diff --git a/partitura/performance.py b/partitura/performance.py
index e08d0ca3..543176fc 100644
--- a/partitura/performance.py
+++ b/partitura/performance.py
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ def __init__(
         super().__init__()
         self.id = id
         self.part_name = part_name
-        self.notes = list(map(lambda n: PerformedNote(n), notes))
+        self.notes = list(map(lambda n: n if isinstance(n, PerformedNote) else PerformedNote(n), notes))
         self.controls = controls or []
         self.programs = programs or []
         self.ppq = ppq
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ def __init__(self, pnote_dict):
         self.pnote_dict["track"] = self.pnote_dict.get("track", 0)
         self.pnote_dict["channel"] = self.pnote_dict.get("channel", 1)
         self.pnote_dict["velocity"] = self.pnote_dict.get("velocity", 60)
-        self._validate_values()
+        self._validate_values(pnote_dict)
         self._accepted_keys = [
             "id",
             "pitch",
@@ -363,8 +363,8 @@ def __getitem__(self, key):
     def __setitem__(self, key, value):
         if key not in self._accepted_keys:
             raise KeyError(f"Key {key} not accepted for PerformedNote")
+        self._validate_values((key, value))
         self.pnote_dict[key] = value
-        self._validate_values(key)
 
     def __delitem__(self, key):
         raise KeyError("Cannot delete items from PerformedNote")
@@ -381,72 +381,77 @@ def __contains__(self, key):
     def copy(self):
         return PerformedNote(self.pnote_dict.copy())
 
-    def _validate_values(self, key=None):
-        if key is None:
-            keys = self.keys()
+    def _validate_values(self, d):
+        if isinstance(d, dict):
+            dd = d
+        elif isinstance(d, tuple):
+            dd = {d[0]: d[1]}
         else:
-            keys = [key]
+            raise ValueError(f"Invalid value {d} provided for PerformedNote")
 
-        for key in keys:
+        for key, value in dd.items():
             if key == "pitch":
-                self._validate_pitch()
+                self._validate_pitch(value)
             elif key == "note_on":
-                self._validate_note_on()
+                self._validate_note_on(value)
             elif key == "note_off":
-                self._validate_note_off()
+                self._validate_note_off(value)
             elif key == "velocity":
-                self._validate_velocity()
+                self._validate_velocity(value)
             elif key == "sound_off":
-                self._validate_sound_off()
+                self._validate_sound_off(value)
 
-    def _validate_sound_off(self):
+
+    def _validate_sound_off(self, value):
         if self.get("note_off", -1) < 0:
             return
-        if self.pnote_dict["sound_off"] < self.pnote_dict["note_off"]:
+        if value < 0:
+            raise ValueError(f"sound_off must be greater than or equal to 0")
+        if value < self.pnote_dict["note_off"]:
             raise ValueError(f"sound_off must be greater or equal to note_off")
 
-    def _validate_note_on(self):
-        if self.pnote_dict["note_on"] < 0:
+    def _validate_note_on(self, value):
+        if value < 0:
             raise ValueError(
                 f"Note on value provided is invalid, must be greater than or equal to 0"
             )
 
-    def _validate_note_off(self):
+    def _validate_note_off(self, value):
         if self.pnote_dict.get("note_on", -1) < 0:
             return
         if (
-            self.pnote_dict["note_off"] < 0
-            or self.pnote_dict["note_off"] < self.pnote_dict["note_on"]
+            value < 0
+            or value < self.pnote_dict["note_on"]
         ):
             raise ValueError(
                 f"Note off value provided is invalid, "
-                f"must be greater than or equal to 0 and greater or equal to note_on"
+                f"must be a positive value greater than or equal to 0 and greater or equal to note_on"
             )
 
-    def _validate_note_on_tick(self):
-        if self.pnote_dict["note_on_tick"] < 0:
+    def _validate_note_on_tick(self, value):
+        if value < 0:
             raise ValueError(
                 f"Note on tick value provided is invalid, must be greater than or equal to 0"
             )
 
-    def _validate_note_off_tick(self):
+    def _validate_note_off_tick(self, value):
         if self.pnote_dict.get("note_on_tick", -1) < 0:
             return
         if (
-            self.pnote_dict["note_off_tick"] < 0
-            or self.pnote_dict["note_off_tick"] < self.pnote_dict["note_on_tick"]
+            value < 0
+            or value < self.pnote_dict["note_on_tick"]
         ):
             raise ValueError(
                 f"Note off tick value provided is invalid, "
-                f"must be greater than or equal to 0 and greater or equal to note_on_tick"
+                f"must be a positive value greater than or equal to 0 and greater or equal to note_on_tick"
             )
 
-    def _validate_pitch(self):
-        if self.pnote_dict["pitch"] > 127 or self.pnote_dict["pitch"] < 0:
+    def _validate_pitch(self, value):
+        if value > 127 or value < 0:
             raise ValueError(f"pitch must be between 0 and 127")
 
-    def _validate_velocity(self):
-        if self.pnote_dict["velocity"] > 127 or self.pnote_dict["velocity"] < 0:
+    def _validate_velocity(self, value):
+        if value > 127 or value < 0:
             raise ValueError(f"velocity must be between 0 and 127")