Frank Conroy, who I believe is a pianist himself, wrote a novel "Body and Soul," about a classical piano-playing prodigy. Unfortunately, I can't recommend it. I never finished it, finding most of the characters bland and uninteresting-with the exception of the hero's mother, who is an agoraphobic former cab driver.

John B. Keane's "The Bodhran Makers" sounds intriguing. I have the book, but haven't gotten around to reading it yet. I just now found this blurb on Barnes & Noble's website, bn.com, and it has piqued my interest:

"Synopsis: This novel is set in rural Ireland in the 1950s. Canon Tett, the parish priest, mounts a campaign against the ancient holiday of Wren Day, celebrated by Wrenboys marching over the countryside playing music led by the bodhran (a drum), and collecting donations to finance the wrendance. A party involving music, dancing, and drinking, the wrendance is the only entertainment all year for most Dirrabeg residents, but to Canon Tett it is wicked and sinful."

Keane also wrote "The Field" which was made into a movie.

Roddy Doyle's "The Commitments" was a novel before it was a movie. I haven't read the book, but I loved the movie.

Ciaran Carson's "Last Night's Fun" isn't a novel-it's actually a book of essays all centered around Irish music-but it contains some fine writing. I highly recommend it.