diff --git a/adafruit_midi/note_off.py b/adafruit_midi/note_off.py
index 83c34f0..202c705 100644
--- a/adafruit_midi/note_off.py
+++ b/adafruit_midi/note_off.py
@@ -36,17 +36,18 @@ class NoteOff(MIDIMessage):  # pylint: disable=duplicate-code
     LENGTH = 3
 
     def __init__(self, note, velocity=0, *, channel=None):
-        self._note = note_parser(note)
+        self.note = note_parser(note)
+        """key, either int (0-127) or string that will be turned off """
         self._velocity = velocity
         super().__init__(channel=channel)
-        if not 0 <= self._note <= 127 or not 0 <= self._velocity <= 127:
+        if not 0 <= self.note <= 127 or not 0 <= self._velocity <= 127:
             self._raise_valueerror_oor()
 
     def __bytes__(self):
         return bytes(
             [
                 self._STATUS | (self.channel & self.CHANNELMASK),
-                self._note,
+                self.note,
                 self._velocity,
             ]
         )