The Student Handbook

Learn the tools, techniques, exercises, and theory to break any musical plateau.

Videos, workbooks, textbooks, and other materials

If you're a musician, regardless of your level, the tools and resources on this page are designed to help you grow. Over the years, I've crafted and refined these materials through my own practice and teaching experience to ensure they deliver results:

• The Maintenance Practice Routine was originally developed for my personal growth but has since helped many students maintain their growth at steady rates instead of plateauing.
• The Student Handbook and Sound Combination Workbook were outgrowths of my work with students.  The Student Handbook serves as a self-contained textbook mirroring the first 4 weeks of study that applies to any new student who works with me (even the more advanced ones typically just go deeper in the concepts instead of going faster than 4 weeks).  The Sound Combination workbook was created to help a student figure out new scales to practice (and teach them an approach to creating their own sounds).
  
• The Chord Practice Routine was first introduced in a college course I taught, providing newer students with a systematic approach to learning tunes.

Each product has been field-tested throughout my career and comes with its own story. For instance, Expansions—a fantastic resource—was recommended to me by Rick Margitza and discussed with Eric Alexander, who also found it valuable.

The videos below are especially helpful for improving time and tone, and the Transcribe! software has been a staple in my toolkit for over 20 years. (Pro tip: Keep recordings above 50% speed to maximize ear training!)

Every resource here has been selected with one goal in mind: to help you achieve your musical potential. Let these tools guide your journey as they have mine.

The Victor Wooten Time video referenced in the Student Handbook and that I often reference in lessons.

Joe Allard (teacher of Coltrane, Brecker, Berg, and more). Read more about his approach!

Jazz saxophonist, composer, and GRAMMY® Award Winning Album Associate Producer Zachary Bornheimer has developed an international reputation for forward-looking, lyrical, and dynamic works. Bornheimer and projects he’s worked on have been recognized with and by: