This study sought to determine if using changing syllables would facilitate a smoother slur for middle school trumpeters playing ascending perfect fifths, both natural and valved. Participants (N = 42) were randomly assigned to one of two groups, control and experimental, and each performed a pretest and a posttest. Students in the control group received no instruction concerning the use (or non-use) of varying syllables. After the pretest, players in the experimental group were instructed to utilize specific syllables ("tah" and "ee"). Results showed that trumpeters using changing syllables performed significantly better (p less than or equal to 0.05) on the overall posttest than did those who did not use syllables. Although natural slurred intervals had a lower probability than did valved slurs, both improved significantly (p less than 0.01 and less than or equal to 0.05, respectively). In addition, note (pitch) accuracy increased significantly (p less than or equal to 0.05) for students in the experimental group.