I haven't got a violin lesson for 2 weeks so i want to learn atleast half of my scales by then and i have some questions about them!
Firstly, for grade 6 do i have to play both the melodic and harmonic minor scales? On flute, up until grade 8 you have the option of melodic OR harmonic - it's only at grade 8 that you do both. But in my violin scale book it doesn't say 'or', it just has them both. Do i have to do them both?

Also, on double stop scales do i start on an up bow? So that the 2 seperate notes that are slurred are on an upbow then the double stopped note is on a down bow ? I'd been playing it the other way round but then whilst looking through my scale book earlier thought surely it'd be better if the double stop was on a down bow

Thanks =]

Harmonic and melodic, looking at the syllabus

Ok, thanks Will have to get to work on them i hate melodic scales! Though it's good to get started on them now and gradually learn them all like the other scales - rather than what i did on flute - ignore them till grade 8 then be bombarded with them!!

harmonic minor
melodic
major/minor

These all come up at grade 6. Quite a lot to learn with all the new 3 octave scales.

Yeah - it's a change having four 3 octave scales at grade 6 because on flute there's none until grade 7/8 and then, there's only 1
Scales are my strong point though and i like learning them (insane ) so hopefully i'll be ok


What shall i do about the bowing on the double stop scales?

According to my scale book for flute, both harmonic and melodic minors are needed from Grade 6 upwards, as for violin.

Start the double-stop scales on a down-bow - as with all your other scales.

With the three octave scales I'm not sure what's recommended in scales books but I always find that the same fingering for each one (first finger on the tonic) other than for G works a treat for me...

Thanks

And The syllabus must have changed a little cause when i did my flute and other woodwind exams it was harmonic or melodic until grade 8. It's better as it is now though!