Abby talks about her own experience with chronic pain and flare-ups due to mold exposure.

Main points:
1. You deserve care from someone who listens, does not interrupt, believes you, and makes a plan with you. 
2. Our brains say a lot of conflicting things when we hurt.
3. You are not alone in your pain experience. 

Abby is the owner of Forte Performance & Physical Therapy, where she works with musicians, artists, and performers to help them feel and sound their best.

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Disclaimer: This podcast episode is for educational purposes only and is not to be taken as medical advice.

This is in response to a submitted question, "Can I get better at being loud?" This person has noticed that she isn't able to raise her speaking volume to match the crowded spaces she is returning to after years of quiet pandemic life.

Main points:
1. There are 7+ diaphragms in our bodies.
2. They are areas that separate one area from another and help to manage internal and external pressures/forces on our bodies.
3. They need to ascend and descend together to facilitate the movement of air and our bodies in general. 
4. Working on the body position extremes (positions of exhale and inhale) and then gradually working on the control of airflow and speaking volume to build stamina will help!

Abby is the owner of Forte Performance & Physical Therapy, where she works with musicians, artists, and performers to help them feel and sound their best.

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Disclaimer: This podcast episode is for educational purposes only and is not to be taken as medical advice.

Many instrumentalists deal with tingling and numbness in their hands while they play. Let's talk about why and what to do about it. 

Main Takeaways:
1. You have to learn things  to be proficient at them.
2. The main resistance to doing anything is the getting started part.
3. Nerves can get compressed, pulled on, or over-sensitized at any point along their pathway. 
4. The location of your tingling, prickly, numb symptoms help your PT know what to do next. 
5. Go see someone for this symptom - you don't have to live like this.

Abby is the owner of Forte Performance & Physical Therapy, where she works with musicians, artists, and performers to help them feel and sound their best.

Website
Instagram
Facebook

Disclaimer: This podcast episode is for educational purposes only and is not to be taken as medical advice.

Let's walk through a recent visit with a musical theater artist and teacher who needed help with a sticky diaphragm and trouble with breath support.

Main Points:

1. Someone said Abby's voice is soothing, so she wishes them a good night!
2. Virtual care is not for everyone. Some people really need that hands-on care. 
3. Virtual sessions are great for everyone else! You can get a LOT done in a short amount of time. 
4. Abby walks you through a recent visit with a musical theater performer and teacher (a short nerd out about ribs and breathing and stuff).
5. Virtual sessions allow for a lot of convenience, more accurate information about your life/practice setup, and (bonus) Abby gets to meet your babies and puppies. 
6. If you have questions, please submit them at www.forteperformancept.com/playlifeloudlypodcast or go to the "I have a question!!" link on Forte's Instagram bio (@forteperformancept). 

Next time: Why your hands might be falling asleep while you practice and when to see someone about it. 

Abby is the owner of Forte Performance & Physical Therapy, where she works with musicians, artists, and performers to help them feel and sound their best.

Website
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Disclaimer: This podcast episode is for educational purposes only and is not to be taken as medical advice.

Giving all the info you need to build a well-rounded strength workout for beginners. 

Main Points:
1. Go listen to Episode 4 first if you haven't.
2. Five main movements to include in every workout.
3. Other considerations, such as direction of movement, body regions, and how many body parts are moving at once.
4. A summary of Fortissimo and how we can work together to get you started. 

Abby is the owner of Forte Performance & Physical Therapy, where she works with musicians, artists, and performers to help them feel and sound their best.

Website
Instagram
Facebook

Disclaimer: This podcast episode is for educational purposes only and is not to be taken as medical advice.

Abby makes a case for adding strength training to your routine to improve your performance as a musician.

Main points:
1. Strength does not equal bulky, stiff, slow muscles. 
2. Too many musicians have told me they have been advised NOT to lifting heavy things.
3. Strength = max force you can produce against a load.
4. Strength training makes you withstand more load. 
5. Strength training allows you to be MORE flexible and MORE mobile!

Next time: What should be in a starter strength program for musicians?

Abby is the owner of Forte Performance & Physical Therapy, where she works with musicians, artists, and performers to help them feel and sound their best.

Website
Instagram
Facebook

Disclaimer: This podcast episode is for educational purposes only and is not to be taken as medical advice.

Let's break down the basic anatomy and physiology of breathing as it pertains to making music and staying alive. Abby gives a few updates on her own voice lesson progress.

Main points:
1. Oxygen in, CO2 out.
2. Air moves toward areas where there is less of it. Once you breathe in, the air wants to go back out and vice versa.
3. Ribs in/diaphragm up = exhalation.
4. Ribs out/diaphragm down = inhalation.
5. Your guts have to be able to slide up and down while diaphragm and pelvic floor muscles dome up and down together as you breathe. Gross. 
6. You need to be able to breathe easily no matter what body position you're in.
7. Common issues seen in musicians are associated with postural patterns and what your instruments have trained you to be good at.

Questions? Please ask them! Would love to hear from you!

Abby is the owner of Forte Performance & Physical Therapy, where she works with musicians, artists, and performers to help them feel and sound their best.

Website
Instagram
Facebook

Disclaimer: This podcast episode is for educational purposes only and is not to be taken as medical advice.

Abby Halpin, physical therapist and coach for musicians and artists, talks about why injuries happen and what to do when they do. She also shares why she greets the day like she greet you!

Main points:
1. Pain does not equal tissue damage
2. Injuries happen when the load on your body outweighs the resilience you've built up.
3. Don't give yourself training whiplash.
4. Rest is not always (often isn't) the answer.
5. You deserve care from a PT who knows what you need as a musician.
6. Don't take "stop playing" as an answer.
7. Let me know what you need.

Abby is the owner of Forte Performance & Physical Therapy, where she works with musicians, artists, and performers to help them feel and sound their best.

Website
Instagram
Facebook

Disclaimer: This podcast episode is for educational purposes only and is not to be taken as medical advice.

Welcome to Play Life Loudly! Physical therapist and coach Abby Halpin introduces her podcast, in which she chats about what she wishes musicians knew about movement, health, and fitness.

Abby is the owner of Forte Performance & Physical Therapy, where she works with musicians, artists, and performers to help them feel and sound their best.

Website
Instagram
Facebook

Disclaimer: This podcast episode is for educational purposes only and is not to be taken as medical advice.