She was the eldest daughter of Leonore (née Seligsberg) and Moritz Eichberg [de],[1] who served as a cantor in that city.
Under the tutelage of Mathilde Ries, Pauline's musical abilities developed rapidly, and she performed publicly before reaching the age of ten.
At the age of thirteen, she came to the attention of Anton Rubinstein, who introduced her to Giacomo Meyerbeer.
Through Meyerbeer's influence, Pauline was accepted to continue her musical education at the Leipzig Conservatory, then under the direction of Ignaz Moscheles.
Her technical prowess was marked by flawless and elegant execution, as well as an exceptional musical memory.