New students at my dojo only practice katatedori shihonage until they demonstrate a certain measure of balance and ease in performing the technique. For some this means a month or two of just this one technique. I have never had a student complain, though. This technique has much to teach a new student (or an old one) about Aikido movement and I believe the new students recognize this very quickly. Besides, I think it is more rewarding for a new student to feel like they have gained some mastery of at least one technique than to feel lost and frustrated in the midst of a thick forest of them.
Perhaps your teacher would be willing to let you focus on just one technique for a time. It never hurts to ask...
