Harmony & Scale Theory

 - concepts of minor and major (which most of them will probably know).
 - avoid notes in both of these types of keys (e.g. 4th in the tonic major, or 6th in the tonic minor)
 - cycle of 5ths
 - what kind of 7ths to use and when to use them (3 types: major, minor, dominant)
 - passing notes

Avoid Notes:

Degree	Major	Minor
Tonic	4th	6th, b7th
Supertonic	4th
Sub-dominant		6th
Dominant	1st	7th
Relative Minor/Major	4th	1st

This table displays the 'avoid notes' (notes which when improvising it is unconventional to use as accented) for each degree of the scale.

Cycle Of 5ths





7ths

Major
Major 7ths - 11 semitones, used on tonic, subdominant
Minor 7ths - 10 semitones, used on supertonic, submediant, mediant
Dominant 7ths - 10 semitones (with maj 3rd), used on dominant

Minor
Major 7ths - 11 semitones, used on mediant, submediant
Minor 7ths - 10 semitones, used on subdominant
Dominant 7ths - 10 semitones (with maj 3rd), used on dominant

I might not go into this level of detail, but it is useful to know. Also, I won't do this stuff all at once, but I'll intersperse it with the more practical activities.