The advice note circulated to students at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music was intended to help them get jobs and keep them. Instead, it caused a student revolt leading to the sacking of the senior lecturer who wrote it.

Dr Francesca Carpos was dismissed last week from her post with the prestigious Royal Academy of Music after her note on how to earn a “good reputation” backfired spectacularly.

The note emailed to 800 students last week contained a glossary of terms that included a reference to violinists as “gypos”, a derogatory term for gypsies. It also advised students to “be discreet” and that “what’s on tour stays on tour”.

Dr Carpos, 58, a professional bassoon player, has been left shell-shocked by her sacking and, according to friends, is considering suing the Royal Academy of Music, whose patron is the Queen and whose president is the Duchess of Gloucester and vice president is Sir Elton John, a former pupil.

Dr Carpos insists her memo has been taken out of context.

She only began working for the academy, Britain’s oldest conservatoire, in September after being hired as lecturer in professional development.

Her dismissal was sparked by a four-page ‘ideas’ memo, in which she offered a series of tips on networking and building a professional reputation.