Physical therapist and coach Abby Halpin talks all things movement, health, and fitness for musicians and performers. Abby is the owner of Forte Performance & Physical Therapy, where she works with musicians to guide them in feeling and performing their best! You can find more info about Abby at www.forteperformancept.com.
Guest Episode: Interview with Jared Borkowski, Sound Guitar Lessons
This is a special episode! Jared Borkowski invited me to speak with him on his YouTube Channel, Sound Guitar Lessons, about guitar-related aches and pains, recovery strategies, why guitar-related injuries happen, and more. Jared creates incredibly valuable FREE resources for guitarists everywhere and releases a new lesson video every week! And you can also check out his courses for more in-depth information.Abby met Jared years ago when he was helping her and Mr. Forte prepare for their "firs...
4 Sept 2024
Episode 18: How to Write your Workout Schedule
The hardest part of anything is getting started. Let's discuss how to make a doable and forgiving plan to get started.7 Steps to Starting Your Workouts:1. Reflect on what has worked or not worked before this2. Set your duration: How long of a workout can you reasonably expect for yourself right now?3. Set your frequency: How many days a week would you like to plan on?4. Determine your non-negotiables: Which days are "nos" and which are "yesses"?5. Write down the schedule somewhere.6. Pick a "...
23 May 2023
Piano teachers: Do you hurt while you teach?
Abby talks about simple strategies piano teachers can use to reduce discomfort while teaching students from an article she wrote for the Vermont Music Teachers Association's newsletter.Major takeaways:Over 42% of pianists report pain, discomfort, and injury.Increased time spent playing piano, years of experience, and regularity contribute to higher reports of pain.Make your teaching set-up (aka ergonomics) do more work for you.Change up what you're asking of your body while you teach.Individu...
28 Oct 2022
Episode 16: Perfect Piano Posture Problems
Abby talks about the concept of "good posture" for pianists, a review of the workshop she led for the Vermont Music Teachers Association last weekend.Major takeaways:There is no such thing as good or bad posture. Instilling that idea only makes a musician have to choose a body position and stick with it all the time in order to be good.Problems arise from a lack of variety more than the actual body position itself.Muscles are happiest when they are in their middle range, so whatever feels eas...
25 Aug 2022
Episode 15: Rest and Recovery
Being strategic and intentional about rest and recovery is imperative for a long, happy life of music-making.Topics Covered:1. The reasons singers and instrumentalists need rest.2. Active vs passive recovery.3. Strategies for scheduling rest while still working toward your music goals. 4. Strategies for quick recovery between takes or rehearsals.5. How recovery looks different from person to person.6. How recovery can feel like something you're adding into your routine rather than taking away...
28 Jul 2022
Episode 14: Meaningful Tasks and Words
Today's topic is about how important it is for musicians to work with coaches and providers who will actively seek out activities and conversations that are specific to their goals and activities.Take-aways:1. Abby has lunch with her elementary and middle school orchestra teacher. Reminisces about how much her music teachers have meant to her.2. Physical therapists and healthcare providers need to be watching their musician patients play their instruments.3. Musicians need to find PTs who kno...
19 Jul 2022
Episode 13: NATS Workshop Review
Abby Halpin reviews the Disobedient Singing discussion she and Liz Frazer (aka the Salty Voice Teacher) led at the NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) conference.She takes you through step-by-step the demonstration they did with singer and voice teacher Anna Diemer as well as their upcoming workshop for voice teachers in August.Abby is the owner of Forte Performance & Physical Therapy, where she works with musicians, artists, and performers to help them feel and sound their...
20 Jun 2022
Episode 12: General Updates
Just wanted to update you on what's coming up. Abby is attending the 57th National Conference for the National Association of Teachers and Singing (NATS). She and her dear friend and colleague Liz Frazer, aka The Salty Voice Teacher, will be leading a demonstration and discussion about how Physical therapists and voice teachers can partner up and break all the posture and breathing rules.Abby is also looking forward to chatting with Christine Schneider on her podcast, The Visceral Voice, abou...
8 Jun 2022
Episode 11: How to train exhalation
Abby talks about what to do if you're stuck in a state of over-inflation. She talks about the impacts of breathing patterns on musicianship and singing and how to train your exhalation to change patterns.Key Points:1. Quick review of hyperinflation, but make sure you listen to Episode 10 first!2. The reasons for training exhalation for musicians3. Three example exercises to improve exhalation range of motion for singing and playing music. 4. Practice your instrument or vocalize in those ...
10 May 2022
Episode 10: Breath stacking and hyperinflation
Stacking your breaths and using postural habits that put you in a state of hyperinflation makes breathing, singing, and playing harder.If you have these patterns you might feel some of the following:1. You can’t last as long through a phrase or need more catch breaths than you used to.2. You can’t get enough air in.3. You have a lot of shoulder and neck tension that does not change no matter how much you stretch.4. Your back is stiff if you stand for too long.5. You feel that making mus...
26 Apr 2022
Episode 9: Moldy Flare-ups and Vulnerability Hangovers
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. WebsiteInstagra...
19 Apr 2022
Episode 8: Can I get better at being loud? (and other diaphragm things)
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 o...
12 Apr 2022
Episode 7: Why Are My Hands Falling Asleep?
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...
5 Apr 2022
Episode 6: Do Virtual Sessions Really Work?
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...
29 Mar 2022
Episode 5: How to Build a Starter Strength Workout
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,...
22 Mar 2022
Episode 4: Musicians Can Lift Heavy Stuff!
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 progra...
15 Mar 2022
Episode 3: How does breathing work, for real though?
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 u...
3 Mar 2022
Episode 2: Why Do Injuries Happen?
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 damage2. 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 "sto...
3 Mar 2022
Episode 1: Good Morning, World!
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. WebsiteInstagramFacebookDisclaimer: This podcast episode is for educational purposes only and is not to be taken as medical advice.
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