This is a wonderful song which helps learners explore and consider future possibilities. It is written as a two part round but can equally well be sung through as a short song.
I have used this song both with individual AAC users and with large groups of 20+ vocal and AAC singers. You can use single switch voice output devices or more complex overlays.
With individuals, you can record the whole song onto the voice output device (using an age and gender appropriate voice whenever possible) which requires the learner to access the switch or device 1, 2 or 4 times, according to the length of phrase. The learner can then sing the song solo (maybe while reading the Communicate: In Print book or following symbol prompts) or you can sing the second part of the round to make lovely harmony together.
Similarly with large groups, an AAC singer will lead one half of the group in one part, and you can lead the other half in the second part.
In either case, you will need to record into the voice output device a ‘lead in’, so that the rest of the group knows when to start. Like this:
Ohhh – Go through the gateway, no matter where it leads you
Go proud and bravely, there’s magic all the way.
Ohhh - Playing with dragons, swimming with mermaids, wishing with unicorns, learning to fly
Bring back the treasure and truth that you find there, brightening every day.
This ‘lead in’ phrase will be needed for all songs that require other singers to join in with an AAC singer at exactly the right place. It works really well and does not disturb the flow of the song.
A great spin off to asking an AAC singer to lead the other half of the group is that you can introduce singing rounds and harmonies even when you do not have another confident vocal singer to lead them. It encourages the AAC singer to be very attentive to the song and to activate the switch at exactly the right time (though, of course, we can always wait for them to make a successful activation).
This is another of those very useful songs which divides into 4 parts, and so will fit on devices that have 4 cells available.
Multisensory possibilities
The two halves of the song lend themselves to contrasting multisensory representation. In the first half learners could feel, see and smell wooden sticks to represent the ‘gateway’ and the determination to ‘go proud and bravely’. A learner or helper could play a regular drum beat to mark the pulse. In the second half, learners could feel, see and smell light, glittery items to represent the magic and treasure, and someone could play tinkling sounds.
