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They march _ to their , own beat i4 Being a ‘"Kavie‘"" not only helps keep Kevin off the streets, but it also teaches him ‘"a lot of lesâ€" sons‘"‘ about matters such as discipline, provides him with professional music instruction, nd gives him a chance to make friends. Kevin Prack of Wateriloo marches to the beat of a different drummer. Unlike some other kids his age, this 15â€"yearâ€"old doesn‘t have time to hang out on street corners. He and 64 fellow members of the Kiwanis Kavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps keep busy practicâ€" ing, performing, travelling to competitions, sharing the exhilaâ€" ration of winning, and generally having fun. Kavies are "a tight nucleus," Kevin said during a recent interâ€" view in his home. "It‘s really exciting and challenging‘"‘ to be involved with the corps. And for the Pracks, involveâ€" ment in the Kavaliers is a family affair. After Kevin joined four years ago, his brother and sister followed in his footsteps and his parents became administrative volunteers.â€" Today, his mother, Carol, is publicity coordinator while his father, Clyde, is busiâ€" ness manager. "It‘s great having the whole family involved," Carol said, especially since she and her husband work fullâ€"time and like spending leisure hours "doing something as a family unit." During the year, Carol exâ€" plained, the Waterlooâ€"based Kaâ€" valiers make over 100 appearâ€" ances inâ€"parades, shows and special events. As well, they spend almost every summer weekend travelling to competiâ€" tions in Canada and the U.S. The last competition this year, held in Windsor Saturday, was a day the Kavaliers won‘t easily forget. For the first time they were judged national champions in their "C" class, a timely accomplishment since 1981 marks the tenth anniversary of the corps‘ founding. ‘"We‘ve been working towards that title for ten years," Carol beamed. And Saturday‘s achievement was the culminaâ€" tion of two years of major wins, which include earning titles such as 1980 international champs; 1980 national paradeâ€" winners; 1980 and 1981 Ontario provincial champions; and 1981 Great Their winning streak is atâ€" tributable to several factors, Carol said, including the "total dedication‘ of corps director and founder, Jack Turner. Coupled with his commitment is the expertise of the only paid corps "B" class victors, among KAVIES‘ CORPS By KARLA WHEELER staff, the 12 instructors who write all musical arrangements, deâ€" sign marching and manoeuvring formations and teach the young Kavaliers. Equally important, Carol stressed, is the kids themselves, who are ‘"hardâ€"working and very talented."‘ The Kavaliers are one of four drum and bugle corps in Kitchenâ€" erâ€"Waterloo and are sponsored by the Twin Cities Kiwanis Club. Each year, the club helps them raise funds when corps and club members run the Oktoberfest Carisberg House, splitting the Other financial sources conâ€" tributing to the $75,000 annual operating budget include bingo, a walkathon, a cookie blitz and Wintario grants, Carol said. However, she stressed that running the corps is ‘"big busiâ€" ness‘"‘ and they can always use more sponsors to help cover costs of the red, white and black uniforms, musical instruments, instructors‘ fees, and travelling expenses. As well as finding more sponâ€" sors, the corps also hopes to recruit more young people, evenâ€" tually growing to a maximum size of 128 members. They are looking for young people between the ages of 12 and 18 who are ‘"willing to learn and work hard, enjoy having fun and want to make a commitment.‘" Having musical knowledge or ability is not a prerequisite, she said, since each member learns music "starting at step one."‘ Kavies, who are headquartered at St. David‘s junior high school in Waterloo, practice an average of five to eight hours a week, either at the school, at Waterioo Collegiate Institute, or on the grounds at Fairway Press in Kitâ€" chener. When they join, the children are told "the only things that come before the drum corps are school and church," the publicity coordinator said. Even though being a drum corps member is demanding and hectic at times, Carol believes Kavies are generally happier than children in other corps. "Our kids aren‘t under as much pressure and stress," she said. They don‘t practice as long and aren‘t constantly required to engage in fundâ€"raising activities, which can be draining, she said. And Carol can clearly see the benefits of corps involvement in her own children. For someone like Kevin, she said, who is now a Kavalier drummer, these last four years have helped develop a latent musical talent. And besides, she grinned, ‘"it keeps him off the streets." These Kavies include (from left to right) Diana Karrenbrock, Kelly Prack, Petra Karrenbrock, Tim Faulkner and Kevin Prack.