Musical Chairs

Set up

Count the players and set out one chair fewer than that. Arrange the chairs in a circle with the seats facing outward, or in a line with chairs facing alternate directions. Leave room to walk all the way around. One person, who does not play, controls the music.

Use sturdy chairs. Folding chairs and chairs with wheels tip.

How to play

1. Players stand in a ring around the chairs.
2. Start the music. Everyone walks around the chairs in the same direction.
3. Stop the music without warning. Everyone sits on the nearest free chair.
4. The player left standing is out and takes one chair away with them.
5. Start the music again. Repeat until two players circle one chair.
6. The player who sits on the last chair wins.

Keeping it fair

Whoever runs the music should face away from the game, so they cannot stop it to favor anyone. Vary the length of each burst: a long one, then two short ones. Players may not touch the chairs or hover behind one while the music plays.

When two players reach a chair together, the one covering more of the seat keeps it. If you cannot tell, replay the round.

Ways to change it

• Cooperative chairs: nobody is out. A chair goes each round and everyone must still find a seat, sharing chairs and laps. Small children prefer this by a wide margin.
• Musical cushions or islands: use cushions, hoops or sheets of newspaper on the floor in place of chairs. Safer and easier to set up.
• Musical statues: no chairs at all. See Freeze Dance.
• Give the players who are out a job: they choose the next song, or judge close calls.

Who it suits, and who it doesn’t

Musical Chairs is a birthday-party standard for ages four to ten. It needs floor space and a firm hand on the rules. Being out first is hard on very young children, so play the cooperative version for under-fives. Avoid it with mixed adults and small children on the same chairs, and on slippery floors.