The latest in my attempts to keep my toddler happy during lessons:

This is the landing on our stairs.  I set up a reading nook and showed it to her before lessons by reading stories with her there.  The first day of lessons, this worked like magic.  She was enthralled with her new spot, and didn’t leave it once.  After a few days, she was bored of the same ol’ toys I was putting there. 

So now, I divide toys up into 4 baskets (I teach 4 days a week).  Each basket has a couple books, a stuffed animal, a few small toys, and a big interactive toy (like a puzzle or filing folders with pictures).  I put the basket on the landing with some library books.  This works much better since she sees these toys only once a week.