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Rachelle Richardson

Photo of Rochelle Richardson

Rachelle Richardson holds a BA in Portuguese (Linguistics minor) and an MS in Business (Marketing) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After working at several advertising agencies on national clients, she opened a one-woman shop, where she was an award-winning marketing strategist, creative director, copywriter and broadcast producer, working on such assignments as the American Girl Fashion Show, where she co-wrote the finale theme song. Writing jingles and producing them in the studio with musicians and singers was absolutely her favorite assignment. When she left advertising to become an English as a Second Language teacher, she would often commemorate graduation with original lyrics to a song popular with her students. Rachelle taught this class at Lifelong Learning in 2018 and hopes to again inspire creativity.

Teaching 1 course this term.

  • There’s A Song in Your Heart: Lyric Writing

    Open Session #2

    Thursdays, 1:30 pm – 2:45 pm

    14 of 15 seats left

    When
    Thursdays, 1:30 pm – 2:45 pm
    Dates
    October 8, October 15 & October 22, 2026
    Where
    Town Hall - Room 101

    Faculty

    Photo of Rochelle Richardson Rachelle Richardson

    Rachelle Richardson holds a BA in Portuguese (Linguistics minor) and an MS in Business (Marketing) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After working at several advertising agencies on national clients, she opened a one-woman shop, where she was an award-winning marketing…

    See Rachelle Richardson’s full profile
    Course description

    (To the tune of Tony Bennett’s “Because of You”)

    It’s likely true, there’s a song in your heart.
    This rendezvous’ sure to fire up that spark.
    Just choose a tune that’s apropos,
    Concoct a rhyme that fits the flow,
    And on cue, you’re off to a start.
    To one you love, blow a musical kiss,
    Mark an event that you don’t want to miss –-
    Display your gift for tenderness or guile,
    And we will smile . . . because of you.

    Calling all word lovers! “Contrafactum,” or substituting lyrics of a song without substantial change to the melody, has been common for centuries, from the sublime Star-Spangled Banner poem replacing a popular drinking song, to the ridiculous parodies of wits like “Weird Al.” Your project will be to craft uniquely personal text to an existing tune as a birthday song for a grandchild, an anniversary serenade, a family invitation for Thanksgiving, or any excuse to just have fun flexing your mental muscles. After addressing some techniques, we’ll create at home, then inspire each other in class – where you can rhapsodize, satirize or “syncopize” while you socialize with fellow Lifelong Learners!