With the surge of online education nowadays comes an abundance of virtual courses on any subject possible – inviting us prospective students into a world of overwhelm. While being spoiled for choice is certainly something to be grateful for, it also means that anybody can now call themselves a teacher, create a desultory class and sell it for upwards of 1000$ (and that’s only mid-range)!
Thankfully, credible virtuosos remain in the game. Enter Masterclass, an online education platform covering a wide array of topics, taught by world-renowned experts such as Bill Clinton, Mariah Carey, Gordon Ramsay, and the list goes on. All that for the price of a Standard Netflix subscription.
It’s made especially for people who wish to perfect their skills, cultivate knowledge on their craft, and find guidance in their field from a trusted professional.
Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning that if you click through & make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. These are all products I highly recommend. I won’t put anything on this page that I haven’t verified and/or personally used. Thank you for your support!
In this post, I’m sharing my honest MasterClass review in the hopes of helping you figure out whether the online learning platform is right for you.
Table of Contents
Who is it for?
People who love learning new things, people looking for inspiration, and people who want to upgrade their skills in their field of interest, which may fall under the following categories:
- Arts & entertainment
- Home & lifestyle
- Food
- Business
- Music
- Writing
- Design & style
- Sports & gaming
- Community & government
- Wellness
- Science & tech
Skill level: All Levels. Perfect for people looking to hone their craft.
What’s included: There are approximately 20 video lessons in each class that are 10 minutes long on average. This also includes a workbook, access to the platform’s members-only newsletter, and to their student forum, MasterClass Community.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Affordable
- Led by well-known instructors in their field of expertise
- Easy to follow
- Go at your own pace
- Lessons are to the point
- Masterclass Community
- Access to teaching assistants in MasterClass Sessions
Cons:
- One-time payment
- Not for you if you prefer a longer curriculum
- Classes can’t be purchased individually
- No interaction with instructors
My experience
I stumbled upon MasterClass back in 2019 when I was searching for online filmmaking courses. I saw that Martin Scorsese was coming out with a new class and truthfully, it didn’t take much consideration at that point. Knowing that the subscription included access to all other masterclasses, I was sold! After all, where else could I get advice from the creator of Goodfellas?
How it benefitted my filmmaking studies:
I got to see the behind-the-scenes of how the biggest names in the entertainment industry made it, giving me ideas on how to navigate the creative world myself and simply reviewing everything I was doing from a “mentor’s” point of view. I can also go back to my notes and to key points at any time by accessing the class worksheets.
MasterClass review: My favourite classes (in no particular order)
Christina Aguilera – Singing Masterclass review
Why I loved it:
Christina’s teachings were very useful and fun to learn – they brought awareness to the smaller things that newbie/amateur singers like myself tend to overlook, such as keeping our throats healthy and optimized for singing. Her vocal cord routine and drills were my favourite!
Spike Lee – Independent Filmmaking Masterclass review
Why I loved it:
Spike Lee has an approach to filmmaking that is quite similar to mine. He does things the traditional way – like writing on paper instead of using a computer. As I prefer things the old-fashioned way too (apart from having a blog, of course), Lee’s tips and tricks on how to get ideas flowing with a pen and paper were particularly fun to learn!
Martin Scorsese – Filmmaking Masterclass review
Why I loved it:
I won’t say much about this class because I’m definitely biased! Scorsese is my favourite director, so just listening to him talk about his cinematic masterpieces was something I thoroughly enjoyed – and got much inspiration from. Just like in his movies, Martin Scorsese doesn’t beat around the bush: the lessons are straightforward and simply a joy to watch.
Timbaland – Producing and Beatmaking Masterclass review
Why I loved it:
I *loved* this class. Probably my favourite one. Not only does Timbaland go in-depth into his beatmaking process, but the little artistic side notes he adds to the lessons show how a true music producer’s mind works. I was inspired from beginning to end.
Aaron Sorkin – Screenwriting Masterclass review
Why I loved it:
I hadn’t heard of Sorkin before I took his class, so I wasn’t expecting much from it until I went through the first lesson. I noticed he had trouble articulating his thoughts while presenting his material. I immediately felt a sense of ease regarding his struggle to express himself verbally. It made me connect with his work on a deeper level – I’ve personally always had a hard time getting my sentences right (which is why writing is so soothing to me as I can take my time to structure my thoughts). Although the reason I loved Aaron Sorkin’s class was mostly inspirational, I made great use of the lessons in my script work!
Gordon Ramsay – Cooking Masterclass review
Why I loved it:
Who doesn’t love Gordon Ramsay? Just like Martin Scorsese’s videos, Ramsay’s cooking is simply a joy to witness. His passion for food is clearly channelled through the way he describes the ingredients (and the utensils) he uses!
Bobbi Brown – Makeup and Beauty Masterclass review
Why I loved it:
Bobbi Brown’s lessons taught me a ton when I was still fairly new to cosmetics. I’ve never been a fan of the extravagant makeup style that rules today’s beauty industry, so seeing that a makeup icon like Brown also advocates the “less is more” ideal, I was glad to apply her techniques to my personal beauty routine!
Masterclass Sessions (included in your subscription)
A new hands-on approach to the typical masterclasses, Sessions are structured curriculums that are created with a specific goal: to give students the opportunity to work on projects and activities alongside the world’s best, in just 30 days. As a participant, you will be invited to partake in Sessions by sharing your work with peers inside student communities, as well as getting feedback from trained TAs.
Sessions are designed to take you from start to finish in 30 days, however, if you wish to go at a slower pace, the content will be pre-recorded so you can keep your access to the materials for the duration of your membership.
Pricing
- Annual membership is 180$ USD (individual plan)
- Costs as much as your Netflix subscription!
- 30-day satisfaction guarantee included with all membership plans
FAQ
- Who is behind Masterclass?
Founder and CEO David Rogier launched Masterclass in 2015.
- Is MasterClass fake?
MasterClass is a legit online education platform led by well-known instructors in their field of expertise. As a former student of MasterClass, I can assure you it is not a scam!
- Is MasterClass worth it?
The amount of knowledge and inspiration that these world-renowned instructors have to offer through their classes make it totally worth it.
- Is it easy to cancel MasterClass?
A breeze! Simply go to your account page and you can cancel your renewal through there.
- Does MasterClass offer refunds?
If you find that MasterClass isn’t for you, then you may email their customer service within 30 days of the purchase and you’ll get a full refund.
- How many paying subscribers does MasterClass have?
In September 2020, MasterClass’ user base comprised 1 million students.
MasterClass review : My ranking
| Ranking Factors | Ranking out of 10 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Class quality | 9/10 | ||
| Variety of classes | 8/10 | ||
| Quality of instructors | 10/10 | ||
| Ease of use | 9/10 | ||
| MasterClass community | 7/10 | ||
| Customer service | 8/10 | ||
| Total | 8.5/10 |
Final thoughts
Whatever your areas of interest may be, MasterClass offers real, insightful, and quality courses that can be used to hone your craft. I recommend it to the lifelong learners of this world, and truly anybody who’s in the pursuit of perfecting their skills.
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