I've just listened to RTHK's David Gwilt in his Piano Exams tutorial.. (Big thanks to AnotherPianist and Gemini for alerting me to this - very interesting..)... and he advocates using the pedal in various places in the Grade 6 Mozart 'Andante Amoroso' exam piece.

My piano teacher says that using the pedal at all in this piece in the exam is a Big No-No (- although I do sometimes when I'm practising... )

I'd appreciate views on whether to use the pedal in this piece.

Note: I have implicit faith in my teacher & am not trying to 'catch him out'! Just curious as to what others think.

Thanks in anticipation.....

As you know, I did this piece in the March exam and although I did not get a good mark, it was not due to using the pedal when I should not have been!!

I found that it benefited from a light pedal in lots of places, especially the opening bars where you have to play octaves in the left hand. After all it's not Bach! I discussed this with my teacher and she agreed that I should pedal where necessary and you do this by listening very carefully to yourself.

I've decided to play the Mozart without the pedal after discussing it with Teacher tonight. He pointed out to me that the danger is in over-pedalling, and as I've been learning to play the relevant bits as legato as possible, without knotting my fingers too much, I'll stick with it.

He also pointed out the different effect of pedalling on an upright piano at home and a grand piano in the exam hall.

Gosh

Will you play on a grand in the exam? How marvellous!

Stick with what your teacher says. It's obvious you have mastered the legato enough to play without the pedal. Individual teachers know best.

I am surprised that you did not get any other replies to this question as I am sure that there have been other students on this forum who have played or will be playing the Mozart Andante Amoroso.

Have you heard the ABRSM CD? The complete run through recording of the piece on the RTHK Gwilt is the same one as is on the CD.

Doing the exam on a grand is quite scary - but there's no alternative. A problem is finding one to practice on beforehand.

Yes - Got the CD. I thought it was the same as the RTHK run-through - now you've confirmed it, thanks.