A10yearoldgiftedboywantstobeajazzpianistmuchtothechagrinofhismoreclassicalorientedpianoinstructor.Withhismother'shelp,heisanunderageregularatalocalnightspot,whereheisteamedupwithasaxsuperstar.BothcometolearnthateachsuffersfromTourette'sSyndrome(thusthefilmtitle).Theoldermanhasdevelopedmannerismstocoveruphisownfallibilitiesandresentstheboyandhismother'sacceptanceofthedisease.