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Daniela Gongora Music Academy
  • Home
  • Student News
  • My Music Staff Login
  • Video Gallery
  • Photo Gallery
  • About Us
    • Bio
    • Suzuki Method
    • Philosophy
    • Testimonials
  • Curriculum
  • Tuition
  • Contact
  • Register
    • Sign up form
  • Events
  • Summer Sign up

Student News

30 Day Practice Challenge Rules

30 Days of Practice in a Row


Official Start Date: September 12th, 2026

Official End Date: October 1, 2026


RULES:

1.Practice Daily. Below are the minimum daily practice time requirements:
 

1.Pre-Twinkle: at least 5 minutes

2.Book 1: at least 15 minutes

3.Book 2/3: at least 25 minutes

4.Books 4/5: at least 35 minutes

5.Books 6 and up: at least 50 minutes
 

2. DGMA Group Class Days and/or Youth Orchestras (NOT string orchestras in elementary, middle or high schools that meet during the school day) Count as a practice day.  

3. Private Lesson days DO NOT count as a practice day; practice your minimum required time before or immediately after your lesson.
 

3. Road Trips? No Instrument? 90 minutes of listening as follows: Listen to your working piece for 2-3x your minimum required practice time. Then use remaining time to listen to the entire book. This counts as ONE day of practice. (Listening should be done daily as part of the Suzuki method). Listening as a substitute for practicing is allowed only 1 time.
 

4.DOUBLING up for a missed day is allowed only 2 times.
 

  • Place a check mark or sticker on each day you practice.
  • Place a wavy line for a listening day.
  • Place an an X on the day you miss and an asterisk * on the day you did the double make up. 
  • Doubling up means practicing for the minimum allowed time. Example: A book 2/3 student doubling up will practice 50 minutes total time. 

Practice Challenge Chart

30 Day Practice Challenge Chart (pdf)Download
50_75_100 days of practice (pdf)Download

Congratulations to our 2026 Book Graduates

Charles Coloumbe - Violin Twinkles

    Congratulations 2026 Graduates

    Congratulations to our 2025 Book Graduates

    Barbara Morales - Violin Book 1

      Competitions, Festivals and camps

      January 25th, 2025

      Norwalk Symphony's Young Artist and Concerto Competition

      All day

      Norwalk Concert Hall

      Event Details

      January 25th, 2025

      Norwalk Symphony's Young Artist and Concerto Competition

      See PDF Brochure for both events below or visit Norwalk Symphony's website for more information.

      All day

      Norwalk Concert Hall

      January 26th, 2025

      Deborah Kahn Competition

      All day

      Westport Suzuki School 246 Post Rd East Westport, CT

      Event Details

      January 26th, 2025

      Deborah Kahn Competition

      Hosted by the Fairfield Chapter of the Connecticut Music Teachers Association. for more info visit the Fairfield County Music Teachers websi...

      Event Details

      All day

      Westport Suzuki School 246 Post Rd East Westport, CT

      January 20th, 2025

      Marianne Liberatore Competition

      All day

      Event Details

      January 20th, 2025

      Marianne Liberatore Competition

      Music for Youth was the creation of Marianne Liberatore and friends with the goal of bringing classical music, professionally performed, int...

      Event Details

      All day

      January 20, 2025

      American Protege Competition

      All day

      Event Details

      January 20, 2025

      American Protege Competition

      This competition is open to school students and adults of all nationalities. Visit the American Protege International Piano and Strings comp...

      Event Details

      All day

      Summer

      Summer Camps

      Event Details

      Summer

      Summer Camps

      It's only January but Summer Camps have opened registrations with some audition deadlines at the end of February. Here is a list of summer c...

      Event Details

      Concert Dress Code

      Regular Recital Attire:

      Fairfield Suzuki Festival Attire:


      Young Men:

      long-sleeved dress shirt (tucked in) and trousers (no jeans),  bow/neck tie (optional), dress shoes (no sneakers) and dress socks.

      Young Ladies:

      Knee-length dresses or skirts may be worn with stockings.

      long (ankle length) skirt or dress slacks (no jeans, leggings, etc.), dress shoes,  stockings/socks.

      Tops may be long-sleeved blouses (tucked in or hip-length), Or short sleeve with a cardigan. 

      ALL: Long hair tied back if it falls in your face. Nails Trimmed and short. Nail polish is allowed if nails are SHORT.

      Seasonal Fall and Spring colors welcome

       Absolutely no bare arms, legs or feet!

      Fairfield Suzuki Festival Attire:

      Fairfield Suzuki Festival Attire:


      Young Men:

      White long-sleeved dress shirt (tucked in), black trousers (no jeans), black bow tie, black shoes (no sneakers) and black socks.

      Young Ladies:

      White (not off-white or cream), long-sleeved blouse (tucked in or hip-length), long (ankle length) black skirt (no jeans, leggings, etc.), dress black shoes, black stockings/socks.

      ALL: Long hair tied back if it falls in your face. Nails Trimmed and short. Nail polish is allowed if nails are SHORT.

      Black and White attire. Absolutely no bare arms, legs or feet!

      Community Performances:

      Community Performances:


      Winter performances: Purple DGMA T-shirts (unless otherwise indicated) with Black pants black socks and shoes.

      Out door Summer Performances: Purple DGMA T-shirts  with Khaki, white or black knee length shorts and comfortable shoes; no flip flops

      ALL: Long hair tied back if it falls in your face. Nails Trimmed and short. Nail polish is allowed if nails are SHORT.

      FORMS for Norwalk Symphony Festival and Competition

      YAF - Festival Brochure 2025 (1) (pdf)

      Download

      YAF - Concerto Brochure 2025 (pdf)

      Download

      Festivals and exam Accomplishments - congratulations!

      Congratulations to our 2024 book graduates

      Etta Galindo Twinkles

        congratulations to DGMA Graduate Stephanie Tang 2016-2024

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