Small hands, large chords

[piano_61]

I am working to grade 8 ABRSM which I hope to take within a year. Some of the pieces have large chords - well over an octave which I have to break in order to play. What is the general feeling about doing this? I have been told in the past that candidates should chose pieces within their scope but this seems a little unfair and limiting to players without huge hands!

[jugular]

Depending on the context of the piece, most big chords with large intervals between notes can simply be played as a glissando. If it's something like Rach's Prelude Op 23. #5, which is constant big chords being played at a relatively fast tempo, then you'll have to really work on stretching your fingers to hit the chords.