I) SHOW US AN ACTIVITY YOU ENJOY DOING. TELL US HOW YOU THINK IT CONTRIBUTES TO YOUR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Sharif AbuchaibeInternational MBA

There are many activities I enjoy doing:

Fishing

Watching Soccer.

Playing the Accordion

Fishing in Panama

Watching a Soccer Game in the Barranquilla Stadium

But the activity that I enjoy the most is Playing the Accordion

The Accordion

The accordion is the central instrument of a popular music in Colombia called: Vallenato.

The accordion is originally from Austria.

Its modern form was invented by Kiril Demian.

It is complemented by the caja (percussion instrument) and the guacharaca (percussion instrument) to compose the vallenato music .

Vallenato

Very popular music in Colombia. Vallenato literally means "born in the valley” It is composed of four basic rythms: “son”, “paseo”,

“merengue” and “puya”. This type of music is impregnated in the idiosyncrasy

of the people of the country

Here is the Song I made for my Wife.Sang and Composed by me.

If the music did not work, here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wez7nStjHw

It even let’s me entertain a tireless fellow

Professional Development

The fact of playing the accordion has given me access to many people.

I have had the chance of “marketing” myself as well.

Music is a universal language that transcends boundaries and bonds people even thousands of miles apart.

I have known people which I have made business with by sharing the same passion of Vallenato music.

Personal Development

I have been playing the Accordion since I was 15 years old.

Since many people like Vallenato, playing the accordion can make you the center of reunions (the life of the party).

Playing the Accordion gives me time to escape from reality.

It gives me time to create; to give birth to something innexistent before.

Playing the Accordion: The art of creating music

It gives me mental agility and coordination.

It has given me the opportunity to compose songs.

Finally, I would summarize this presentation with Shakespeare’s, quote: "If music be the food of life, play on".