Probably been discussed before, but as I am playing this piece for my grade 7 this term I am really wondering about the repeat in bar 8. I know the general rule is repeats "of more than a few bars" should be left out (and 8 may not be "a few") but it just sounds wrong, somehow, without doing the repeat. I have been doing it this way at my lessons and we even work on varying the repeated opening eg dynamics, tone etc. And it takes all of about 10 seconds!

What is the consensus with those who have done this or had pupils playing it for grade 7?

I wouldnt do the repeats if it was me. i only ever do repeats if the sylabus asks.
The piece is fantastic though, and would be better to play the whole thing with repeats. I was going to do it for my grade 7, but i'm doing the little shepard by Debussy. oh well.

Jacob.

Ditto and have done fine. Playing in concerts/auditions pupils have played the repeat though.