Last Updated on March, 2025
“This Is MasterClass.”
Such a bold statement.
It’s very clever to pick out a word with the definition of ‘the best place to learn.’
MasterClass flexes the world’s finest in respective fields. But even Martin Scorcese has directed relatively less good films. The question I’m getting at is — is MasterClass worth it?
To do that, I did the best thing: I bought the subscription and tested it by myself. So, if you’re looking for a comprehensive answer to the question, ‘Is MasterClass worth it?’ you’re in the right place.
I have covered EVERYTHING about MasterClass for anyone who has zero idea of what it’s about. Be sure to read through it because this is all you need.
So, without further ado, let’s get this Masterclass review started.
Program Effectiveness
Brand Reputation
Price
Contents
- About MasterClass
- How Much Does MasterClass Cost: The Subscription Plans
- How to Register and Pay?
- MasterClass Refund Policy and How to Cancel Membership
- What is Included in a MasterClass Membership?
- The 10 Most Popular MasterClass Classes (No Order)
- Brandon Mcmillan Teaches Dog Training
- Gordon Ramsay Teaches Cooking II: Restaurant Recipes At Homes
- Martin Scorcese Teaches Filmmaking
- Kelly Wearstler Teaches Interior Design
- Neil Gaiman Teaches the Art of Storytelling
- Chris Voss Teaches the Art of Negotiation
- Anna Wintour Teaches Creativity and Leadership
- Thomas Keller Teaches Cooking Techniques III: Seafood, Sous Vide, and Desserts
- Ron Finley Teaches Gardening
- Annie Leibovitz Teaches Photography
- Customer Feedback on MasterClass
- My Experience With Masterclass
- What are the Best Ways to Watch MasterClass?
- MasterClass Community
- Who is MasterClass for, and Who isn’t MasterClass for?
- Pros and Cons of the MasterClass
- In Conclusion — Should You Buy MasterClass or Not?
- FAQs
About MasterClass
To be straightforward, MasterClass is a subscription-based online education platform that offers high-quality, immersive courses taught by world-renowned experts.
From creative writing to cooking, music to filmmaking, MasterClass courses are available for EVERYONE, with 180+ classes across 11 categories. You get unlimited access to all of them with any subscription plan.
That makes MasterClass a hallmark of affordable online education.
Even if it feels like MasterClass was around for a long time, this online learning platform was founded in 2014 by David Rogier.
The program started as Yanka Industries Inc with a website with only three instructors. But by 2018, MasterClass ended up with 50 instructors in just under four years.
Currently, we all know that the platform is branded as a celebrity-instructor-driven educational platform. Who doesn’t like learning cooking from Chef Ramsay?!
The online courses consist of pre-recorded high-production quality video lessons, as you might already know. You’ll read more on this as you go.
Furthermore, each module/video lesson in this online education platform is designed to cover a specific topic and provide in-depth information and insights into the subject matter.
All MasterClass courses include a downloadable PDF workbook — think of it as a study guide providing additional resources. As we dive deeper into the review, you’ll learn more about the online courses of MasterClass and much more.
You can read more about what MasterClass is here.
Everything comes down to the prices, so FIRST, let’s take a good look at that.
How Much Does MasterClass Cost: The Subscription Plans
You might already know that MasterClass had a $180 per year flat rate membership.
But with the insights, MasterClass ended up with a new price model. This comes in three types, and they are annual subscriptions.
You can access ALL the online courses with any subscription plan. The only difference is the number of accounts and devices you can use simultaneously.
Most MasterClass reviews don’t seem to explain this enough.
That’s how you know that although MasterClass is still a business, they don’t gatekeep knowledge.
Let’s look at the plans next; remember that these prices include taxes.
Individual Plan (Used to Be the Standard Plan)
The Individual MasterClass annual membership is $180, only a $15 monthly investment.
This plan is made specifically for single individuals who want nothing but the BEST knowledge from the BEST in their fields.
You can access the online classes from one MasterClass account and watch the video lessons from only one device. It’s like Netflix but focused more on knowledge.
Nonetheless, you can access the entire MasterClass course library without limitations.
But there is one downside of this plan which I’ll explain shortly.
Duo Plan (Used to Be the Plus Plan)
The Duo plan will fit you amazingly if you are married or live with a friend or significant other.
This annual subscription is priced at $240, roughly $20 per month.
Again, it’s a steal when you consider the monthly investment.
The duo plan’s added advantage is that you can download MasterClass videos for offline viewing. This doesn’t, however, mean you can download the HQ videos OUTSIDE the platform — it’s similar to YouTube.
But this benefit is not available for the Individual plan.
Family Plan (Used to Be the Premium Plan)
The family plan is suitable for families that want to grow together. It could even be a group of friends who wish to utilize MasterClass all the time — the term family has all sorts of meanings.
The family plan comes at $23 per month, billed annually at $276.
In this plan, you get one account (you get one account for all three plans, btw). In this one account, you can link up to 6 different devices.
Similar to the Duo plan, you can download all the videos for offline viewing. You’ll read more about the best ways to watch MasterClass and my experience with the platform as we go.
What else should you know?
You can always upgrade or downgrade your subscription, which is peace of mind.
Next, I’m going to teach you how to pay and get everything sorted hassle-free on your own.
Here’s our complete guide on “How much does MasterClass cost?“
How to Register and Pay?
All you need to do is go to the MasterClass website (www.MasterClass.com) and go to the “plans” tab. When you land there, you’ll see the three plans; Duo in the middle and selected by default.
The individual plan is on the left, and the family plan is on the right.
After you pick one, you’ll be asked to give your email address.
Now, I advise you to provide an email address whose accessibility is well-protected and known only to you — you get the idea.
Once you do that, you’ll come to the payment portal. At the top of the portal window, you’ll see your email and two options to pay with either card like VISA, Mastercard, American Express, etc., or PayPal.
The MasterClass support team will be there for you if any issue arises.
You make the payment, and you’re inside the platform. After that, it’s just a matter of searching the courses.
I have elaborated on the BEST (or the most popular) courses on MasterClass; keep reading to find out.
But what if you wanted to cancel the membership?
MasterClass Refund Policy and How to Cancel Membership
You get 30 days to cancel the subscription and get your money back at the checkout itself. But remember that you can only get a refund only during the first month.
However, you can cancel the membership at any time. This cancels the auto-renewal of the continuation, but as you might understand, there won’t be a refund after 30 days.
The process: log into your account at www.MasterClass.com and navigate to the profile menu. In the right-hand corner, there will be settings. Click on that, scroll down to account settings, and click the cancel membership button under the membership section of the page.
Up next, let’s look at what’s included in the membership.
What is Included in a MasterClass Membership?
MasterClass Video Lessons
It’s not an exaggeration to say that the heart of MasterClass is video lessons.
To give an idea of these video lessons, these are structured as a series of modules. These courses typically contain between 2-4 hours of divided single-class lessons. It’s easier to follow up on science; each is only 10-20 minutes long.
It’s PERFECT duration adhering to the typical attention span of humans.
MasterClass lets you choose video lessons from 11 categories; Arts & Entertainment, Home & Lifestyle, Music, Business, Writing, Food, Design & Style, Sports & Gaming, Science & Tech, Wellness, and Community & Government.
Let me show how it looks; let’s take “business.”
Look at the diversity — from Crypto to investment and negotiations.
Needless to say, all these lessons are delivered by celebrity-level experts in the field.
To give you a context, Gordon Ramsay is a chef with restaurants combining up to 17 Michelin stars across seven restaurants. Neil Gaiman has TWO courses and is the author of the globally acclaimed The Sandman novel.
You can’t even get these people on a phone call; MasterClass lets you learn from them.
The video lessons are high-quality and well-produced, with beautiful graphics and animations. This helps you grasp concepts much faster; it makes it more enjoyable and engaging too.
Unlike some competitors of MasterClass, these video lessons are available in multiple video qualities, including 360p, 720p, and 1080p. If you’re watching these video lessons on your smartphone, you might prefer 720p, and MasterClass has catered to the need.
I’ll explain more about all of this when I tell you about my experience with MasterClass.
Downloadable Workbook/Guide
Don’t we all have done assignments reading through workbooks and similar content throughout our lives? The same theory applies here.
The downloadable workbook from MasterClass is an essential part of the MasterClass experience. The core purposes of this workbook are to apply the learned concepts, track their progress, and have that truly offline access to MasterClass knowledge.
I’d say the workbooks are interactive and are designed to be used ALONGSIDE the video lessons. These include exercises, assignments (of some sort), and quizzes that help learners solidify their understanding of the material.
The most valuable feature of this is how the activities help you apply the learned knowledge to real-world situations.
In addition, these workbooks also contain additional sources and readings that you can use to deepen your knowledge. Some of these sources are recommended books, articles, and even websites.
MasterClass Playlists
Didn’t I tell you MasterClass was similar to Netflix? With playlists, it comes closer to Spotify as well.
Usually, you’d have to go through all video lessons to handpick the best of the best. The same thing happens with Spotify’s liked songs albums.
But MasterClass has made it easier for you (and better than you’d probably do.)
So, for each category, you’ll get curated playlists. For example, let’s say you’re into writing. This could be for content creation, art, or even marketing.
When you search “Writing” on the search bar, here’s what you get.
And you can scroll down.
The user interface is very simple; you click it and can enter the video lessons. You can even bookmark them, so MasterClass has ensured that their viewers get the BEST value for what their viewers spend.
That’s admirable.
MasterClass App
We live in a very mobile-friendly world, and I would have been disappointed if MasterClass wasn’t.
Not only is it mobile-friendly, but you also get a designated MasterClass app for that.
This is an easy-to-use app with an attractive user interface, and it’s compatible with Android mobiles and iOS too.
The most important feature of the MasterClass app is that you can just LISTEN to the video lessons. The audio-only mode transforms the MasterClass into a podcast.
On top of that, you can download videos (within the app) and watch offline if you have the Duo or family subscription plans.
Here’s how the interface looks.
As you can see, you can even download lessons via the MasterClass app itself.
Furthermore, the interface helps you filter the courses easier. All you need to do is tap on ‘WRITING’ for all writing courses.
MasterClass Sessions
You can always go through the lessons at your own pace. After all, the MasterClass membership is annual.
But human nature makes us lose enthusiasm and consistency regardless of how motivated we are. MasterClass offers MasterClass sessions that fix this problem.
You’ll still learn from the world’s finest, but the specialty is that the sessions’ curriculum’s structure is formed to be finished in just 30 days. That pushes you to follow up and finish everything in under one month.
Not only that, you can actively participate in these sessions where you can complete real-life projects. You can also share them with the community; I’ll explain that later. On top of that, you will also receive training from trained teaching assistants.
For example, one of the most trending sessions is the “Tackle the hard conversations with radical candor” with Kim Scott. Have you heard what Radical Candor is? It’s the ability to challenge directly while simultaneously showing that you care personally.
The course is bespoke for bosses and those C-suite decision-makers who want to get what they wish without tarnishing professional relationships.
Here’s a sneak peek:
And you can see the curriculum right below the main banner area as follows:
Although this is just one example, some of the most popular sessions are “elevate your singing and stage presence” by Christina Aguilera, “plan your dream wedding” with Mindy Weiss, and even “Become a Streamer” by NINJA.
MasterClass’s structured curriculum makes this online learning platform stand out.
MasterClass Guest Pass
MasterClass knows its marketing strategy well; after all, the founder of Spanx, Sera Blakely, teaches marketing — guest pass is such a clever two-way-helping strategy.
You receive a couple of guest passes, and by that, they get access to all 150+ instructors for 7 days for FREE; that’s right.
It’s natural for them to enter the card details, but they won’t be charged a penny if they cancel it within those 7 days. So, I’d say it’s a risk-free method to get someone who wants to try MasterClass but doesn’t want to pay a $100+ price tag.
Here’s how that interface looks.
MasterClass Offers
What if you wanted to GIFT MasterClass? In a situation like that, MasterClass has got to covered very well.
You can gift an annual membership to anyone in any of the plans, but almost all the time, people go with the individual plan.
MasterClass also lets you add an optional gift message too, and this goes as an email. But the best thing is that you can choose the date it will send. That makes it one of the BEST birthday, anniversary, or even celebration gifts.
Imagine your friend is a die-hard fan of Indian cooking, and you get her Madhur Jaffery’s Indian Cooking class. It could be a friend who loves gardening, and MasterClass’s Ron Finley’s class is all you need.
Who doesn’t like gifts like these? (Read how to gift MasterClass.)
MasterClass At Work (For Business)
Being at the top of the business world needs two factors; amazing products to sell and amazing people who make them.
Investing in employees is a MASSIVE investment, and MasterClass has identified it..
MasterClass offers bulk licenses as well. You can choose between 5 to 1000 seats divided across your team members.
This is not available as plans on the website, but it’s pretty straightforward; all you need to do is call their sales team, and they’ll get everything sorted for you.
The cherry on top is the possibility of getting 5-35% discounts for bulk packages depending on the order size; the number of seats.
MasterClass Social Impact
Almost all the well-performing individuals and organizations give back to society; MasterClass’s success has let the platform do the same.
In addition to financial support, MasterClass shares priceless knowledge. The company gives away annual memberships to accredited charitable organizations. The common factor of all these organizations is the fact that they serve communities in need.
You may ask, what sort of communities does this refer to?
For starters, this is for BIPOC youth, low-income families, and current or formerly incarcerated families.
MasterClass even lets YOU submit applications; all it takes is some time for the MasterClass’s team to evaluate it, and they’ll notify you if you’re eligible for a grant.
You can apply here for a grant; if this rings a bell, go for it.
Since 2019, MasterClass has given free annual memberships to over 900 organizations and over 150,000 currently or formerly incarcerated individuals. The total number of free annual memberships MasterClass has enabled is around 345,000.
With all these things covered, let’s take a deeper look at 15 of the BEST courses in MasterClass.
The 10 Most Popular MasterClass Classes (No Order)
These are some of the best MasterClass courses conducted by celebrity MasterClass instructors. But remember that you might feel different when you actually watch MasterClass courses.
Let’s begin.
Brandon Mcmillan Teaches Dog Training
The last time I checked, the average monthly expense for a qualified dog trainer is about $3000+ per month at a rate of $17-18 per hour.
It was quite a coincidence when I bought MasterClass about a month and a half before I had the chance to buy a Lab puppy.
Brandon McMillan is the host of CBS’ Lucky Dog. I was a moderate fan of the show because I love dogs. He and the team basically rescue shelter dogs, train them, and place them in new homes.
It’s that “training” part Brandon specializes in. He brings all that wisdom and enhances it further in MasterClass.
If you didn’t know, punishment-based and positive reinforcement based are the two primary methods of training dogs. Out of these two, positive reinforcement has the best and most sustainable effect.
That’s what Brandon does in his MasterClass.
He emphasizes the importance of rewarding good behavior over punishment. Brandon will help you skyrocket your puppy’s intelligence through clear communication and consistency.
Brandon also offers insight into how dogs learn and think, which can help owners better understand their pet’s behavior and motivations.
Throughout this dog training course, McMillan covers a wide range of topics, including obedience commands, leash training, and socialization. His takes on the human-dog relationship definitely reinforce a stronger bond between you and your pup.
Whether you’re a first-time dog owner or even an experienced trainer, Brandon’s MasterClass offers amazing insights and exceptional techniques.
You also get a comprehensive workbook to follow.
I got you covered with my complete Brandon McMillan MasterClass Review if you want to know more about this course.
Gordon Ramsay Teaches Cooking II: Restaurant Recipes At Homes
The man, the myth, the legend of cooking; Gordon Ramsay.
His cooking has changed and influenced the world. With 17 Michelin stars on his portfolio, Chef Ramsay dominates MasterClass’ cooking category.
Out of these, it’s very natural for people to make dishes that world-class chefs make. But it’s more exciting when these dishes are INSPIRED from Michelin star-class restaurants.
Throughout the culinary arts course, Chef Ramsay teaches you some chef-level techniques he uses, specific hand movements and placement of knives, and you know how chefs like Ramsay work.
Additionally, he is adamant about the ingredients and their proportions. I’m 100% sure this is to preserve the quality and let YOU have what he cooks in MasterClass.
The flavor combinations are amazing; you can FEEL your cooking knowledge deepening with each lesson.
He will also share his tips and tricks for working efficiently in the kitchen, managing your time effectively, and maintaining a clean and organized workspace.
I can’t begin to tell you how tasty all of these dishes are; they look fantastic. Ideally, these recipes would impress a person who doesn’t know you can cook. Some of the recipes in this course are,
- Crispy duck with red endive and spinach
- Pomme Puree
- Rack of lamb with Thumbelina carrots
- Szechuan roasted whole chicken
- Sesame-crusted tuna with cucumber salad
- And then more mind-blowing dishes.
Chef Ramsay’s passion for cooking and wealth of knowledge will inspire you to experiment and push the boundaries of your culinary abilities.
So put on your apron, grab your chef’s knife, and prepare some truly unforgettable dishes!
Here is my comprehensive Gordon Ramsay MasterClass review, or you can,
Martin Scorcese Teaches Filmmaking
Martin Scorcese is a legendary and worshipped Hollywood movie director. His movies, such as Taxi Driver (1976), Goodfellas (1990), Raging Bull (1980), and Mean Streets (1973), have influenced modern cinema.
Imagine learning filmmaking from HIM.
In this course, Scorcese takes you through his creative process, sharing his insights from years of experience in the craft of filmmaking. You will learn about the 360 degrees scope from the director’s seat.
So, even if you were a screenwriter, a producer, a cinematographer, or just a cinephile, you have a lot to learn from Scorsese.
Throughout the course, this legendary director will use examples from his own films to illustrate his points. This provides you with a behind-the-screen look at his filmmaking process. THAT is truly priceless.
You will also learn how to collaborate with actors, writers, and cinematographers to bring his vision to life and how he navigates the challenges that arise during the filmmaking process.
I didn’t sit through to the end of the introduction part; guilty as charged!
Scorcese’s MasterClass is truly comprehensive. With the highest quality video lessons, he reveals practical years of experience in production design, casting, location hunting, finding a story, working with a script, editing, color correction, and so on.
There are 30 completely unique video lessons that help you be reborn as a filmmaker who learned from Scorcese.
As much as the video lessons series, the coursebook has SO MUCH to learn. It’s pretty impressive that MasterClass brings so much value to each page.
Kelly Wearstler Teaches Interior Design
As one of the most sought-after interior designers in the world, Kelly Wearstler brings SO much to the table in MasterClass.
As you may already know, Kelly is a star-class interior designer who has worked on projects ranging from luxury hotels to celebrity homes.
It’s a known fact that her signature style is bold, eclectic, and glamorous aesthetic. But it’s exciting to see how knowledgeable she is on interior designing since she guides YOU to develop your own style.
In doing that, she’ll give you a proper understanding of color theory, texture, and proportion and how to use them to create a cohesive and harmonious space. Kelly achieves her objective by teaching you about very specific subject matter.
Do these ring a bell?
- Space planning
- Materiality in design
- Experimenting with color
- Movement and scale
- Furnishing: balance and comfort
- And up to 17 video lessons
Like Scorsese, Kelly will also showcase some of her most iconic projects. So, if you already have a personal style as an interior designer, you might be able to enhance yours with what Kelly has to say.
After all, she shares all the secretive details, such as the materials, furniture, and accessories she used.
One of the admirable features of Kelly’s interior course is how she also focuses on sustainability in design and how to create environmentally responsible spaces.
Even if I’m not an interior designer, I’m pretty sure I know A LOT about the subject. If you’re an aspiring interior designer, this is all you need to get ahead of the competition.
Neil Gaiman Teaches the Art of Storytelling
When I read Neil Gaiman’s Sandman when I was little, it left a lasting impression. It was fascinating how the world was building, the development of the characters, and every single detail was simply amazing.
After 20-something years, here he was in front of my screen, teaching ME the ART of storytelling; for me, it was extra special.
Neil brings years of memorable storytelling to the table.
He takes you all the way from the foundation of impactful storytelling to flesh out details depending on the target audience. So, it doesn’t matter if you are a marketer, a writer, or a comic artist… if YOUR job or hobby involves storytelling, MasterClass will change your life.
It’s ADMIRABLE how he also touches on the business side of writing, including how to work with editors, agents, and publishers.
Anyone would love Neil’s approachable teaching style. He draws upon his own experiences and shares anecdotes that illustrate his points, making the course both informative and entertaining.
As a student, you will feel like you are receiving personalized coaching from one of the greatest storytellers of our time.
And it’s borderline ASMR to listen to his deep voice.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting out; learning from Neil Gaiman WILL change your quality of storytelling.
Chris Voss Teaches the Art of Negotiation
Christopher “Chris” Voss wasn’t a familiar name to me; Art of Negotiation? I wanted to know his background of him — I still remember how shocked and impressed I was.
Voss is a former FBI hostage negotiator with YEARS of experience. Can you imagine how swift and tactical he should be with how and what he speaks?
Well, you don’t have to imagine it; you can experience it.
Throughout the course, Voss takes you through his proven negotiation methodology. What I personally love is how to create empathy, build rapport, and communicate persuasively.
Managers, doesn’t this sound like the perfect skill to master?
He also covers advanced tactics, such as dealing with difficult negotiators and negotiating in high-stakes situations.
As you can see, Voss starts covering specific video lessons about tactical empathy, mirroring, and labeling, and at the bottom, there is an interesting case study — All of these in 18 video lessons will change your life as you know it.
Anecdotes from his time at the FBI and real-life case studies truly help you understand how this wisdom helps you in real life. You’ll find it fascinating how simple and effortless it is to negotiate so well.
Rest assured; you’ll be able to negotiate better at the successful completion of this MasterClass course.
Anna Wintour Teaches Creativity and Leadership
One could say that creativity and leadership could be two sides of the same coin; it takes creative thinking to be a great leader.
That’s why MasterClass has included the Editor-in-Chief of Vogue and one of the most influential figures in the fashion industry to talk about creativity and leadership — Anna Wintour.
At a glance, her MasterClass contains 12 video lessons. Some of these are,
- Getting the work done
- Finding your voice and succeeding
- Leading with a vision
- Editorial decision-making
- Evolving a brand
- And so much more, as shown below
The more she explains, the more you understand that her objective is to give full 360 degrees approach to you. That, in turn, makes you a great leader.
As I said earlier, what sets this MasterClass apart is its emphasis on the role of creativity in leadership. Wintour highlights the importance of fostering a creative environment that encourages experimentation and challenges the status quo.
It’s fascinating to see her justify high-stake decisions with her successful projects. Her insights on creativity are invaluable for anyone seeking to cultivate a more innovative and dynamic workplace.
On top of all this, similar to all other MasterClass video lessons, these have the same amazing production quality. The cherry on top is the 35-page coursebook.
In conclusion, it was quite fascinating to see how crucial creativity really is for leadership. Not a lot of people know this. So, this could easily be that secret weapon that gets you the promotion you deserve.
Thomas Keller Teaches Cooking Techniques III: Seafood, Sous Vide, and Desserts
You know Ramsay is a British chef. So, his recipes will always have that British touch. That’s probably why MasterClass wanted to bring the award-winning American chef and restaurateur Thoman Keller.
Luckily, you don’t have to choose between the two; you get full access to EVERY instructor in the MasterClass platform.
There are two techniques courses before the third one. But the “Seafood, Sous Vide, and Desserts” is very popular.
In this course, Chef Keller demonstrates his mastery of seafood, offering techniques for selecting and preparing a variety of fish and shellfish.
With his expert guidance, students will learn how to cook seafood perfectly, from poaching lobster and shrimp to pan-searing halibut and scallops.
Don’t worry — he takes you along the learning curve step by step in each video.
Some of these dishes are specialties of Thomas. Out of them, my favorites are,
- Lobster Boil
- Desserts: Pots de Crème
- Desserts: Apple Pie With Lard Crust
- Butter-Poached Lobster With Macaroni and Cheese
- Pan Roasting: Monkfish Tail With Beurre Rouge
Similar to other MasterClass video lessons, you get a comprehensive coursebook in this course too.
The coursebook has so much to learn, especially the cooking and preparation techniques. As a matter of fact, Keller’s third installment of Cooking MasterClass is phenomenal.
But check out the first two that cover vegetables, pasta, eggs, meats, stocks, and sauces.
Ron Finley Teaches Gardening
I had always watched youtube when I wanted to do my garden; some worked, some didn’t, and some even damaged.
After watching Ron Finley’s gardening MasterClass, I wish I had bought MasterClass way earlier.
For those who don’t know Ron, he’s an American community activist, entrepreneur, and a very passionate gardener. Being featured in MasterClass as a self-taught gardener shows how much he has to share.
Ron takes the viewers on a journey through urban gardening that helps everyone, regardless of their gardening experience, to create a thriving garden.
The course’s emphasis on community involvement in urban gardening is fascinating. He highlights the importance of working together to create healthy, sustainable food systems and encourages you to be involved.
To be more precise, here are some of the specific video lessons you’ll be learning.
- Creating planters
- How to grow greens and legumes
- Grow your own food: sweet potatoes
- Techniques to grow herbs better
- Secrets to increase your bounty
- How NOT to kill your plans
- And four more exciting topics
He gives you advice from the bottom up. For example, you’ll learn how to soil and compost from ground zero. While he does, Ron keeps everything interesting, sharing his personal experiences too.
I expected the coursebook to be more comprehensive, similar to Scorcese’s, and I was right. It even has planting assignments.
If you want a fantastic garden and want to learn from the BEST at it, Ron is the man for the job.
Here is my comprehensive Ron Finley Gardening MasterClass review, or you can,
Annie Leibovitz Teaches Photography
I’m not a photographer, so I didn’t know who Annie was.
I wanted to Google her, but I happened to have a couple of photographer friends.
When I asked who Annie Leibovitz was, he replied: “GOAT” – The greatest of all time.
Although it’s very subjective, it drew a clear picture, and I knew the MasterClass team had made the right decision.
As I said, I’m not a photographer, but I was following up with pretty much everything she was saying in the video lessons. It’s because of the easy-to-understand terms and the simplicity of her delivery. It reminded me of what Einstein said;
“If you can’t explain it in simple terms, you don’t understand it enough.”
Here are some exciting video lessons from the course;
- Portrait photography
- Creating concepts
- Working work lights
- Studio Vs. Location
- Working with your subject
- Case study: Angels in America photoshoot for Vogue magazine
And this list goes for 15 unique and valuable video lessons with movie-like production quality. I also noticed how she brings a lot of scientific thinking mixed with practical tips. That continues to preserve how MasterClass works.
Leibovitz’s insights into the art of portraiture are particularly valuable, as she shares her unique approach to working with subjects and creating images that capture their essence.
On top of that, the coursebook is very informative and useful as you follow through the course.
If you’re an aspiring photographer who wants to bring out a classiness and technique-based high value in your photographs, Annie’s course is a goldmine. But it also fits just about anyone interested.
Here is my comprehensive Annie Leibovitz MasterClass review, or you can,
Customer Feedback on MasterClass
I’m not the kind to rely ONLY on YouTube recommendations; I want more.
That’s why I go to Trustpilot for that extra layer of reassurance.
So, it was pleasant to see that the majority of the reviews were positive. Whenever there are negative ones for highly acclaimed products/services, sometimes it could be even because people don’t understand simple navigation in the platform.
Here’s a glimpse of the big picture.
So, KStepGo (obviously a person) has had MasterClass for a year and would highly recommend it.
Sometimes, it’s not always about the quality of the learning material itself. Sometimes it’s also about customer service. That’s what Lisa has experienced, and you will have that too.
Jo is impressed by the content and also how mobile-friendly the service is. After all, it has enabled the opportunity to listen to lessons like podcasts. That’s a clever decision by MasterClass.
Adam here is another person who loves the variety of knowledge from the instructors. Who doesn’t like learning stage presence and singing from Aguilera?
That being disclosed, let me tell you about my PERSONAL experience with MasterClass.
My Experience With Masterclass
It took me less than 30 seconds to familiarize myself with the platform. You make the payment, and you’re instantly in the system.
As soon as I went inside, this is what I saw.
It’s a very simple interface; all you need to do is type something at the search bar and get recommendations.
I can manage cooking, so I first searched for Chef Ramsay because I wanted to make some delicious dishes.
Here’s the result I got when I searched for Ramsay.
So, like this, I browsed across several programs. Since I had all the time, I went through almost the entire course.
After all, the video length is only about 10-15 minutes.
The production quality is FANTASTIC; I could see and hear all the little details.
It’s so pleasant and helps you understand so quickly.
One of my favorites was Ramsay’s home recipes, and just look how amazing the video looks.
So, as you can see on the time slider, special moments are bookmarked. You can also slow down or speed up the playing speed. In addition, you can adjust the video quality from 360p to 1080p. I took the screenshot at 1080p quality.
About the content, it’s literally *chef’s kiss.
It’s not even just Chef Ramsay; every single lecturer I checked has structured their content so concisely; there’s ZERO fluff. It’s also so very noticeable how they explain better with their personal experiences. It brings more authenticity and success, in my opinion.
Below is one of my absolute favorite moments when Scorcese brought out one of his childhood storyboarding memories.
So, like that, MasterClass content is unparalleled and original.
Apart from these two, I loved Ron’s Gardening MasterClass, Neil Gaiman teaches the art of Storytelling, Annie’s Photography MasterClass, and Voss’ art of Negotiation MasterClass. These are only my ABSOLUTE favorites; there are some more I liked.
Some of them are,
- Garry Kasparov teaches chess (Click here to access his course on MasterClass)
- Steve Martin teaches comedy (Click here to checkout his course @MasterClass)
- Margaret Atwood teaches creative writing (Here’s her course @MasterClass)
- David Sedaris teaches storytelling (To access his course @MasterClass, click here)
- James Patterson teaches writing (Please click here to access his course on MasterClass)
- Malcolm Gladwell teaches writing (To gain entry to his course @MasterClass, click on this link)
- Wright teaches game design (Click on this link to access his course)
- Serena Williams teaches tennis (To access her course on MasterClass, simply click here)
I went with the Duo plan for my partner and me for two devices, and I got three guest passes. I gave away one to a friend who called Annie ‘GOAT’ — what are friends for?
The workbooks of most MasterClass courses are so beautifully designed, but all of them are very informative. I initially thought it was like a user manual. I was SO wrong. These workbooks have a world of their own, expanding knowledge so deeply.
The customer support and the community were more active than I anticipated, and that’s a great sign.
The only two downsides I noticed were that you don’t get a formal certification and never get to ask questions from world-renowned experts. But it’s a bit unrealistic to expect Chris Hadfield to be available for amateur students as a space exploration expert.
But even with that, MasterClass is a clear investment, hands down.
What are the Best Ways to Watch MasterClass?
There’s definitely no perfect way of watching MasterClass as it’s a platform. So, it’s safe to say that suitability highly depends on the situation.
However, you can enjoy MasterClass with any of these devices,
- Tablets
- iOS and Android smartphones
- Laptops and desktop computers
- Amazon Fire TV
- Apple TV
The best feature of MasterClass is its seamless syncing and streaming ability across all platforms. It’s really up to you to decide how to watch or listen to it.
Although I can’t sing, I love singing! That’s why I watched Christina Aguilera’s MasterClass on singing and stage presence on my laptop while in my room. Thanks to the app, I could watch it on my way to work and even listen to audio when I couldn’t view the video.
MasterClass Community
I noticed how there were about three or maybe four discussion topics monthly for most classes; the higher the popularity, the higher the chances.
This happened with Ramsay’s cooking recipes when people were asking for replacement ingredients; you know what I mean.
But simultaneously, I wouldn’t say it’s as active as Meta platforms, but everyone is so nice. With such diversity, it’s impressive to see all that enthusiasm.
It indirectly motivated me to learn better too.
You can ask questions, get feedback, and even just share thoughts. All you need to do is scroll all the way down in each video, and you’ll see this:
Once you click “JOIN THE DISCUSSION” and go inside, you’ll see all sorts of topics in a nice table-like interface. You can join the discussions, or you can start your own.
That’s why the MasterClass community is so amazing.
On top of that, the MasterClass team is almost always there to help you out. But it’s unrealistic to expect Daniel Negreanu (teaches poker) to help you win bigger at a casino.
Who is MasterClass for, and Who isn’t MasterClass for?
At a glance, MasterClass is pretty much for everyone who seeks knowledge. But if you asked me who it is MasterClass for and who it is NOT for… I still have an answer.
MasterClass is ideal for anyone who wants to learn from successful people in their respective fields in a flexible, self-paced format. After all, you can watch all the video lessons in one day, or you can watch one per day.
Even if you are a very beginner, everything starts from scratch. But there are a few exceptions, such as cooking and photography, for which you need some practice and knowledge.
However, MasterClass might not be the best choice for anyone who prefers a traditional classroom-style learning experience or highly specialized technical training, and the cost of the courses can be prohibitive.
Pros and Cons of the MasterClass
Pros
Cons
Other MasterClasses reviews:
- Timbaland MasterClass Review
- Alice Waters MasterClass Review
- Neil deGrasse Tyson MasterClass Review
- Penn and Teller Masterclass Review
- Bill Nye MasterClass Review
- Paul Krugman Masterclass Review
- Aaron Sorkin MasterClass Review
- Daniel Pink Sales MasterClass Review
In Conclusion — Should You Buy MasterClass or Not?
MasterClass is a modern-day lyceum led by the world’s best celebrity instructors of respective fields. When you look at the numbers and what you get in return, it’s a solid investment. You get access to EVERYTHING in any plan.
The production quality, the content quality, and the structure are absolutely phenomenal. Everyone presents their knowledge interestingly and engagingly so that it’s easier to keep up.
With all the other features like guest passes and workbooks… MasterClass is worth more than what you spend.
I hope this review was helpful to you! Happy to help!
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