Flash Gordon Henderson by Murray Gusseck

Hang onto your hats and glasses! This exercise in timing and independence for the advanced battery ensemble will test the mind and the ears, as well as just downright make some folks uncomfortable. Flash Gordon Henderson is the latest concoction by Murray Gusseck and was heard throughout 2009 in DCI warmup areas around the country.

It works the timing and independence concepts by way of the players themselves providing their own metronome—a quarter note in one hand while slaloming a series of rhythmic twists and turns with the other. Designed by Murray to be a cool and interesting way of working basic rhythmic independence concepts, the end result for the battery section is anything but basic. Parents with small children beware!