Skip to content
    skip to navigation

    Classic FM

    Listen

    On Air Now

    Aled Jones 10am - 1pm

    Aled Jones

    Now Playing

    Harry Potter - Harry's Wondrous World John Williams Download 'Harry Potter - Harry's Wondrous World' on iTunes

    Harry Potter - Harry's Wondrous World artwork
    • Playlist
    • Schedule
    • Home
    • Radio
    • News
    • Discover Music
    • Composers
    • Artists
    • Win
    • Store
    • Charity
    • Podcasts
    • Events
    • Dating
    • Follow us on:
      Follow Classic FM on Facebook
      Follow Classic FM on Instagram
      Follow Classic FM on Youtube

    Discover Music

    • Discover Music Home
    • Periods & Genres
    • Occasions
    • Mood
    • Instruments
    • Music Theory
    • Music Education
    • Humour
    • Women in Music
    • Lyrics
    • More Classic FM

    31 terrible stock photos of classical musicians

    Facebook share

    Some are weird, some are ridiculous, some are cheesy - it seems that as soon as you put classical music into stock photos, it looks horrendous. Here are some of the worst generic photos of musicians and classical music in general that we've come across. The horror...

    1. stock photos

      1. Rhapsody in Bath

      Because sometimes, you just need to glissando. And bathe.

    2. bad stock photos

      2. Teaching an old dog?

      "Seriously, he's useless at the piano. He just dribbles."

    3. bad stock photos

      3. Eurovision

      Iceland were unable to provide transport to the Eurovision Song Contest for their musicians this year.

    4. bad stock photos

      4. Eeeeey!

      ... Eeeeeey!!

    5. bad stock photos

      5. Backhanded violin

      Maybe he'd drop in some more money if your violin was round the right way.

    6. bad stock photos

      6. See no evil

      Sometimes, I like to use my cello to block out the horrors of real life. Just for fun, y'know.

    7. bad stock photos

      7. Trumpet boy with accessories

      My love is like a red, red rose. With a trumpet. And a cane.

    8. bad stock photos

      8. Words fail us.

      OK. Does anyone have ANY idea what's happening here?

    9. bad stock photos

      9. Trombone al fresco

      Because the park is the most natural place in the world you'd expect to find a sunglasses-wearing trombonist. In a fisherman's beanie hat.

    10. Naked double bassist

      10. Ummm

      "Playing naked just really allows me to feel the music, you know?"

    11. bad stock photos

      11. The Loner

      Practice is over, pal. Go home.

    12. bad stock photos

      12. Well this is awkward.

      Wow, seriously, if you want some time alone, just say...

    13. Dancing violinist

      13. Strictly Come... whatever this is

      This is how REAL musicians get famous.

    14. bad stock photos

      14. What's that note?

      We're not flute experts, but we're pretty sure you need to have at least some of your fingers on the keys to make it work.

    15. bad stock photos

      15. And again...

      We can excuse some freedom of realism, but this is some of the worst violin technique we've ever seen. Call that a bowgrip? And you should be bowing IN FRONT of the fingerboard. Madam, whoever your teacher is, you need to sack them.

    16. bad stock photos

      16. Stay away from the light

      This is how they do piano lessons in Eli Roth movies.

    17. bad stock photos

      17. Getting closer...

      Even cellists aren't safe! Watch out for the weird light!

    18. bad stock photos

      18. Closer still!

      Someone think of the children!

    19. bad stock photos

      19. Oh wait...

      ...it's going. Panic over.

    20. bad stock photos

      20. They cannot be a real string quartet

      Unless Baz Luhrmann is planning on remaking 'A Late Quartet'.

    21. bad stock photos

      21. Violin al fresco

      Another foray into the great outdoors. Perfect time for a Bach Partita, obvs.

    22. bad stock photos

      22. The Fury

      Top marks for effort. We're terrified.

    23. bad stock photos

      23. The Artful Dodger

      "Shine your shoes for a penny, suh?"

    24. bad stock photos

      24. Romance

      What every girl wants. Flowers and a clarinet.

    25. bad stock photos

      25. More violin al fresco

      Another nap in the park with that staple of outdoor pursuits, the violin.

    26. bad stock photos

      26. Yep...

      ...it's a violin.

    27. bad stock photos

      27. The great outdoors

      Extreme Strictly Come Dancing.

    28. bad stock photos

      28. The ultimate conductor gesture

      "Seriously, STOP."

    29. bad stock photos

      29. Followed by...

      "OK, carry on." Nice hair flick, too.

    30. bad stock photos

      30. Violin al fresco V3

      If a man plays a tiny white violin in the woods, does it make a sound?

    31. bad stock photos

      31. Flute or cello?

      Give a flute to a cellist, this is what you get.

    Facebook share

    Discover music

    See more Discover music

    Pedro Pascal will play a professional cellist in new film ‘Behemoth!’

    Pedro Pascal on playing cello: “The hardest thing I’ve ever learned to do”

    2 days ago

    Matthew Bourne’s Bizet-inspired ballet returns to Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London.

    Matthew Bourne’s Bizet-inspired ballet ‘The Car Man’ returns to London - get tickets now

    4 days ago

    Events

    Muliti-award winning Welsh actor Sir Anthony Hopkins is releasing a classical album performed by the Philharmonia orchestra and conductor Gustavo Dudamel.

    Sir Anthony Hopkins announces classical album with Gustavo Dudamel

    7 days ago

    Seven pop stars you might not know were influenced by ballet

    Seven pop stars you might not know were influenced by ballet

    15 days ago

    Ludwig Göransson is the composer for Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’, starring Matt Damon in the lead role.

    Everything we know about Ludwig Göransson’s score for ‘The Odyssey’ so far

    16 days ago

    Composer Julian Nott wrote the score and theme music for the ’Wallace and Gromit‘ franchise.

    Wallace and Gromit composer: ‘I wrote the theme music at 3am’

    16 days ago

    Best classical music

    See more Best classical music

    The 15 most famous tunes in classical music

    The 15 most famous tunes in classical music

    Best symphonies: Ludwig van Beethoven, Antonin Dvorak and Florence Price

    The 15 greatest symphonies of all time

    4 eras of classical music

    The 4 eras of classical music: a quick guide

    A young Marin Alsop, Sir Simon Rattle, and Seiji Ozawa conduct their respective orchestras.

    The 25 greatest conductors of all time

    Hildegard von Bingen, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Edward Elgar among the greatest composers in classical music history.

    The 30 greatest classical music composers of all time

    Classic FM Live Playlists

    See more Classic FM Live Playlists

    Classic FM Hall of Fame

    Classic FM Revision

    Classic FM Relax

    Classic FM Pet Classics

    Classic FM Movie Music Hall of Fame

    Classic FM’s Baby Bedtime

    Browse by

    See more Browse by

    Periods & genres

    Occasions

    Moods

    Instruments

    Mood

    See more Mood

    Studying

    Relaxing

    Happy

    Epic

    Romantic

    Baby

    Occasions

    See more Occasions

    Wedding

    Memorial

    Valentine’s Day

    Christmas

    Latest on Classic FM

    Washington National Opera is suing its former partner venue for $17 million.

    Washington National Opera sues Kennedy Center for $17 million

    Four in five Brits turn to orchestral music to help them concentrate.

    81% of Brits choose orchestral music as a study soundtrack, new research finds

    Edinburgh International Festival will be phone-free in 2026, says festival director Nicola Benedetti.

    ‘Lights down, phones off’, says Edinburgh festival director Nicola Benedetti

    Nicola Benedetti

    Engineers have created a robotic hand that can learn and repeat music ‘by ear’.

    Engineers invent piano-playing robotic hand that can learn music by ‘ear’

    A handwritten manuscript book, belonging to a 22-year-old Mozart, has been discovered in Paris.

    22-year-old Mozart’s handwritten notebook unearthed in ‘major discovery’

    Mozart

    Captain of France’s national football team, Kylian Mbappé, played flute in school.

    Meet France’s flute-playing football captain, Kylian Mbappé

    Curious cat interrupts ballet performance of Romeo and Juliet

    Romeow, romeow! Curious cat wanders on stage, interrupts ballet performance

    Tony Iommi and Patrick Doyle lead the musical recognitions in the King’s birthday honours.

    Patrick Doyle and Tony Iommi lead musical recognitions in King’s birthday honours

    ‘Disclosure Day’ marks the 30th collaboration between John Williams and Steven Spielberg, in their partnership of over half a century.

    Disclosure Day: Everything you need to know about John Williams’ score

    Williams

    Randy Newman appears on stage for a duet with Taylor Swift at the Hollywood premiere of Toy Story 5.

    Randy Newman plays surprise ‘You’ve Got a Friend in Me’ at Toy Story 5 premiere

    Back to top

    Also on Classic FM

    • Listen to Global Player
    • Classic FM Breakfast with Dan Walker
    • John Williams
    • Alexander Armstrong on Classic FM
    • Quizzes
    • Leonard Bernstein
    • Mozart
    • Debussy
    • Music theory
    • Instruments
    • Classic FM Live
    • Brahms
    • Vivaldi
    • Bach
    • Tchaikovsky
    • Chopin
    • Andrea Bocelli
    • Florence Price
    • Beethoven
    • Best classical music
    • Classic FM Requests
    • Best pianists
    • Harry Potter music
    • Star Wars soundtrack
    • Composer or pasta
    • Music for Studying
    • Best violinists
    • Classical music tearjerkers
    • Relaxing classical

    Useful Links

    • Contact Us
    • Help
    • How To Listen
    • About Classic FM
    • Company Details
    • Cookies
    • Privacy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Advertise
    • Global Careers
    • Smooth Spins Casino
    • Heart Bingo

    Download the app

    Get it on the app store Get it on Google Play

    Follow Us

    Follow Classic FM on Facebook
    Follow Classic FM on Instagram
    Follow Classic FM on Youtube
    © Global 2026
    30 Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7LA
    Privacy Manager