Plus, how it compares to True North
What is Masterclass and how does it work?
Masterclass is an online education platform that offers video classes taught by experts in various fields, such as writing, cooking, music, and more. You’ve probably seen the stacked celebrity roster that makes up its instructors, such as Gordon Ramsay, Serena Williams, and Joyce Carol Oates.
Each class is broken down into several video lessons, accompanied by supplementary materials such as workbooks and quizzes. The classes are self-paced and can be accessed online at any time. At one time, users could purchase individual courses, but this has been replaced by a monthly subscription model starting at $15 and going to $23/monthly.
It is legit?
Yes, absolutely. The platform is chock full of big name juggernauts in film, publishing, media, hospitality, food, leadership, sports and business; sharing years of their elite wisdom in hours-long courses.
Masterclass was founded in 2015 by Aaron Rasmussen and Andrew Graham. Both Rasmussen and Graham were entrepreneurs and former investors, who saw the potential for an online education platform that could bring world-class instruction to anyone with an internet connection. They started Masterclass with the goal of creating a platform where anyone could learn from the best in their field, regardless of their location or background.
The company launched its first classes in 2015, with classes taught by some huge names such as Serena Williams, Christina Aguilera, and James Patterson. Since then, Masterclass has continued to expand its classes and its superbowl commercials, adding new classes in a wider range of disciplines, and growing its student base to millions of people around the world.
In 2020 the company raised $100 million in a funding round led by Fidelity Management and Research Company, valuating the company at $800 million. The company has also announced plans to expand into new markets and create new content, such as fiction writing, photography, and more.
Examples of 3 classes on Masterclass
Gordon Ramsay Teaches Cooking: The notoriously angry chef and restaurateur Gordon Ramsay released a masterclass in cooking on the platform in 2018. He covers various techniques and skill, including knife skills, flavor building, and menu planning, and is intended to help students improve their cooking at home.
David Lynch Teaches Creativity and Film: The acclaimed filmmaker David Lynch created a masterclass in creativity and film in 2019. The class dives into Lynch's unique approach to filmmaking, including his use of Transcendental Meditation in the creative process. Film students take this class to develop their own creative voice.
Ron Finley Teaches Gardening: The urban gardener and community activist Ron Finley made a masterclass all about green thumbs in 2019. A fearless pioneer for urban gardening, he teaches design, soil health, and plant selection, and is intended to help students grow their own food and beautify their surroundings, regardless of the size of their space.
How does it compare to True North?
Masterclass is great as a way to expand your mind around various topics and learn skills you might be interested in. If you’re a creative, or want to just enjoy getting better at a hobby, it’s very fun. But in the same way that Mindvalley is a very random modge podge of people touting unverfiable wellness trends, Masterclass is essentially a directory of classes that you choose from like a menu.
True North, on the other hand, is a holistic, singular journey you embark on to discover your true core values. Build a long-term (5 years) Vision from these core values and nonnegotiables, which stays with you as an internal compass in every decision you make in the future. It’s not for the browser, the hobbyist or the faint of heart. If you feel that you need to discover more about yourself than how to make a perfect omelette, a Vision is a better investment than a class on iambic pentameter.
Real reviews of Masterclass
Masterclass is designed for people who want to occupy their time on things that they are interested in. However, is not for everyone and you need to know their Pros and Cons according to InStyle.
| Pros | Cons | |
|---|---|---|
| A friendly app for all users. | There's no chanche of taking a membership. | |
| You can take the notes you need while watching. | Doesn't have free trials or monthly subscriptions (membership is billed annually). | |
| Has a good video quality. | You don't get any certification after finishing the course. | |
| It addresses different topics. | You can't interact with the instructors. |