His father was his first teacher; at thirteen he went to study at the Milan Conservatory.
At his graduation in 1900, Pedrollo's only symphony was performed, under the direction of Arturo Toscanini.
He chose instead to compose operas in a Wagnerian cast; in 1908 his first, Terra promessa, was premiered in Cremona.
In 1930 he returned to Milan to teach composition at the Conservatory there; he held that post until 1941.
Pedrollo retired at eighty-five, five years before his death.