We've been using Sound Innovations since 2019. Before then I was an EE person (first the OG purple book then 2000 when it came out). I changed because of the same reason. But, remember the book is just a guide. A launching point. We supplement like crazy. Most of it is self-written stuff. Once we get five notes down and whole/half/quarter notes/rest, we start working more on "real music", as the kids cal it (as if there is "fake music"). This is where we teach most of our concepts. We eventually use the book for only new notes and concepts that are not introduced in the "real music".