Got RTHM? Highlighting My Favorite Club on Campus
By Noah Etoka
For most people, Sunday mornings are meant for rest and relaxation. But to a small subset of students at USC, including me, the start of the week means it’s time to put on a show. The students, identifiable by our instruments and matching T-shirts, are members of a club at USC called Remedy Through Music. This registered service organization, also called RTHM for short, is on a mission to bring live music to underserved communities here in southern Los Angeles.
This morning the group is heading to Dignity Health California Hospital Medical Center. The location may seem a bit unconventional, but we’re used to it— other venues we frequent include a community center and a senior home. As usual, the plan is to go floor to floor and play music for anyone who requests it. On the setlist are holiday songs and modern pop classics, meant to spread some joy and uplift anyone in low spirits.
This Sunday, before leaving for the hospital, I asked members about their favorite things concerning the club. In all, there seemed to be a consensus: the best parts of RTHM include its welcoming atmosphere, the social aspect, and the opportunity to witness the unifying nature of music. I agreed with the answers, and I’ve been a part of the club since the beginning of my freshman year. Since then, I’ve attended countless meetings, rehearsals, and performances. I’ve experienced these traits firsthand through the hours spent with RTHM, inspiring me to argue that it’s one of the most underrated clubs on campus.
If you are a person curious about life at USC, you should know that there are over 1,000 recognized student organizations on campus. For that reason, many groups fly under the radar. Clubs compete for people’s attention during the involvement fair, but students have a limited amount of time to dedicate to extracurricular activities. Which means they have to make a choice. That decision can be tough, but there is a distinct difference to consider between RTHM and other music-related groups.
In similar organizations, specifically those that require auditions, there can be an immense amount of pressure to perform at a level of perfection. Instead, RTHM does not have a highly exclusive process to join and only asks that you have an appreciation for music. It makes the process of becoming a member much less daunting. Entering this atmosphere is refreshing at a school typically known for its elitism. This means our club has a wide skill level that ranges from beginners to seasoned professionals, which helps people feel welcomed. We all share an interest, making it easier to participate, build relationships, and shape your own experience as a student-musician.
Embracing that shared interest within a social setting is what initially drew me to the club. When I asked about the best parts of RTHM, members mentioned that it made forming relationships in and outside of USC much easier. To build community, there are game nights and open mics, trips to the beach and more, often with free food. These are the basis of the community building we do, but it involves more than just hosting club events. In addition to club socials, there are the interactions we have with patients and nurses, kids and their parents, and more. As members we get to interact with people of all ages, which really helps us get to know the often-overlooked people who make up Los Angeles. I especially love it when people recognize us from past performances, and I still remember so many of the people we’ve met.
The people are really what makes being in this club so rewarding. Every person met is another opportunity to share the joy of making music with. During rehearsals, I see this when we’re playing a song or having a jam session, and things start falling into place. This happens outside of practice, too, and the hospital is a great example of where you can see the inherently unifying nature of music affecting everyone present. A member brought up how one of their favorite things about RTHM is being able to play for the patients and nurses. We often hear comments about how we’ve made someone’s day, or a person has the urge to tell us a little bit about their lives. Sometimes a person in the audience tears up, while others sing along, which goes to show the impact a few songs can have. There’s a powerful connection made every time this happens, and it ties us closer together as humans.
All of these incredible moments and more make up the RTHM experience. But being a part of RTHM is not the easiest thing to do. Sometimes there are bad days, missed notes, or forgotten lyrics. Regardless, these moments are just as important as the better ones, and we support each other through them. From the outside, many people assume that we get nothing out of performing. But the reality is that we get just as much out of it, if not more, as the community does. It takes up time, but it is time well spent. It requires practice, but that builds up our skills as musicians. And it takes dedication, which improves our skills overall. Many members of the club are STEM students, specifically those on the pre-med track. Still, as a public relations major I have never felt out of place in RTHM. We all know that music can heal or at least help in the process of getting better. For some things there is no cure. But we do what we can.
These are the most valuable realizations I’ve had during my time in the club, and over the years I’ve observed that the vocalists and instrumentalists who make up RTHM just want to give back. We don’t mind if you’re still finding your voice or figuring out your sound. The picture featured below is of a nurse station at Dignity Health. It pretty much sums up what we believe in and try to do. Music brings people together; it is an expression of the rawest form of us and exemplifies the better parts of humanity. For these reasons, whenever someone asks me what my favorite club on campus is, I respond with “Remedy Through Music.”
If you are curious about what we do and/or how to join, please visit @rthmusc on Instagram for more information.
