Sean,
Reading between the lines (and possibly getting it wrong), I suspect you may either be concerned about your own aptitude, or thinking your instructor is holding you back. Don't worry! As my fellow Whirly said, the rate at which people learn has diddly-squat (I like that word, Whirlygig) to do with how good a pilot you'll be in the end. And hours to first solo depends on weather conditions, type of airfield, etc etc...and probably most of all on how experienced and capable of dealing with emergencies your instructor wants you to be before he lets you loose alone in about the twitchiest, most unforgiving helicopter there is. Relax and enjoy your training!