Paisiello was born in Roccaforzata, a small town near Taranto in the south of Italy. His father was a veterinarian (a doctor for animals). When he was five years old, his father sent him to a Jesuit school in Taranto. His father wanted him to be a lawyer. Paisiello's teachers saw that he had a very beautiful singing voice and much talent for music. This made his father change his mind. He sent Paisiello to a famous music school in Naples called the . He studied at the music school for five years. At first, he composed church music, but then he began writing operas. Soon his operas became popular all over Italy.