Dustin Hoffman, Serena Williams and James Patterson teach their craft online with launch of new company MasterClass

Classes from Usher and Annie Leibovitz to follow in the coming months

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May 12, 2015, 08:00 ET

SAN FRANCISCO, May 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Launching today, MasterClass (www.masterclass.com) – a new San Francisco-based company – makes it possible for anyone to learn directly from the world's best. In its first set of online classes, two-time academy award winner Dustin Hoffman teaches acting, no. 1 ranked women's tennis player Serena Williams teaches tennis, and world's best-selling author James Patterson teaches writing. Legendary performer Usher and renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz will debut their MasterClass in the coming months with more classes to come throughout the year.

Dustin Hoffman teaches acting with launch of MasterClass

Serena Williams teaches tennis with launch of MasterClass

James Patterson teaches writing with launch of MasterClass

"We're students. The first year. The first five years, the first 10 years. We're students after 50 years. I never like to give advice, but I wanted to teach what I wish someone had taught me," said Dustin Hoffman.

"I wanted to make my class feel as though you're right there on the court with me. It's like getting a private lesson," said Serena Williams.

According to analysts, online learning is a $107 billion global industry that is seeing double digit growth. Tapping into this fast-growing market, MasterClass takes a unique approach to online learning by being the first to work with globally-recognized instructors and Emmy and Academy Award winning directors to create a new kind of class. The first set of classes were directed by Jay Roach ("Austin Powers" and "Meet the Parents") and Bill Guttentag (two-time Academy Award winning documentarian) and filmed to make the student feel front and center with the instructor.

"We pair world-class instructors with Hollywood directors and Silicon Valley engineers to create an entirely new online learning experience. That experience is MasterClass," said David Rogier, MasterClass co-founder and CEO.

Curriculums are developed individually by each instructor to reflect their own unique approach to their craft. MasterClass also works with education experts to help instructors develop the best methods for teaching their unique mastery.

"In my MasterClass, I try to unearth all the things I would have found useful when I was starting out. I have a career-long bank of tips and tricks, and now a perfect forum to share them with others," said James Patterson.

"We created the kind of online classes we'd be excited to take, from the people we'd love to learn from," said Aaron Rasmussen, MasterClass co-founder, creative director and CTO.

Each MasterClass is priced at $90 and includes:

10-25 video lessons from the instructor (approx. 2-5 hours of video)
Interactive exercises: for example, in Dustin Hoffman's MasterClass students can be matched with other students to practice scenes from the class, and then upload videos for feedback from other students (and sometimes even Dustin himself!)
Learning materials: workbooks and class materials like excerpts from James Patterson's first drafts
Lifetime access, with classes that never expire
Learning materials and workbooks
Accessible from any device (access Serena's class on your smartphone right on the court).

Classes available now at www.masterclass.com.

To view trailers for each MasterClass, please visit:
MasterClass - Official Trailer - https://youtu.be/263TaKp0iok
Serena Williams MasterClass - Official Trailer - https://youtu.be/MzOMkRTBBf8
Dustin Hoffman MasterClass - Official Trailer - https://youtu.be/qRKLjGurI8E
James Patterson MasterClass - Official Trailer - https://youtu.be/6H7tKmbmTWM

Follow MasterClass at:

Twitter @masterclass
Instagram @masterclass https://instagram.com/masterclass/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/masterclassofficial

ABOUT MASTERCLASS

San Francisco-based MasterClass was founded by David Rogier and Aaron Rasmussen on the idea that everyone should have access to genius. MasterClass makes it possible for anyone with an Internet connection to learn from the best through immersive online classes from the world's most esteemed authors, actors, performers, athletes and more. MasterClass pairs world-class instructors with Hollywood directors and Silicon Valley engineers to create a brand new type of learning experience. For more information, please visit www.masterclass.com

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150512/215298

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150512/215299

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150512/215300

SOURCE MasterClass