In the mid-2000s, I had the privilege of playing drum clinics (workshops) alongside Dom Famularo (RIP) who at the time was celebrated as the Global Drum Ambassador. Dom, based in Long Island, New York became a huge influence on me, though I didn’t fully realise at the time that he was quietly (and sometimes not so quietly) mentoring me.
Dom had an incredible gift for conversation. Whether we were at a show, over dinner, or sitting on a plane, he would talk and I would listen. I absorbed so much from these exchanges. Looking back, I get the sense that he had the notion that I might one day also become a conduit for sharing knowledge and guidance.
One memory stands out clearly. We were at an airport waiting to board our plane and chatting as usual, when Dom excused himself and disappeared for a moment. He returned with a small packet, pulled out a book and handed it to me. It was ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ by Stephen Covey. He had mentioned this book in our talks and simply said, “this is yours, read it.” I did more than read it. I studied it, bought the audiobook and listened to it in the car, at night, whenever I could.
One phrase Dom would continually drum home (excuse the pun) was “be proactive, not reactive”. The book reinforced this and other ideas he was already instilling in me and helped me grow, not just as a teacher but as a communicator. Without realising it, I was moving from being ‘just’ a drum teacher to being a mentor.
I recall a student, a young woman with severe performance anxiety. I shared strategies to help, and while her excellent exam results proved her progress, she still doubted herself. There are times when even with the best of intentions, some people ‘can’t see the forest for the trees’. So eventually, she chose to see a psychologist. At our next lesson, I asked how it went. She smiled broadly and said it had been helpful. She then passed on a message to me from her psychologist. In his own words and in reference to the advice I had given her, he had said: “You have a very astute drum teacher.”
Since then I’ve worked with students of all ages and abilities. And in many cases my role has gone beyond being just a drum teacher. I’ve stepped into the role of mentor, helping them navigate challenges and unlock growth they might not have reached alone.
For me, mentoring is the culmination of years of experience, on stage, off stage and under the guidance of figures like Dom. And here’s what I’ve learned: when you’re stuck, whether it’s in music, sport or any other pursuit, sometimes the only way forward is having the right mentor by your side.
If you, or someone you know would benefit from a free 20 minute Discovery chat about any performance related challenges, a great starting point is my Personal Performance Mentoring program.
Georg Voros is a Performance Consultant with 45+ years of top-level experience and author of two books on performance. He delivers high-impact workshops on productivity and flow, and offers tailored mentoring packages to support personal growth and achievement. Learn more at www.vorosperformance.co.uk
