This investigation examined amateur and professional musicians' perceptions of rehearsal and performance as either work or leisure along the dimensions of intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, and perception of choice. Seventyfour subjects participated in this study. Thirty-four were professional musicians and 40 were amateur musicians. The results showed a relationship between the type of musician and the perception of rehearsal and performance as either leisure, leisure/work, or work. Significant differences were found between the subgroups' (leisure, leisure/work, and work) intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, and perception of choice during rehearsal. Amateur and professional musicians differed on the variables intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, and perception of choice during rehearsal. During performance, differences were found in the musicians' extrinsic motivation. These results suggested that amateur musicians viewed rehearsal and performance as leisure, motivated by intrinsic factors, while professional musicians perceived the activities as work, motivated primarily by the pay-off.KEYWORDS: leisure perception, intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, extrinsic motiation, perception of choice, music, workIntroductionThe relationship of work and leisure has been the subject of inquiry for many researchers in the field of leisure studies. One of the main concerns of these studies is the definition and conceptualization of leisure and work (Iso-Ahola, 1979; Kelly, 1972, 1978; Mannell, Zuzanek, & Larson, 1988; Neulinger, 1974, 1981; Roadburg, 1983; Wagner, Lounsbury, & Fitzgerald 1989). Most frequently, leisure has been defined as: (a) a form of activity (Dumazedier, 1967; Kraus, 1984); (b) unobligated time (Kaplan, 1975; Kraus, 1984; Murphy, 1981); or (c) a of (de Grazia, 1964), the classical view. Leisure has also been defined as compensatory, where the individual chooses an activity to satisfy those needs unmet during work; in contrast to the spillover view where leisure is viewed as a continuation of work (Wilensky, 1960). These explanations assume that leisure and work should be perceived as separate entities rather than being defined as part of a continuum.Neulinger (1976) offered a model which dealt with factors that characterize and distinguish leisure and nonleisure experiences. This psychological model is concerned with the analysis of a state of mind, not with people, activities, or life situations. His model examines the effects of perceived freedom, constraint, and motivation (intrinsic and extrinsic). Neulinger's (1981) perspective of leisure emphasizes the participant's behavior rather than the activities and conditions. Neulinger's conceptualization was derived from the classical view, i.e, leisure as a state of mind or an experience.Neulinger's model suggested that perceived freedom, defined as the freedom to choose whether or not to participate in an activity, is closely related to and considered the basis of leisure. Perceived constraint, defined as the feeling of obligation, responsibility, and commitment towards the activity, is related to work. The primary characteristic that distinguishes leisure and nonleisure is made along the dimension of perceived freedom, and a second characteristic is made along the dimension of motivation (intrinsic or extrinsic). For Neulinger, the source of satisfaction determines whether motivation is intrinsic or extrinsic. Unlike Kelly (1972) and Parker (1971), this model treats work as part of a continuum rather than in opposition to leisure (Neulinger, 1981).Considerable research has explored the definition of leisure and work and their relationship according to the actors' own experiences. Brook (1993) studied managers' perceptions of work and nonwork. She noted that work and non-work have similar characteristics such as creativity, challenge, mental activity, and self-development. …