How should the pedals on a piano function?

Piano pedals have three standard functions: The right (damper) pedal sustains notes by lifting the dampers from all strings, allowing them to continue sounding after you release the keys. The left (soft or una corda) pedal reduces volume and slightly changes the tone character.

The middle (sostenuto) pedal sustains only the notes that are held down at the moment the pedal is pressed, while subsequent notes play without sustain. On some upright pianos, the middle pedal instead acts as a practice mute.

On Kawai digital pianos, these functions are replicated digitally. Consult your owner's manual for the specific pedal configuration of your model, as some models allow pedal functions to be customised.