instrument, to the target quality metric value for the selected performance characteristic; adjust the scheduled time for beginning the next practice session to occur sooner if the achieved performance quality metric value is less than the target quality metric value for the selected performance characteristic; prepare a practice session alert message; store an adjusted scheduled time for beginning the next practice session, practice goal information and a practice session alert message in the persistent memory; compare a current time value output by the persistent clock with the adjusted scheduled time for beginning the next practice session; and send the practices session alert message to a user if the current time is greater than or equal to the adjusted scheduled time for beginning the next practice session.