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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: January 12th

Official End Date: February 10th


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

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

Congratulations to our 2024 book graduates

Etta Galindo Twinkles

    congratulations to DGMA Graduate Stephanie Tang

    Festivals and exam Accomplishments - congratulations!

    Dhevan Motiani 8th grade, Westport

    Dhevan Motiani 8th grade, Westport

    Dhevan Motiani 8th grade, Westport

    Middle School Western Regional Festival 2025

    Jack Wesley 8th Grade, Norwalk

    Dhevan Motiani 8th grade, Westport

    Dhevan Motiani 8th grade, Westport

    Middle School Western Regional Festival 2025

    Adeeva Ghuman 11th grade, Wilton

    Adeeva Ghuman 11th grade, Wilton

    Adeeva Ghuman 11th grade, Wilton

    High School Western Regional Festival 2025

    2024 ABRSM Exams

    Adeeva Ghuman 11th grade, Wilton

    Adeeva Ghuman 11th grade, Wilton

    From Left:

    Stephanie Tang - Grade 8 with distinction 

    Jake Simon - Grade 3 with distinction

    Adeeva Ghuman - Grade 8 performance with distinction

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