For those of you who can play fast, how did you learn how to do it? And how did you get the coordination to do so? I want to learn how to do it, so I can impress people. Please help me!

oh no.

You should learn to play fast so you will be prepared to play fast when when the music calls for you to play fast.  My opinion.

(See Mr. A's response for the "how" answer to your question.)

What are you trying to play fast? Single stroke rolls? Double Bass stuff? D&B patterns?

There is no short cut to playing fast, just practice. Start slow and work up.

I've heard (and have even read here) that certain people are born with ability to play extra fast while others are genetically destined to remain so-so fast no matter how much they practice.  Don't know if that is true or not though.

More importantly I think that if you want to impress people you need to become a good drummer. Playing fast or having amazing technique is NOT the most important factor here.

Find a good teacher that will show you what it takes to be a good drummer. If you can't afford a teacher there are tons of self study tools out there. If not that, just LISTEN to some of the best drummers out there, don't limit yourself to one style, listen to everything from Purdie to Peart and you'll have a good foundation as to what impresses people.

Well, sorry, but if you're already doing all that, you're doing what you can. There's no magic way to suddenly get good, or fast, or whatever.

And any time you spend looking for a shortcut is wasted time during which you could be practicing.

Learn proper finger tech and practice on a pad. Play slow. Learn 16ths, triplets, 32nd note triplets and strait 32nds. What sounds fast are 16ths 32nd triplets also 64ths and strait 32nds. These aren't hard to do at slow speeds practice all this as single strokes then eventually all different types of rudiments.  Repeat, repeat and repeat to a metronome. And watch your hands to make sure they look "logical" in motion. Ask your self is there any "wasted" motion. I am a self taught drummer I'm not the best in the world but I can say genetics can play a small role in speed. If you learn proper finger tech you'll be as fast as any body. Some of these "genetic" drummers somehow can play fast without proper tech, but they're still all out of breath and sweaty when there done. If you have to "twitch" or "bite your lip" your doing it all wrong. Once you got your speed down  like I mentioned 16th triplets 32nds blah blah blah. Apply it to your drums and make up your own fill in patterns with tom and snare. Also get a really loud metronome for playing on the kit. Also remember to play in the pocket. people will dig your fast playing if you play in the pocket. I recommend getting the savage rudimental workshop by Matt Savage. I don't have a teacher cause I realize if you want to learn how to do it you got to do it your self. I think when some people get teachers it could make them learn slower just because they figure having a teacher will make them good. You got to make sure you get good by sick amounts of proper sticking and metronome practice. Get good with both hands by them selves. Get good starting fills with the left hand just like the right hand. If you don't know proper finger tech now you might have to compleatly re learn. I did. I'm really glad I did.

Okay, I'm probably wasting my time writing this, but here goes:

You're 15 and you want to play like Joey Jordison by your 16th birthday.  Did I get that right?   Well, Joey's been playing a bit longer than you, so you might just not make it by your birthday.  As far as the drumoff, "a few years" is plenty of time to make some very good progress, IF you practice daily and practice CORRECTLY.  

But if you think that's frustrating, let me share a few things that very few people on this forum have heard me say before.  

I began drummiing less than two years ago, and I was more than 3 times your age at that time.  I say this to put things in perspective for you.  You have DECADES left ahead of you in which to get good.  I want to throw my sticks & my drumkit through the wall every time I read the bio of some great drummer who began playing at age 7 or 9 or 11.  I say, "Why didn't I do that?".   And sometimes I think that I'll never have enough time left in my life to get really good.  But I'm not quitting.  No.  Fortunately, where I live, I can practice at any hour of day or night, and I DO.   And I'll be happy when I attain the status of "decent drummer".    

I don't really care whether or not I ever play out with a band.  I play because I LOVE it and because I can feel myself getting just slightly better all the time.  And those very slight improvements, when I notice them, are a great sense of joy and satisfaction for me.  Yes, I am trying to put together a group with some other musicians.  Hard rock and heavy metal.  The person I'm trying the hardest to impress is MYSELF -- just by being able to perform adequately, for the moment.    

But just think how good you might be when you're HALF my age if you work at it.      

Mr. A is a man who has spend DECADES drumming.  He probably has drumsticks older than you.  And he impresses me every time he shares his experience and his wisdom with us here.  I admire him and respect him and many others here.   And I urge you to listen very carefully to every word he says, because it is the best advice you will ever hear in regards to your drumming.  

Drumming isn't about SPEED.  It's about CONTROL. CONTROL. .   There are no short cuts, and there are no magic potions.  Just regular daily practice.  Drumming is a HABIT that your body and mind develop over time, much like language.  How long did it take you to learn to SPEAK?  To write?  To read?  

You'll get there, but you can't expect it overnight.  Fortunately, you have much more time in which to do it and a much younger mind and body to train than mine.  But I'm not giving up.  I'm just grateful as hell that I am progressing as well as I am.  And I am grateful to have people as awesome and the folks on this forum to help guide me and to inspire me on a daily basis.  

They care about you, whether or not you realize that.  Otherwise, they would not take the time to share their expertise with you.  If you appreciate them for that, then you can do them no greater favor than to take their advice to heart.  

It sounds like your priorities are screwed if what you are most concerned about is playing fast. Playing fast doesn't mean squat if the playing is inconsistant, your time is bad, you play with no dynamics and we'll add this in for good measure - you sight-reading is weak. Oh, don't forget about playing in the pocket.

What is your teacher working you through with the lessons? Does your teacher have a structured approach that will allow you to maximize the lessons? What are your teachers abilities? Does he/she have good technique which is being passed along to you? You're nowhere without good technique - well you might get somewhere but you'll hit the wall much faster than someone who plays using a good technique (and has good time).

Just my 2cents.

Yes, Rhyvven, I had already enjoyed your thread on your band's first "real" gig.  Thanks.  

Well said, Ian.  

I should have said it differently. I want to get fast so I can impress people WHEN I ENTER THE DRUMOFF. I am so sorry for confusing you guys. I wouldn't be playing drums if I wanted to just impress people. I do it because I love to do it.

Anyway, sorry for the confusion.